Bullying
"Women can't do that!"
You are being discriminated against because of gender, origin, religion or other characteristics.
AGG
The boss may NOT do that
Absolutely prohibited — the AGG protects you!
The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) protects you from discrimination on grounds of race/origin, gender, religion, disability, age or sexual identity. This applies to your entire working life. The employer must actively counteract it. In the event of violations you have a right to complain and possibly claims for damages.
What the law says
§ 1 AGG – Aim of the Act
The aim of the Act is to prevent or eliminate discrimination on grounds of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity.
§ 13 AGG – Right to complain
Employees have the right to complain to the competent bodies of the company if they feel discriminated against in connection with their employment relationship.
§ 15 AGG – Compensation and damages
In the event of a violation of the prohibition of discrimination, the employer is obliged to compensate the damage caused. For non-pecuniary damage, appropriate compensation in money may be claimed.
What you can do
- Document discriminatory statements immediately (witnesses, date, exact wording).
- Use your right to complain under § 13 AGG — every company must have a complaints body.
- Claims for damages must be asserted within 2 months!
- The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency advises free of charge: antidiskriminierungsstelle.de
Email template for your trainer
Subject: Complaint under § 13 AGG
Dear [complaints body / works council / HR department],
I hereby exercise my right to complain under § 13 AGG.
On [date] the following incident occurred:
[describe the facts]
I regard this as discrimination on grounds of [characteristic: gender / origin / religion / etc.] within the meaning of § 1 AGG.
I ask you to examine the matter and take suitable measures under § 12 AGG. I expect a response within [2 weeks].
Kind regards
[Your name]