Szczecine court upholds conviction of lawyer Jan B. who was found guilty of persistent violation of employee rights.
“Family atmosphere” and the other face of the law office
Jan B.’s behavior had been discussed for a long time in the legal community, eventually employee complaints reached the prosecutor’s office and then the court – reports Gazeta Wyborcza. The case concerned violations described in Art. 218 of the Penal Code, which provides for a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment up to two years for persons who persistently or maliciously violate employee rights.
As reported, in his office, Jan B. seemingly created a friendly, even family atmosphere, organizing employee meetings. In reality, however, he regularly violated their rights.
Humiliating tasks: killing moths, shopping and blocking parking with body
The investigation showed that the notary ordered employees to perform tasks unrelated to professional duties, which they considered humiliating and undermining their competence.
As reported by the medium, their duties included, among others, killing moths in the boss’s home, even caring for his child, as well as shopping and blocking parking spaces with their own body.
Pink handcuffs and email that became evidence in court against the lawyer
Among the charges were also improper behavior toward one of the female employees. As reported by GW, the notary, broadly interpreting official duties, handed pink-furred handcuffs to his subordinate and sent her a marriage proposal by email, which became evidence in the case.
Jan B.’s defense line: these were not orders, only requests to employees
The prosecutor’s charges included the notary’s deputy, two trainees and an administrative employee. Interestingly, Jan B. did not dispute the employees’ testimony, explaining that they were merely fulfilling his requests, not orders – as can be read in the service.
Final verdict of Szczecine court. Imprisonment suspended
The court of first instance found him guilty of persistently violating the labor rights of four people – reports GW. The notary appealed the verdict. The District Court in Szczecine, after the notary’s appeal, acquitted him of the charge against his deputy, leaving the rest of the verdict in force and mitigating the penalty – to five months’ imprisonment suspended for a year. The verdict is final.