Consultation Advisory Committee on Workplace Harassment Held on the 13th
District Mayor Lee Sunhee: "Related Procedures Will Be Conducted Fairly and Swiftly"
Seoul Gangbuk-gu District Office (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) announced on the 15th that it has decided to establish and operate an investigative committee to conduct a more in-depth investigation into whether workplace harassment occurred in relation to the recent death of an employee.
Regarding the death of a Gangbuk-gu public official on the 1st, the bereaved family appealed that workplace harassment was among the causes of death, along with work-related stress and health issues, and requested an investigation. They submitted related documents on the 7th.
According to Gangbuk-gu, the district immediately formed a Workplace Harassment Counseling Advisory Committee composed of external experts such as lawyers and labor consultants in accordance with relevant ordinances to conduct an internal investigation, and held an advisory committee meeting on the 13th with the participation of a representative of the bereaved family.
As a result of the committee meeting, the attending members expressed the opinion that further investigation is necessary to confirm more specific facts, and that the establishment of an investigative committee is needed to ensure objectivity and transparency of the investigation.
The Gangbuk-gu Workplace Harassment Investigation Committee is an ad hoc committee composed of external experts, including counseling advisory committee members. The district plans to appoint external members with expertise in relevant fields to form the committee and start its activities as soon as possible.
Mayor Lee Soon-hee stated, “Through the activities of the investigative committee involving external experts, we will conduct an investigation with objectivity, fairness, and rationality, and ensure that related procedures to follow will be carried out fairly and promptly.” She added, “Once again, I sincerely pray for the deceased’s peaceful rest.”
The mayor visited the deceased employee’s funeral on the 2nd to offer condolences and ordered a thorough investigation into the presence of workplace harassment. She also held a meeting with the bereaved family on the 7th.
A Gangbuk-gu official requested, “As there is concern about secondary damage caused by various rumors and inaccurate information affecting the bereaved family and employees, please calmly observe the progress of the investigative committee and related procedures.”
The team leader in his 50s from the district health center who died on the 1st mentioned health problems, work-related stress, and resentment toward his superior in his suicide note. The bereaved family reported that workplace harassment had occurred to Gangbuk-gu.
※ If you have difficult concerns such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling by calling the Suicide Prevention Hotline ☎109.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
