Workplace Bullying Most Severe in Businesses with Fewer Than 5 Employees

More Than Half of Workplace Harassment Cases Involve 'Unfair Orders'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee]"The husband is the CEO, the wife is the director, and their daughter and son also work at the company, but the mental stress caused by the wife's abuse of power was so severe. However, if you exclude the wife and children, it is considered a business with fewer than five employees, so they say you cannot report workplace harassment."

This is a case of harassment in a family-run company revealed by the civic group Workplace Harassment 119 on the 8th. The Labor Standards Act stipulates that not only the employer but also the employer's spouse, relatives within the fourth degree of kinship, and in-laws can be fined if they commit workplace harassment. However, this regulation does not apply to businesses with fewer than five employees. For this reason, workplace harassment in businesses with fewer than five employees continues.

The civic group Workplace Harassment 119 announced that among 409 cases of workplace harassment reported from January to April (with overlapping responses), unfair orders accounted for 212 cases (51.8%), the highest number. This was followed by assault and verbal abuse with 201 cases (49.1%), ostracism, discrimination, and retaliation with 177 cases (43.3%), and insult and defamation with 142 cases (34.7%).

Regarding reports from family-run companies, the group stated that not only workplace harassment such as unfair orders like personal errands, verbal abuse, and insults were found, but also violations of the Labor Standards Act such as wage arrears, failure to prepare or deliver labor contracts and wage statements, CCTV surveillance, denial of annual leave, and unfair dismissal were discovered.

One informant said, "The daughter of the director of a welfare facility for the disabled works as a director, and she curses at employees she dislikes and tells them to quit," adding, "She splashes water from a cup on their faces or throws shoes, and even forces them to give money during holidays."

Workplace Harassment 119 emphasized, "The anachronistic exemption clause in the Labor Standards Act for businesses with fewer than five employees must be revised, and surprise labor inspections should be conducted at workplaces where harassment is repeated to strongly punish violations of labor laws."