Award-winning Janita Antti-Roiko shouted and raged at her employees - Voice recordings from the workplace reveal behavior
The prominent harness racing trainer Janita Antti-Roiko was convicted of workplace safety violations due to inappropriate behavior towards her employees, including shouting and derogatory name-calling.
Janita Antti-Roiko, a well-known harness racing trainer in Finland, has been found guilty of workplace safety violations by the South Savo District Court. The case centered on her unacceptable conduct towards her employees from August to November 2023. The court's findings were supported by audio recordings provided as evidence, where Antti-Roiko exhibited a pattern of abusive behavior including yelling and using derogatory language towards her workers. The employees in question were foreigners who had recently arrived in Finland to perform various stable-related tasks, including cleaning stalls and organizing equipment on Antti-Roiko's premises. Testimonies from three employees illustrated the hostile work environment created by Antti-Roiko, with recorded evidence capturing her explicit outbursts such as calling them "fucking assholes" and questioning their intelligence in an aggressive manner. The recordings played a crucial role in proving the claims made against her. This conviction sheds light on workplace harassment in the equestrian sector, calling into question the treatment of workers, particularly those who are new or vulnerable. As discussions around workplace safety and employee rights gain momentum globally, this case might serve as an important reference for similar issues in various industries, emphasizing the need for respect and fair treatment at all levels of employment.