Latest news and stories about workplace harassment in Portugal for expats and residents.
The human resources director of the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde Lisboa Ocidental or ULSLO), André Coelho Dias, is accused of physically restraining an employee by taping her to a chair to force her to complete a task. The incident follows reports of internal unrest and staff departures at the hospital center, which is currently facing significant operational challenges.
The article discusses the prevalence of workplace bullying in Portugal, highlighting a recent incident at the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit (ULSLO) where a manager allegedly attempted to restrain a subordinate with tape. It explores the definitions, types (vertical, horizontal, structural, emotional, and strategic), and legal challenges of proving moral harassment in the workplace, while offering advice on how victims can document incidents and seek support through official channels.
Moral harassment in the workplace is a recurring theme in public debate and labour litigation. In court, the decisive issue is often another: what is effectively proven when facts are built through micro-acts, meetings without minutes, ambiguous messages, subtle exclusions, and 'technically justified' evaluations? Despite jurisprudential evolution, a problem remains...
By appealing twice against two first-instance decisions to the same effect, does the University of Porto not become complicit in the harassment? Opinion by Pedro Oliveira
Four out of every ten workers say they are victims of workplace harassment.
More than 77 percent believe they do not have a fair salary. The study is from the Portuguese Laboratory for Healthy Work Environments.
Nearly 40% of professionals surveyed in the latest report by the Portuguese Laboratory for Healthy Work Environments (Labpabs) reported being victims of workplace harassment, a 'warning sign' that experts say should not be ignored. The study, which surveyed 5,549 professionals across various sectors, highlights a rising trend in harassment, alongside significant concerns regarding mental health, burnout, and a lack of fair compensation. Experts emphasize that these issues reflect structural organizational failures rather than individual problems, calling for leadership reform and better work-life balance, while noting that hybrid work models currently offer better outcomes than fully in-office arrangements.
A report indicates that a significant portion of the Portuguese workforce reports experiencing harassment, raising questions about the underlying causes and implications.
Almost 40% of professionals who participated in the latest report from the Portuguese Laboratory of Healthy Work Environments (Labpabs) said they were victims of workplace harassment, a “warning sign” that experts believe should not be ignored. The document, which Lusa had access to and which resulted from the responses of 5,549 professionals from various sectors...
A report indicates that nearly 40% of the workforce in Portugal experiences harassment in their professional environment.
A report indicates that nearly 40% of employees report experiencing harassment in their professional environment.
Report reveals that companies are “divesting from the issue of mental health”.
The Local Health Unit (ULS) confirmed to Lusa that complaints were received from nurses against the nursing director, without specifying their content.
The majority of workplace harassment reports do not lead to the opening of an inspection process, according to the ACT.
According to the ACT, the number of requests for intervention regarding workplace harassment may be “substantially lower” than what is actually occurring.
The Authority for Working Conditions (ACT) received 3,481 requests for inspection regarding harassment in 2025, resulting in only 20 administrative offences, according to provisional data. The ACT noted that these figures include 3,422 reports of moral harassment and 59 of sexual harassment, though the actual number of cases is likely higher as many reports do not trigger an inspection. The authority emphasizes the need to distinguish harassment from other workplace issues like burnout or management conflicts. Meanwhile, the Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (CITE) can only intervene in cases involving discrimination based on sex or parental rights, with its president, Carla Tavares, noting that fear of retaliation often prevents victims from pursuing complaints.
A PhD researcher in Psychology highlights that sexual harassment “has a very deep gender mark.”
The CT highlights the need to distinguish harassment from 'other related concepts', such as the 'legitimate exercise of hierarchical and disciplinary power, stress, burnout, and workplace conflict'.
The researcher from the University of Évora draws attention to the “dual way of disqualifying what victims say, due to the nature of society, which is patriarchal, sexist and disqualifies women's complaints in particular”, because “the phenomenon affects women specifically and fundamentally”.
The agency details that the figures for last year identify 3,422 requests for intervention due to workplace bullying and 59 for sexual harassment.
The Impresa Group will have to pay more than 87,000 euros to Alexandra Carita, who worked as a freelancer for ten years. The journalist was subjected to years of jokes from her boss and an excessive workload.
Rui Pedro Bairrada, co-founder and chairman of Doutor Finanças, is the subject of disciplinary proceedings following reports of alleged moral and sexual harassment, as reported by Observador (paywall). According to the newspaper, the reported behaviour dates back to his time as CEO and led to the issuance of two notices.
Rui Pedro Bairrada was reported for inappropriate behaviour dating back to when he was CEO of Doutor Finanças. The company opened a disciplinary process at the end of 2025. He is barred from entering the company premises.
A study reveals that most professionals in the arts sector have experienced workplace bullying, while nearly half have faced sexual harassment.
About 75% of performing arts workers admitted to having experienced situations of moral harassment, and half reported cases of sexual harassment.
“I already knew that the phenomenon [of workplace harassment in the arts] existed”, but at least “now there is credible, informed information”, explained the Director-General of the Arts regarding the study by the MUDA project.
A study on workplace harassment in the performing arts calls for a best practices manual and the creation of an independent commission to develop structural measures against the problem.
A scientific study on workplace harassment in the Portuguese performing arts sector reveals that bullying and sexual harassment are widespread, often perpetrated by those in leadership or artistic direction roles. The research, conducted under the MUDA project, highlights that victims frequently face humiliation, intimidation, and non-consensual physical contact, with many reporting that precarious employment conditions exacerbate their vulnerability and hinder the reporting of abuse. The report calls for urgent institutional action, including mandatory training, independent reporting channels, and stronger legal protections.
Cases of harassment are closely linked to the exercise of power and precariousness, concludes the MUDA project: 75.8% of respondents say they have experienced moral harassment; 49.8% say they have suffered sexual harassment.
The investigator of the case had proposed a written reprimand for the director targeted by the complaint, but the proposal was never voted on during an executive meeting.
