In Lithuania, a scientific center director faced legal repercussions for publicly belittling an employee, a researcher, during a meeting. The director made derogatory statements about the employee's contributions, suggesting that she had not worked for five years and was a burden to the organization. The researcher felt that these comments were not only inaccurate but also demeaning, indicating that employees who do not generate financial benefits are unwelcome and should feel guilty about their position.

The researcher highlighted that the director failed to consider her family circumstances that impacted her career path. She had been on maternity leave for three years and is raising three children, two of whom have disabilities. These personal situations naturally affected her ability to maintain a fast-paced academic career. Moreover, she emphasized that this was her first term at the institution, signaling that she was still integrating into her professional environment.

Throughout her tenure, she stated she had never received any prior negative feedback regarding her performance, which makes the director's comments seem even more unwarranted. The case raises significant concerns about workplace harassment in academic and research settings, emphasizing the need for greater sensitivity and understanding of personal circumstances that can affect employee productivity and morale.