The Ministry of Education yesterday said that it would move National Museum of Marine Science and Technology Director-General Chen Su-fen (陳素芬) to a non-managerial position following a preliminary investigation into bullying charges against her.
The ministry put together a three-person team — a legal expert, a social psychologist and a lawyer — to investigate the accusations against Chen after Mirror Media last month reported that she frequently used harsh tones to rebuke museum staff and scolded workers for asking for annual paid leave.
“The team conducted an assessment of how Chen managed staff and oversaw the operations of the museum and found that she is no longer fit to lead the organization. They recommended that the ministry make quick adjustments to Chen’s duties. We will follow administrative procedures to move her to a non-managerial position, and she will be on leave while the procedures are concluded,” the ministry said in a statement.
Photo: Liberty Times
The team would conduct further investigations into whether Chen’s behavior constitutes workplace bullying, the ministry said, adding that results of the investigation and measures to be taken to address them would be announced at a later date.
Chen is to be the second government official to be removed from her post this month because of workplace bullying allegations.
Earlier this month, former Workforce Development Agency northern branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) was dismissed from her position with two major demerits after an investigation into the suicide of an information specialist found that Hsieh verbally abused employees and demanded that they read text messages even during holidays.
Photo: Wang Yi-song, Taipei Times
The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday listed Hsieh as a defendant on allegations that she used government funds to buy gifts for herself.
The prosecutors’ office in Taipei is also investigating former minister of labor Hsu Ming-chuen (許銘春) for allegedly using NT$3.65 million (US$112,190) from the employment stabilization fund to hold a concert.
Prosecutors in New Taipei City yesterday restricted Hsieh from traveling abroad as they looked into charges of malfeasance against her.
The death of a civil servant and the subsequent bullying charges against government officials have prompted government agencies to review complaints filed by workers.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications yesterday said that it is handling 18 complaints related to workplace bullying that it has so far received.
Separately, Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) said that employees receiving text messages after working hours would be counted as having worked overtime.
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