Nature Research Centre says cottage was outside work environment

The Nature Research Centre, a state research institute, has concluded an inquiry into allegations that a biologist was sexually harassed by his supervisor at the supervisor’s private cottage and in a hot tub, LRT reported. The centre determined that the incident involved a private relationship between the individuals outside working hours.

The commission found that there was not a sufficient connection between the circumstances at the private cottage and the work environment. The centre said an employer must create a safe workplace free from harassment and violence, but cannot ensure such conditions outside working hours at a private cottage where employees have agreed to go in their free time.

The centre is lifting most of the temporary protective measures imposed during the inquiry. These included a ban on the scientist accused of harassment from assigning work, tasks or instructions to the complainant and from organising his work. However, significant changes to the working conditions will remain under the authority of centre director Edita Sužiedėlienė.

At the director’s proposal, restrictions on direct contact between the scientist and the subordinate biologist will also remain. “I agreed with the commission’s conclusion that there was not a sufficient connection with the institution’s work environment,” Sužiedėlienė told LRT. She said she had largely approved the proposed temporary measures, with some adjustments, while retaining the restriction on direct contact between the complainant and the person named in the complaint.

The centre based its decision on the fact that the reported events took place at a private cottage where the two employees had gone in their free time, and therefore outside a work environment over which the centre could have influence.

The complainant studies biological diversity at Vilnius University and works at the Nature Research Centre under a fixed-term employment contract and on one project. He is subordinate to the scientist accused of harassment. The complainant had previously selected the scientist as a prospective supervisor for a planned internship, but the scientist did not become his supervisor because a tripartite practical training agreement was not signed.

The two men travelled in June to an event in Biržai commemorating the birth anniversary of botanist Jonas Dagys. The event was organised by the Lithuanian Botanical Society and the Sėla Biržai Regional Museum. They were not sent there on official assignments and travelled on their own initiative during the weekend.

After the event, the scientist and his subordinate agreed to spend the night at the scientist’s private cottage and travel to Vilnius together afterwards. The subordinate alleges that he was pressured to drink alcohol and to be naked in the cottage’s hot tub. He also says the supervisor touched his foot and knee and engaged him in conversations of a sexual nature, including comments about the appearance of his genitals and an alleged sexual attraction to him.

The complainant has declined to disclose his name, saying he wanted to protect himself from the effects of negative publicity. LRT has also withheld the alleged perpetrator’s name because law enforcement has not opened a pre-trial investigation, meaning it is not known whether the information about a possible crime will be confirmed.