"Criminal, offender, you're disabled": The firefighter sued over workplace harassment - and will be compensated
The Haifa Regional Labor Court accepted a firefighter's lawsuit against the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, ruling that he had suffered prolonged workplace harassment by his employer. The Authority was ordered to pay him 100,000 shekels in compensation. The lawsuit also included compensation for defamation against a former senior official in the Hof District.
The Haifa Regional Labor Court accepted a firefighter's lawsuit against the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, ruling that he had suffered a prolonged campaign of workplace harassment by his employer. The lawsuit also included compensation for defamation against a former senior official in the Hof District. The court ordered the Authority to pay 100,000 shekels in compensation. According to the firefighter, over several years a systematic campaign of harassment was waged against him, including removal from operational activity, transfer to maintenance work, thwarting his participation in professional courses, and the taking of various disciplinary proceedings against him. He further claimed that the same district senior official called him in front of others by nicknames such as "criminal," "offender," "his arms and legs should be broken," and "you're disabled." The Fire and Rescue Authority and the district commander denied the claims, arguing that his removal from operational activity stemmed from medical considerations. The court accepted the firefighter's version, including the testimony of a fire officer who heard the senior official call him "criminal" and "offender." The court found significant flaws in the conduct surrounding his removal from operational activity and in the adjustment of his role without his consent. It was determined that this was a continuing series of events of workplace harassment that harmed his promotion and his good name. The judge emphasized that security frameworks would not be given leniency in the demand for respectful treatment of their employees.