Celje theater unions: Director is conflictual

Trade unions at the SLG Celje theater have voiced strong criticism against director Miha Golob, whose term ends next year. Despite his artistic vision, unions Sviz and Glosa state that Golob's relationship with staff is unacceptable, a concern they previously raised unsuccessfully with the institution's council.

“

Mr. Golob is a conflictual person, which can be confirmed by both employees and external collaborators. He often communicates in a raised tone, and discredits and humiliates his interlocutors.

Golob, who was not selected for a new directorship by the city council in favor of Kim Komljanec, has publicly denied accusations made against him. However, the unions assert that his difficult interpersonal style led to his non-renewal. They describe him as a "conflictual person" whose communication often involves a raised voice, discrediting, and humiliating remarks towards employees and external collaborators.

“

When we approach him with problems, his most common response is: 'That's not my problem.' When we encounter a problem during the process of creating a performance and want to solve it with him, he responds with: 'Fine, then the performance won't happen.'

The unions further allege that Golob blurs professional and personal boundaries, viewing suggestions for improvement or the assertion of legal rights as personal attacks. His responses to workplace issues are characterized by a lack of constructiveness, with phrases like "that's not my problem" or "then the performance won't happen." They also accuse him of using "gaslighting" tactics to invalidate staff perceptions and of threatening legal action during meetings, fostering an environment of unease and self-censorship.

“

He often uses the technique of gaslighting, thereby completely devaluing and negating our perception of the situation. At joint meetings, he threatened employees with court.

Golob has dismissed these claims, stating they confirm his assertion that the decision was based on insinuations and slander rather than professional matters. The situation highlights a significant rift between the director's leadership style and the expectations of the theater's staff.

“

This only confirms my claims that the decision was not made on professional matters, but on the basis of insinuations and slander.