– Just the tip of the iceberg – E24

Storting representative Tuva Moflag (Ap) and Fellesforbundet’s Kine Asper Vistnes believe that several places in Norwegian working life need a cleaning job.

– It is shocking that people are exposed to what Sofie has been exposed to in working life, says Moflag.

Sofie has received massive support after she told her story from the app company Shortcut to E24 on Saturday.

Read the whole case here: Sofie warned – then the nightmare started.

– We see this matter as very serious. At the same time, it is not unique, and that perhaps makes it extra scary, says Moflag. She is a parliamentary representative and financial policy spokesperson in the Labor Party.

Together with deputy leader Kine Asper Vistnes in the Federation, she now hopes that Sofie’s story will lead to a proper clean-up in Norwegian working life.

– Sofie was the one who took the burden of standing up. Her story shows that this could have been avoided in many ways, Vistnes.

– You must have routines, attitudes and tools in place. They must be so specific that they can be used regardless of the kind of relationship people have in the workplace. It must be safe, and it must be accessible and well known, she says.

– Not okay

Last year, Kantar carried out a survey on behalf of the trade unions Parat, LO, Handel og Kontor, Fellesorganisationen, Tekna and Fagforbundet. The harassment barometer showed that one in five had been exposed to unwanted sexual attention in a work situation in the last 12 months.

Moflag believes that this shows that society has not come as far as one would like in the work against sexual harassment.

– It is very tough and burdensome for the person who comes forward, but it is surely only the tip of the iceberg, says Moflag.

– This is a societal problem. It’s about attitudes. Some of it must be tackled through political measures, some of it must be solved through cooperation in the workplace. And then a lot is about us having to bring it to light and say that “this is not okay”, she continues.

– She has a lot of people behind her

Moflag hopes that people with leading roles in society can now be clear that such cases are unacceptable, and that one should not experience what Sofie has experienced in working life.

– Sofie needs to know that she is not alone. She has a lot of people behind her, says Moflag.

– Have you yourself been in situations where you have seen or heard something that you later regretted not speaking about?

– If everyone goes on their own, then I think most people will have to say yes to that, says Vistnes in Fellesforbundet.

She hopes Sofie inspires others who have experienced something similar in a work context.

– Here we can help ensure that each workplace gets what it needs to create routines. When Sofie has stood up and taken on the huge burden, I think it should be an inspiration to others, she says.

– Workplaces must understand that no ready-made scheme will come to them. Now you have to sit down immediately and decide how to create a workplace with a good culture.