Flemish socialist party Vooruit has allegedly paid thousands of euros in hush money to a former employee, aiming to prevent a court case or media exposure regarding a harassment allegation, Het Nieuwsblad reports.
The woman was reportedly assaulted by a co-worker at a bar in May 2021, after attending a colleague's wedding, subsequent to receiving inappropriate messages from him. She reported the incident to the party executives, but was dismissed by party leader Conner Rousseau on 19 September 2022, officially due to poor performance.
The Institute for Equality of Women and Men was ready to initiate a court case, but Het Nieuwsblad reports that the party offered the woman a substantial settlement, with sources estimating it to be "many thousands of euros" comprising an "additional severance package".
Sexually transgressive behaviour
The woman could have allegedly won the lawsuit, according to Het Nieuwsblad, as she had lodged a complaint with Cohezio (an external department for prevention and protection at work) in February 2022 after becoming a victim of sexual harassment. Once such a complaint is filed, dismissal is prohibited according to the Welfare Act.
The complaint initially started as a series of inappropriate comments made by the male perpetrator to the younger, female colleague. The reports then notes that the man later groped the female colleague in a bar, which Cohezio describes as "hands-on, sexually transgressive behaviour." The offender allegedly did not realise that the behaviour was inappropriate.
He also told the victim that he was going to commit suicide because she would not respond to his advances, which Cohezio ruled as "once again transgressive behaviour, this time not sexual."
'Macho culture'
The external service delivered its report on transgressive behaviour in April 2022, adding that the incident "shows that the organisation is struggling with a 'macho culture.'"
The man was dismissed a few days later on 4 May. But relationships between the victim and the party headquarters, particularly party leader Conner Rousseau and political director Gorik Van Holen, soured thereafter. The victim fell ill after an unannounced performance review, and was dismissed on 19 September 2022.
However, Vooruit labels Het Nieuwsblad's analysis as "incomplete and based on a one-sided version of the facts." The party refrains from revealing specifics about individual personnel or former staff cases, but stresses that the dismissal in question was "solely the result of a succession of negative evaluations."
Vooruit states they have reacted to the incident in a "careful and appropriate" manner. "The person involved received all requested support at all times and the accused was sacked. Vooruit has always faced up to its responsibilities. The recommendations of Cohezio's report have all been implemented, and always with the utmost care for our employees in mind."
