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Myrthe Bovendeaard, co-founder of the Harassment Support Network
Photo: Private
SPIEGEL:
Ms. Bovendeaard, what is your HSN initiative all about?
Myrthe Bovendeaard:
We are a network that wants to help people deal with harassment and bullying in the workplace. Here in the Brussels EU environment there are often difficulties in dealing with this. We offer psychological help for those affected, legal advice and professional support, for example if someone fears losing their job. The help is free, we want to finance ourselves through donations and government support.
SPIEGEL:
What difficulties do you see with this issue specifically in Brussels?
Bovendeaard:
Those affected often have no close private environment here, no family or close friends in whom they can confide. Many only come into the EU bubble for a few years and feel left alone. That's where we start. In addition, as is usual in politics, we see strong power hierarchies that encourage misconduct. The EU institutions are not good at handling cases appropriately. In parliament, for example, if you want to report a case, you as an employee have to present yourself to a committee made up of a majority of MPs. Those affected will not receive a message if there are sanctions for the accused, but must independently check whether the President of Parliament has announced measures against the accused. This example alone shows how bad the structures are. But we don't just care about EU institutions, but about all sectors in Brussels.
SPIEGEL:
You not only want to take action against sexual harassment, but also against bullying in the workplace.
Bovendeaard:
These are different problems, but in all cases those affected have to overcome an inhibition threshold in order to take action against abuse of power. When it comes to bullying, we are talking about managers who abuse their employees. This starts when a boss invites a team to dinner, but always excludes one person. Or when a boss demands an enormous amount of work from an employee or, in the opposite case, no longer gives someone any tasks at all. This can lead to psychological stress for employees.
SPIEGEL:
The German EU Green MP Malte Gallée has just resigned due to allegations of sexual harassment, and the CDU MP Karolin Braunsberger-Reinhold, who is said to have harassed employees, was no longer appointed. Both deny their wrongdoing. There are political consequences after all.
Bovendeaard:
Braunsberger-Reinhold is still in office, there were no sanctions. In both cases, those affected had difficulty having their concerns taken seriously.
SPIEGEL:
In the Braunsberger-Reinhold case, the allegations were directed against a woman. Is that unusual?
Bovendeaard:
No, there are many women in positions of power who bully their employees. We are aware of more allegations against women in leadership positions. We can only speculate as to why this is the case. For example, that certain behavior is more accepted by men in leadership positions than by women. Incidentally, the majority of those affected worked for members of left-wing parties. There is probably a higher sensitivity to misconduct.