TMB's top management denies to the judge that they removed an executive to cover up a harassment case
The three executives under investigation say that the dismissal of the former compliance officer was not retaliation.
BarcelonaThe judicial investigation into three executives of Barcelona Metropolitan Transport (TMB) continues to progress an alleged case of workplace harassment The former head of regulatory compliance, a mandatory position in large companies responsible for internally monitoring legal compliance, was summoned by the investigating judge on Tuesday for questioning. According to sources present at the hearing, TMB's CEO, Xavier Flores, the human resources director, and the head of legal services—who was the new [position/position/etc.]—were all questioned. compliance Following the dismissal of the complainant, they have denied interfering in the work of the compliance officerThey also rule out that the dismissal was, as she claims, retaliation for an internal investigation into workplace bullying.which involved three executives, including the human resources director now under investigation.
The complainant already testified last week before the investigating judge, explaining that in early 2024 she had opened a disciplinary file against three former executives following a complaint of harassment by a female employee. The day after taking a statement from the human resources director, one of those now accused, she was dismissed from her position. In addition to the human resources director, the internal investigation that was underway at that time... compliance officer It also implicated other people under Flores' direct authority. The third of those now under investigation, head of legal services at TMB, took over the complainant's position after she was dismissed.
This Tuesday, the three denounced by the former-compliance TMB has denied stripping her of her job duties and demoting her to prevent her from fulfilling her responsibilities, as she alleges in her complaint. However, they describe a "reorganization" of the good governance department. They also noted that the woman was dismissed after another employee reported her for harassment. This employee is not implicated in the complaint, and the prosecution believes he was "manipulated" by those under investigation.
She made management uncomfortable
The complainant had worked at TMB since 2006 and had been appointed compliance officer In 2023, the year before the investigation into three managers she identifies as the reason for the harassment, the employee requested and was granted protected status by the Anti-Fraud Office of Catalonia (OAC). The complainant took her case to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which dismissed it due to a lack of evidence of workplace harassment, but it is now being investigated in court.
The complaint from the former head of compliance, According to documents obtained by ARA, the complainant's work "was inconvenient" for the managers now under investigation, as her inquiries could compromise them. Therefore, the complaint alleges, they resorted to "various acts of harassment, pressure, and mistreatment" to force the woman to neglect her work responsibilities and turn a blind eye. When she refused to comply, the complaint continues, they decided to fire her "at any cost." Because she was protected by the Anti-Fraud Office, the head of compliance She could not be dismissed through ordinary means. Therefore, the prosecution maintains that the defendants resorted to "acts of pressure" and "systematic harassment," making her life unbearable until she experienced a "personal crisis" and suffered from anxiety and depression. The plan, according to the prosecution, involved fabricating a "false accusation" against her with a harassment complaint.