Miyagi teacher commits suicide 4 years ago, caused by co-worker's power harassment, suspended for 3 months, disciplinary action

Regarding the suicide of a female teacher in her 30s at a prefectural high school in Miyagi Prefecture four years ago, the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education sent letters and memos criticizing her colleague, a 59-year-old teacher, for approximately four months. This co-worker was suspended from his job for three months and disciplined due to repeated displays of power harassment.

According to the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education, four years ago in June at a prefectural high school in Miyagi Prefecture, a female teacher in her 30s was relentlessly questioned about the progress of her work by her colleague and head teacher, a 59-year-old male teacher. Therefore, at the discretion of the principal, business-related communications between the two began to be conducted through memos rather than verbally.

However, after that, the male teacher repeatedly showed him letters expressing dissatisfaction with the female teacher's behavior and notes criticizing the female teacher.

Furthermore, in late October, she left a letter on the female teacher's desk stating, ``I will not ask you to do any work. Please do not attend any meetings,'' and the woman then committed suicide.

The prefectural board of education determined that the act of repeatedly displaying letters and memos over a period of about four months was power harassment, and that the series of acts caused him to become mentally unstable and he committed suicide.There is a causal relationship between power harassment and suicide. It means that he acknowledged that.

In addition, the male teacher was suspended from his job for three months as of the 2nd day of disciplinary action.

The male teacher admitted to the incident and said that she was ``really sorry.''

Yasuhiko Sato, Superintendent of the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education, said, ``We are deeply saddened by the loss of an important employee, with the very tragic result of a promising young employee taking his own life due to power harassment from his colleagues.'' I would like to sincerely apologize to the bereaved family."

The school stated, ``Not only was there a lack of awareness and understanding of power harassment among teachers and staff, but there was also an insufficient organizational response in which the school and the board of education worked together to quickly respond.'' He stated that he would work with the frontline staff to prevent recurrence and restore trust.