Lithuanian social security ministry staff report bullying by deputy minister, minister expresses trust in her

Lithuania’s Minister of Social Security and Labour Jūratė Zailskienė has acknowledged concerns raised by ministry employees about workplace bullying but says she personally has not received complaints about Deputy Minister Rita Grigalienė, whom she continues to trust, LRT reports.

An anonymous survey of 106 employees at the Social Security and Labour Ministry (SADM), conducted in February by the ministry’s trade union and published this week, revealed claims of a hostile work environment, humiliation, and excessive control by leadership. Staff described feeling undervalued, ignored, and unsafe expressing opinions, with Grigalienė singled out for aggressive communication.

Zailskienė told the ELTA news agency she had discussed the findings with Grigalienė and the wider team but declined to share details, stating any leadership changes would require “clear facts.” She noted some staff were unhappy the internal survey had been made public, adding that while she had not directly heard complaints about Grigalienė, she would engage further with employees through existing anonymous feedback channels.

“We must find a way to communicate constructively,” Zailskienė said, emphasising mutual listening between management and staff. She acknowledged criticisms that leadership dismisses employee arguments, maintains distance, and exhibits arrogance but stressed the need for verified evidence before acting on personnel changes.

The survey, which included 106 of the ministry’s 273 employees, also highlighted grievances over delayed information on political decisions and a lack of transparency. Participants claimed leadership avoids admitting mistakes, citing adherence to political agendas as justification.