South Korea has adopted tough rules against harassment and workplace bullying. Employers also face imprisonment in extreme cases.
In the future, employees will be able to report the corresponding misconduct of their supervisors – including the spreading of rumors.
Harassment and workplace bullying are widespread in South Korea. 70 percent of employees are affected, according to a survey, the BBC reported today.
The new law prohibits employers from dismissing employees reporting a case. In the future, victims of harassment in the workplace can claim compensation if they experience health problems.
With the entry into force of the law, the government also published guidelines on which behavior is punishable in the future. This includes spreading rumors and disseminating personal information about employees or colleagues, as well as forcing someone to smoke, drink or attend a company dinner.
The law is intended to prevent cases of „gapjil“ – misbehavior of superiors to their employees. Headlines around the world have been causing the „nut tantrum“ in recent years.
The then Vice President of Korean Air, Cho Hyun Ah, threatened the on-board staff in 2014. The reason: A flight attendant had served Cho macadamia nuts in a sackcloth and not as expected in a small bowl. The flight from New York to Seoul had therefore been delayed. Cho was later sentenced.
