“Verbal abuse” and “excessive alcohol use”: mediation at the National Lottery due to the behavior of CEO Jannie Haek

“Verbal abuse” and “excessive alcohol use”: mediation at the National Lottery due to the behavior of CEO Jannie Haek | Domestic

Since the end of March, a mediation attempt has been underway at the National Lottery between the CEO of the public company Jannie Haek and a trade union front of ACV, ACOD and ACLVB. The unions accuse Haek of “unacceptable verbal violence” against the staff of the government company and “excessive alcohol use”. ‘De Tijd’ heard this from various sources and was confirmed to the newspaper by guardian minister Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V).

The mediation started after a union letter was sent to the board of directors at the end of February, which the newspaper had access to. “Over the years we have observed an increasing number of incidents involving verbal abuse by the CEO. “These behaviors, characterized by a toxic attitude based on fear and intimidation, are inconsistent with the values and ethics of our company,” the letter said.

The unions further emphasize that “some facts are recorded and shocking”. “The stress our CEO experiences, his attempt to quit smoking, his excessive alcohol consumption and the fact that he does not like some people cannot justify this behavior,” the unions say in the letter. The 58-year-old Haek, who has been head of the National Lottery since 2013, has received two fines from the labor inspectorate in recent years for smoking in the offices, De Tijd points out.

There are not 50 solutions. Either he changes his behavior, or his mandate comes to an end.
Union response

Mediation process

Following the union letter, the chairwoman of the board of directors, Géraldine Demaret, started a mediation process with an external mediator at the end of March. “The procedure is still ongoing,” Demaret said in the newspaper. “After a first round, the parties are now put around the table together. The goal is to improve relationships. The procedure is confidential to give them every chance of success. The atmosphere is constructive.” Mediation attempts are planned for next week, according to De Tijd.

The Van Peteghem cabinet, which is responsible for the National Lottery, confirmed the procedure to De Tijd. “We are waiting for the results and will determine what needs to be done based on them,” spokesperson Minister Van Peteghem said in the newspaper.

Yet the unions are very suspicious about mediation, De Tijd continues. “There are not fifty solutions. Either he changes his behavior, or his mandate comes to an end.” The unions paint a picture of a CEO who feels increasingly unapproachable. “The National Lottery has become his organization, where he tolerates less and less contradiction. If you try, you’ll get the full brunt and he’ll start screaming. People are afraid of him and avoid him.”

Haek does not want to respond in the newspaper because “all participants in the mediation have signed a confidentiality agreement,” said National Lottery spokesperson Jérémie Demeyer.