The Archdiocese of Cologne has terminated its legal advisor without notice. Reason: Because of the corona pandemic, she took her back-friendly office chair with her to the home office.
Cologne – The legal adviser worked for the Archdiocese of Cologne for more than ten years. Then she got her notice a few months ago – without giving a reason, as she said. The woman complained about that. The lawyer is said to have found out the reason for the termination only during her first appointment before the Cologne labor court in September 2021.
The former legal counsel to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainer Maria Woelki, was allegedly fired without notice because she had taken her back-friendly office chair home with her to work from home at the beginning of the corona pandemic. Not only the dismissal is the subject of the complaint, the lawyer also demands at least 50,000 euros in compensation for pain and suffering.
Archdiocese of Cologne dismisses legal advisor because of office chair – or because of abuse research?
After no agreement could be reached at the first court date in 2021, the Cologne labor court will probably make a final decision on the matter on Tuesday (January 18, 2022). However, it is also possible that there will be a conditional decision or an evidence decision and the process will continue, said a court spokeswoman.
Wolfgang Glöckner, the lawyer for the Archdiocese, had emphasized in the hearing last year that the office chair was an “object of considerable value”. Taking it was “illegal”. “There is not a single office chair that could be taken home in Corona times,” explained the lawyer. In addition, the legal adviser called in sick shortly afterwards.
Archdiocese of Cologne: dismissed legal advisor was involved in clarifying cases of abuse
If you follow the defense, the office chair could not be the only or real reason for the termination. Because according to her lawyer Stephan Vielmeier, the legal adviser suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because she had to work through the files on cases of sexual child abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Cologne for years. The details were shocking and extremely distressing.
Vielmeier spoke of a “campaign” by the Archdiocese against his client, because after all, the legal advisor was directly involved in the processing of the abuse cases. As the WDR reports, she is named in the reports on the abuse cases that appeared in March. According to WDR, the report certifies that you have shown great commitment during the processing of the suspected cases.
Cardinal Woelki is on a break because he is accused of serious mistakes in dealing with the abuse. The Archdiocese of Cologne is currently discussing his return. (ktho/dpa)
