Allegations of mobbing at Children's Ombudsman's Office; courts examine employee complaints

Serious allegations of workplace violations have emerged from the Office of the Children's Ombudsman in Poland, as reported by TVN24. Employees accuse the head of the institution, Monika Horna-Cieślak, of mobbing and mismanagement, contributing to a stressful work environment that has led to legal action and labor inspections.

According to TVN24's report, which cites nearly twenty current and former employees, the office is currently involved in at least three labor court cases. One lawsuit, filed by former employee Łukasz Korzeniowski, specifically alleges mobbing. Sources speaking anonymously to the journalists described a climate of constant stress and surveillance, negatively impacting their health and leading to psychiatric care and sick leave.

A significant point of contention is a reform of internal document circulation implemented in the summer of 2024. This reform requires the Children's Ombudsman's direct approval for closing any case. Employees argue this has created decision-making paralysis and necessitated time-consuming internal documentation. Simultaneously, the number of cases handled by the office has reportedly surged from 40,000 under the previous ombudsman to nearly 78,000 in the second year of Horna-Cieślak's tenure. Staff are allegedly managing hundreds of cases each, exacerbating workload issues. The report also mentions that the ombudsman conducts systemic analyses outside standard working hours, including nights and weekends.

However, Monika Horna-Cieślak and the office's management dispute these claims. The ombudsman stated she took over an office in poor organizational condition, referencing a negative report from the Supreme Audit Office on her predecessor. She asserts the implemented changes aim to verify the accuracy of officials' actions and improve procedures. "Work for children in difficult situations is not work for everyone," Horna-Cieślak told TVN24, adding that current NIK audits of her tenure are positive. The leadership also stated that ongoing controls by the National Labour Inspectorate are being addressed.

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Work for children in difficult situations is not work for everyone.