Austrian Man Wins 390,000 Euros in a Bizarre Gender Discrimination Case
For the past few years, more and more organizations are trying to promote gender equality as they allow women to contribute to the organization in the same amount as men do. This discourse leads to the implementation of drastic changes in policies to hire female employees on important positions in the company. This enables women to take part in decision-making, and they can voice out their concerns easily without feeling inferior in any way.
What about Gender Discrimination on Men?
However, equality in the workplace must extend in both ways to encourage employing people based on their skills, work experience, and credentials, not on gender. We need to realize that men can also fall victims of discrimination when companies tend to give women more access to the possibilities it has to offer. An Austrian man stepped forward to lead an example of this case. Just last Monday, he won 300,000 Euros on a gender discrimination case against a female employee.
The Austrian court ruled in favor of transport ministry official Peter Franzmayr in a case of gender discrimination in his workplace. Franzmayr claimed that he got sidestepped for an internal promotion when their boss gave the position he rightfully deserved to a woman instead.
The complainant filed the case in 2011 when the then-Minister of Transport, Innovation, and Technology Doris Bures of the Social Democrat (SPÖ) and the current Second President of Austria’s Parliament, wanted to merge the two departments and they needed a sole manager to handle the new unit. Aside from Franzmayr, the woman named Zechner and the other men applied for the promotion. Franzmayr believed that they all possessed the qualifications and skills for the available position.
Doris Bures Favored Zecher Over Anyone Else
Unfortunately, Ursula Zecher ended up as the head of Schienen-Control a rail regulator in 2011. Franzmayr couldn’t believe the results since he ranked about 0.25% higher than her. He believed that Bures became bias in her decision since she was the only woman among the three candidates.
The Austrian man cried foul over gender discrimination that prompted him to file a case and fight for his promotion. However, Bures defended her decision and claimed they followed the SOP in choosing the successful candidate for the job. As an advocate for gender equality, she said that hiring Zecher uplifted the dignity and contribution of women in the Austrian politics.
The High Court Ruled In Favor of Franzmayr
Fortunately, the Austrian court saw past through Bures’ bias decision. They ordered Bures and Zecher to pay 317, 386 euros to compensate Franzmayr for losing his job. They also need to compensate the salary he would’ve earned in the position plus damages and interest. Their verdict stated that Franzmayr experienced discrimination when he applied for promotion. They also noted how Zechner obtained a political advantage against the other candidates due to her gender.
After he left the Ministry, Franzmayr worked for four years as a lawyer before he came back to the public sector as town municipal director of Wels in 2016. Earlier this month, he received an appointment as the supervisory board of Asfinag, the publicly-owned motorway network in Austria, by Transport Minister Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom Party. Zechner, coincidentally, also started working for Asfinag as a managing director earlier this month and is commercial matters.
More in Legal Advice
-
A Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming a Real Estate Lawyer
A real estate lawyer specializes in legal matters related to property, from transactions to disputes. They ensure legality in real estate...
December 3, 2023 -
What Is Asylum & How Does It Work?
At its core, asylum is a protection granted to foreign nationals in a country because they have suffered persecution or have...
November 26, 2023 -
6 Reasons Why Sentencing Is Any Judge’s Toughest Assignment
When you picture a judge, you might imagine a stern figure in black robes, gavel in hand, delivering verdicts with unwavering...
November 14, 2023 -
Carrie Underwood Sued for NBC Sunday Night Football’s “Game On”
It is almost ritualistic. As the weekend winds down and Sunday evening approaches, millions across America gear up for a night...
November 12, 2023 -
Why Lawyers’ Productivity Has Increased in Modern Times
Remember the old days when your image of a lawyer might have been drawn straight out of an episode of “Matlock”...
November 5, 2023 -
Paying Down Debts Using Debt Relief Tactics
Debt is like that lingering headache that never seems to go away, no matter how much aspirin you pop. But there...
October 29, 2023 -
Pro Se: Your Right to Represent Yourself WITHOUT an Attorney
The legal system is complex and so, more often than not, people hire a professional attorney to navigate the legal system....
October 21, 2023 -
The Craziest, Most Expensive Hollywood Divorces of All Time
Hollywood is the land of glitz, glamour, and romance – until it is not. Over the years, we have seen our...
October 13, 2023 -
How Was Life as a Lawyer in Ancient Rome?
The Late Roman Republic was a period chock-full of political drama, rampant corruption, and the rise and fall of powerful figures....
October 8, 2023