Eeklo city employees describe toxic leadership: “I do not feel safe alone with them”

Several Eeklo city employees have broken their silence about what they describe as a culture of fear inside the municipal administration. They say Mayor Koen Loete and his aldermen engage in bullying, abuse of power and toxic leadership, while staff members who object risk being threatened or pushed out.

“

I do not feel safe when I am alone in an office with one of them.

The allegations follow a well-being survey involving around 400 city employees. The survey found reports of transgressive behavior, bullying, toxic leadership and a lack of appreciation within Eeklo’s political administration and municipal services. Loete previously said the complaints included discrimination, violence, verbal aggression and sexual misconduct, with half of the incidents involving the mayor and the aldermen’s college.

Employees now say the conduct has continued unchanged. They allege that managers ask them to bypass procedures and rules to keep people happy, even when doing so would be unlawful. Those who resist, they say, may be threatened with dismissal or subjected to workplace bullying. Some employees also claim the city administration keeps a blacklist of staff members who oppose it.

“

We are talking about discrimination, violence, verbal aggression and even sexually transgressive behavior.

The accounts include repeated shouting and insulting remarks described as sexist or racist. One employee said, “I do not feel safe when I am alone in an office with one of them.” Others said they choose their work clothes carefully to avoid sexist comments about their bodies. Staff members also say problems are dismissed or minimized when they raise them, leaving them feeling powerless. They report having contacted several bodies and say they requested an audit from Audit Flanders earlier this year, but received no response.

“

But since then, their behavior has not changed at all. There is a lack of insight.