The Allgemeine Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (General Act on Equal Treatment - AGG), which entered into force in 2006, is meant to prevent or eliminate disadvantages caused by race, ethnic origin, gender, religion or world view, disability, age or sexual identity. The legislator therefore explicitly provided for the employees’ right of action in § 13 AGG.

A complaint filed on the basis of AGG can therefore form the foundation for measures to be taken by the employer as well as claims to be made by the employee. Employees in terms of the AGG are not only members of staff, but also persons employed for vocational training, persons who are similar to members of staff, members of staff in home office, persons applying for a position, as well as persons, whose employment relationship has been terminated.

By creating the Guidelines on Sexual Discrimination, Harassment and Violence in 2016, the University of Greifswald explicitly extends the protection stipulated in the AGG to cover all of the members and persons who belong to the University. This also applies, in particular, to students at the University.

§ 13 AGG provides all of the University’s employees with the right to complain to the employer if they feel disadvantaged by their employer, superiors, other employees or third parties due to one of the previously named reasons and it is related to their employment relationship. 

The University of Greifswald’s Complaints Office pursuant to § 13 AGG is: