EPO ‘suspends’ more staff, claims threats of violence
The European Patent Office (EPO) has reportedly suspended members of its workforce today, including leaders of the Munich-based branch of the office’s staff union, WIPR has learned.
WIPR understands that four staff representatives in total, including members of the Staff Union of the European Patent Office (SUEPO), have been suspended.
The office told WIPR today that some staff members, including from SUEPO, had “harassed” management members and made “calls for violence” even to the point of affecting other staff members’ health.
Elizabeth Hardon, chair of SUEPO’s Munich branch, who is already the subject of an EPO investigation, is thought to be among the suspended members.
Last month, Hardon asked Jesper Kongstad, chair of the EPO’s supervisory body the Administrative Council, to allow an independent body to assess her claim that she has been harassed by EPO management.
Hardon’s claim came in response to allegations that she herself “orchestrated and promoted” a harassment campaign against a senior member of the EPO.
An EPO spokesperson told WIPR that, as with any organisation, its employees have to comply with a set of rules and policies which must be respected by all, regardless of their position or status.
The spokesperson added that over the past two years the EPO has unveiled instances of serious misconduct including cases of fraud in the EPO’s healthcare system, violations of data protection, the leaking of confidential information, and harassment.
“Regretfully it appears that some officials of the largest union present at the EPO, SUEPO, are involved to various degrees,” the spokesperson said.
“EPO officials (senior managers but also colleagues at working level) are increasingly subject to personal attacks and undue exposure through blogs, flyers, and calls for violence.
“Furthermore, some staff representatives have been subjected to harassment, preventing them from freely exercising their independent mandates and affecting their professional and private lives, even to the point that it has impacted upon their health,” the spokesperson added.
“Faced with such a situation, the office has the duty to stop and prevent any and all forms of harassment, irrespective of the status of the alleged perpetrator. Accordingly, all staff members, including staff representatives, are answerable in such a process.”
He said all respondents can be heard during the investigation, which he described as “a purely fact-finding procedure”.
“Discussions to finalise a formal framework for the recognition of staff unions continue on an open and participatory basis. SUEPO, as a trade union, is invited to return to the negotiation table,” the spokesperson added.
