According to the annual report of the relevant department of the Labor Inspectorate, the most reported incidents of violence and harassment come from retail and wholesale trade (21%), hotels (12%) and catering (7%), as the particular characteristics of each branch influence and influence all kinds of abusive behaviors.

For another year (2023) the great majority (95%) of complaints concern incidents of violence (verbal, physical, psychological) and only 5% in sexual harassment, underscoring the long-term trend of reporting these, due to their specificity and difficulty in proving them.

Regarding the gender of the affected employees, on all complaints for 2023, 180 were women (60%) and 120 were men (40%)which confirms that the position of women in the labor market remains more vulnerable and weaker than that of men.

As to the status of the complainant, it is found that in 105 (46%) of the 230 cases the matter is related to violence and harassment caused by the employer himself or the legal representative of the company and in the remaining 125 (54%) the complainant is another employee (supervisor, shift manager, etc.). ) or another person (Board member, relative employer, etc.).

As pointed out by Georgia Vazaki, head of the Labor Inspectorate’s independent department for monitoring violence and harassment at work: “The increased rate of out-of-court resolution of these particularly inconspicuous and unprovable cases reflects, for another year, the particular zeal and interest shown by the labor relations inspectors, who effectively use the whole of the current institutional framework. Our primary concern is to make it clear, throughout the working world, that the current framework must be used as an excellent opportunity to change the work culture, by demonstrating zero tolerance for violence and harassment. A fact that will give a wider social sign to ensuring a healthy and safe working environment for the benefit of workers, employees, employers and society as a whole”.

More detail, in a total of 230 complaints:

• 73 cases were resolved out of court, with appropriate and appropriate measures being taken by the complained enterprise and the formulation of relevant recommendations.
• 12 cases were aborted, either due to non-appearance of the complainant during the scheduled discussion, or due to a written statement by the latter, or because specific incidents of violence and harassment were not further analyzed during the discussion, so that they could be subject to the special procedure of article 18 of Law 4808/2021.
• In 105 cases, the labor relations inspector conducting the procedure has recorded a reasoned recommendation to appeal to the competent courts, due to conflicting claims on disputed factual and legal issues, which require a judicial assessment.
• In 25 cases, based on the current regulatory framework, relevant sanctions totaling 106,500 euros were imposed.
• Another 15 cases are ongoing.

In addition, the increasing trend in the submission of labor regulations by companies subject to this, with integrated policies to prevent and combat violence and harassment, demonstrates the shift in the work culture, towards the intended demonstration of zero tolerance in such incidents.