State takes a stand

BH Lienz: Staff make allegations of bullying public

The BH Lienz is said to be boiling over.(Bild: Martin Oberbichler)

Things are said to be bubbling up in the district administration of Lienz in East Tyrol. In a letter to the media, employees made serious accusations against district governor Olga Reisner. There are allegations of psychological violence and bullying. The state is trying to clear up the allegations.

There is rumbling in the BH Lienz. Employees have apparently been complaining about their boss overstepping boundaries for some time. The BH Olga Reisner is said to use psychological violence and bullying - especially towards male employees - is not uncommon. Those affected have now made their suffering public in a letter.

It became clear at the beginning of the year that things had been going wrong for some time: the entire staff committee resigned back in February. In retrospect, this was probably the first sign. If nothing changes, the employees are planning to take to the streets.

There are serious accusations from the staff of the Lienz BH.(Bild: Martin Oberbichler)

Province takes a stand 
The employees feel let down by the state of Tyrol and have now turned to the media. A few hours later, the province issued a statement. The statement explains that, as the employer, it has commissioned the supervisory authority to immediately investigate "the allegations in question".

Our aim is to ensure trust within and in the district administration.

Landesamtsdirektor Herbert Forster

Reisner had already been informed on Thursday in a personal meeting with Provincial Governor Anton Mattle and Provincial Office Director Herbert Forster. "We take the allegations very seriously, such a situation is not an everyday occurrence and anything but pleasant. The provincial governor entrusted me with the matter immediately after the resignation of the staff representatives in Lienz," explained Forster. The current accusations are serious, so it is not a matter of business as usual.

Responsibility towards employees 
Over the next few weeks, detailed examinations of the management of the authorities are on the agenda. The aim is to clear up the incident as quickly as possible. "Our aim is to ensure trust within and in the district administration. For the Province of Tyrol, personal discussions with employees and a confidential working environment are paramount," concluded Provincial Office Director Forster.

Appeal from the Chamber of Commerce 
The tensions within the authority have not left the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce indifferent either. This would put a strain on the BH's ability to act. "This is now also being felt by the entrepreneurs in the district. This situation represents a serious obstacle to regional development and can no longer be tolerated." For this reason, an appeal is being made to those responsible at provincial level to act quickly and decisively.