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TRT-4 Decision Confirmed Moral Harassment Against Telecommunications Installer Called a “Certificate Addict,” Increasing Compensation and Adding Labor Rights
A telecommunications line installer in Rio Grande do Sul will be compensated after suffering moral harassment from his supervisor, who referred to him as the “record holder of certificates” in front of coworkers. The decision from the 1st Labor Court of Cachoeirinha was upheld by the 8th Panel of the Regional Labor Court of the 4th Region (RS).
The compensation, initially set at R$ 6,000, was increased to R$ 12,000. Adding the other recognized rights, such as overtime and ungranted breaks, the total amount of the judgment reaches R$ 38,000, according to information from ConJur.
Moral Harassment and Psychological Impacts
The process revealed that the worker took leave due to psychological issues as well as to treat a tumor.
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On one occasion, he suffered a panic attack inside the company and did not receive the necessary assistance.
Upon returning from leave, he was surprised by a suspension imposed by another supervisor.
Besides the verbal offenses, which labeled him as a “certificate addict,” the employee had his dignity undermined in front of colleagues.
Messages in apps and testimonies confirmed the abusive treatment, reinforcing the severity of the situation.
Understanding of Justice Regarding the Case
The service provider company was declared in default for failing to present a defense, which led to the acceptance of the worker’s claims.
According to Judge Luiz Henrique Bisso Tatsch, there was a clear violation of the employee’s subjective honor, constituting moral damage to be compensated.
In the ruling, Judge Brígida Charão Barcelos highlighted that it is not necessary to prove material damage to characterize moral harassment.
It is sufficient to demonstrate that there was a violation of honor, image, or dignity, as provided in Article 5 of the Constitution.
The Role of Companies and Shared Responsibility
The companies involved appealed in an attempt to overturn or reduce the sentence, but TRT-4 upheld the decision.
The court reinforced that moral damage, in these cases, is considered “in re ipsa,” meaning that it automatically arises from the proven unlawful act.
For experts, the case underscores the need for internal policies to prevent moral harassment, including training for managers and secure reporting channels.
Ignoring abusive behaviors can lead to not only financial compensation but also damages to corporate reputation.
Reflections on the Work Environment
Decisions like this show that the Labor Justice system has been seeking to curb practices that impact the emotional health of employees.
The recognition of moral harassment as a violation of human dignity highlights the importance of healthier and more respectful work environments, especially in sectors that deal with high pressure and turnover.
The case also emphasizes the need for companies to review their protocols for supporting employees in medical treatment, avoiding punishments and embarrassments that can exacerbate psychological illness.
The judgment that recognized the moral harassment against the worker exposes how derogatory comments can exceed management limits and become violations of rights.
The ruling reinforces the duty of companies to preserve the dignity of their employees.
In your opinion, do decisions like this help curb abusive practices in the workplace? Have you witnessed or experienced situations of moral harassment? Share your experience in the comments and contribute to this essential debate.
Sim ! Mutas vezes , hoje tenho problemas psicológico por causa disso.
Concordo plenamente. Já passei por isso.
“É lamentável que ainda existam ambientes de trabalho onde o assédio moral seja tolerado. Quando a gestão fecha os olhos para práticas abusivas, contribui para o adoecimento dos trabalhadores. Hoje eu mesma enfrento a Síndrome de Burnout, resultado direto de um contexto hostil e de assédio moral praticado por uma gerente, e até agora a empresa não tomou nenhuma providência. É urgente que as organizações assumam sua responsabilidade, criem canais seguros de denúncia e ofereçam apoio real a quem sofre esse tipo de violência.”