Helsinki court rejects job discrimination lawsuit against Alma Media

Johanna Korhonen to appeal decision

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Helsinki District Court has rejected a lawsuit brought by journalist Johanna Korhonen against the media company Alma Media for wrongful termination of employment.
      She was also ordered to pay EUR 8.000 in court costs.
      Korhonen had been chosen as editor-in-chief of the Rovaniemi-based newspaper Lapin Kansa, but the appointment was cancelled. Alma Media said that the reason for the move was dishonesty on the part of Korhonen, as she had not corrected her perspective employer’s assumption that her life partner was a man, and had not disclosed her political activities,
     
Korhonen alleges that she was sacked before ever starting at her job simply because she was in a same-sex relationship, and that non-disclosure of her partner’s involvement in local politics in Vantaa was a sham excuse.
      In court she demanded compensation of nearly EUR 230,000 from Pohjois-Suomen Media, which runs Lapin Kansa as a part of Alma Media.
      The court found in favour of the defendant, saying that a lack of trust stemming from dishonesty was a legitimate reason for termination. The court also found that Lapin Kansa was right to feel that there was a lack of trust when Korhonen disclosed her appointment as editor-in-chief to a competing newspaper, the Oulu-based Kaleva, before the appointment was officially made public.
     
Korhonen said that she plans to take the case to the Helsinki Court of Appeals.
      “I am very shocked by the decision, and shocked that what I have told did not have any weight in the decision.”
     
Alma Media welcomed the court’s ruling.
      In a restrained comment, Alma Media head of communications Rauno Heinonen told the Finnish News Agency STT that while the management of the concern is satisfied with the decision, it does not want to spread its feelings in public.
      Heinonen admitted that the case has been unpleasant all in all, and could have brought the company short-term negative publicity.
     
The Finnish gay rights organisation SETA issued a statement condemning the decision.
      The group fears that the decision will make it more difficult to challenge work-related discrimination in Finland.
      SETA said that it is worried about the notion that it is permissible to ask questions about family relationships in a job interview, and that answers given to those questions would have a decisive significance in employment.
      The group says that job applicants should have complete certainty that it is not necessary to disclose private matters that have nothing to do with the job itself.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  New editor-in-chief dropped from newspaper, allegedly over lesbian relationship (2.10.2008)
  Editor Johanna Korhonen vs. Alma Media in court (7.5.2009)
  Editor Johanna Korhonen demands damages from Lapin Kansa (31.10.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat