Fifteen former employees at Aalborg Theater describe a work environment marked by fear, harsh management, and excessive overtime. The workers shared their experiences anonymously with a local media outlet.
The criticism focuses heavily on directors Claus Nørgaard Poulsen and Kjersti Hustvedt. Both directors started their positions in January last year. Neither has agreed to interview requests about the allegations.
Multiple employees reported being shouted at by the two directors in front of colleagues. Questioning management decisions could lead to serious disciplinary meetings, according to the accounts.
The Technical Union, which represents some theater staff, confirmed these workplace descriptions.
One former employee stated, "I was constantly on high alert when I went to work because I feared when I would be the one to step wrong."
Board chair Tina Fredensborg acknowledged in a written comment that the theater regrets some employees "felt squeezed." She emphasized the theater stands in a different place today than just one year ago, with reduced sick leave and improved staff well-being.
The Danish Working Environment Authority visited Aalborg Theater in April. Their inspection raised suspicions that employees in certain departments faced bullying and offensive behavior.
Following the inspection, the theater and authorities reached an agreement to address the workplace problems.
This situation highlights ongoing challenges in Denmark's cultural sector, where artistic institutions sometimes struggle to maintain healthy work environments despite their creative missions. The gap between management statements and employee experiences remains notable in this case.