Vatican workers denounce mistreatment, psychological harassment and injustice by their superiors

The data is the result of a first survey of this type and to which 250 workers responded, 80% of whom were members of the association, of which about 4,200 lay people working in the Holy See, the only representative body of the employees of the Holy See, where There are no unions or the right to strike.

According to the survey published on the association’s website, 73.9% perceived a disconnection between management and workers, compared to a minority of 12.8% who expressed satisfaction, 71.6% of respondents stated that their superiors were not selected based on transparency and a resume, 26% of workers stated the inability to engage in open and honest dialogue with their managers.

In general, Vatican employees complained about the lack of human resource developmentsince 75.8% considered that the work environment in which they work it does not reward initiative, merit, or high-level experience.

More than 56% of workers “reported having suffered injustice and mistreatment at the hands of their superiors, a factor that should be investigated and seriously addressed, although the crime of psychological harassment is not yet recognized in the Vatican“, emphasizes the ADLV.

Likewise, they consider that “Vatican employees would like to be valued more for their skills, and in fact, 73.4% perceive favoritism, unequal treatment, lack of attention towards employees and uncertainty about the protection of their rights, including pension rights.

68% of respondents believe that the reforms of the last decade have not brought concrete benefits to employees, but have instead led to greater closures and restrictions, and more than 79% believe that investment in staff training is insufficient.

The questionnaire also highlights the need to have officially recognized worker representative bodies.

A section of the questionnaire was dedicated to possible suggestions for introducing Pope Leo, should the opportunity arise, and the majority of respondents “expressed the need to restore the dignity, voice and real protection of workers, through representation, transparency, dialogue and respect for people and their rights.