Court hears sexual harassment case involving Carinthian apprentice

A trial over the alleged sexual harassment of apprentices at the Carinthian provincial government continued on Friday at Klagenfurt Regional Court, ORF reported. The first defendant, a contract employee who has since been dismissed without notice, and a second state employee both deny the charges. The second defendant is accused of taking no action after the alleged victim informed her of the incidents.

Witnesses described conversations between supervisors, people considered trusted contacts and apprentices that raised questions about authority in the workplace. The apprenticeship coordinator allegedly asked girls about their sexual experiences over the weekend and how many sexual partners they had. One girl was allegedly told to put on a sweater so her breasts would be more prominent. Such incidents should have been reported by a trusted contact to another supervisor, the report said.

Several questions remained unanswered at Friday’s hearing. Witnesses said there had been little drive to put into practice a guidance document on sexual harassment that had been drawn up and expanded. It was also unclear why the contract employee had been dismissed without notice while the second defendant, who was allegedly told about the incidents, remained in her position.

Witnesses questioned by prosecutor Barbara Baum also struggled to explain what the provincial government had done after learning of the alleged misconduct, and why the 17-year-old apprentice had completed the rest of her training in another district.

Some state employees said the teenager had been homesick and no longer wanted to train in Klagenfurt. However, other statements recorded in the case said she had been afraid to remain in that environment. The trial will continue.