The school must take measures to prevent bullying, harassment and other abuse of employees. This includes abuse coming from external (e.g. students and parents) and internal (e.g. colleagues, administrators and professional partners) sources.
It is the administrator’s responsibility to ensure that employees can perform their work without the risk of abuse, such as bullying and harassment – including harassment of a sexual nature.
It is irrelevant whether the actions are an expression of thoughtlessness or an intentional desire to mistreat another. The assessment of whether a given behaviour constitutes abuse is based on how the person on the receiving end experiences this behaviour.
Harassment, bullying and abuse by students and parents can take many forms. It may involve an unpleasant, aggressive or threatening form of criticism or the spreading of rumours among the school’s students. The abuse can also take place on social media.
Abuse committed by external parties (e.g. students, parents or others) is considered by the Danish Working Environment Authority to constitute violence in connection with work.
If you are subjected to abuse by parents and students, it is crucial that you report this to your school administrator. Your school administrator must initiate measures to stop this abuse.
The Danish Act on Working Environment requires that the school register all episodes of abuse by students and parents. The school’s working environment organisation uses these records in connection with its efforts to prevent abuse.
You must not delete emails or text messages with content that constitutes abuse, as this will thereby delete your documentation of the abuse.
In serious cases, e.g. threats of violence, the school can contact the police to request investigation of the case. You can also contact the police directly.
Frie Skolers Lærerforening can also provide advice and guidance – you should especially contact us if you are so affected by the incidents that there may be a workplace injury or personal injury under the Danish Act on Victim Compensation.
Criticism and complaints from students and parents is not in itself abuse, but there may be elements of these complaints that constitute abuse.