Ministry urged to assume responsibility in dismissal case of Elsa Maria Holm Olsen at Glasir in Denmark

The Ministry of Children and Education is urged to take full responsibility for the case regarding the dismissal of Elsa Maria Holm Olsen, the education director at Glasir, if it decides not to reverse its original decision to invalidate her termination. According to Gunn Ellefsen, Una Joensen’s lawyer, the compensation claim could exceed one million Danish kroner.

Una Joensen, the principal of Glasir, is not involved in the dismissal case of Holm Olsen, as the responsibility lies solely with the Ministry of Children and Education. Jógvan Elias Winther Poulsen, the attorney representing Holm Olsen, confirmed that Glasir is not a direct party in the matter, following an independent investigation that suggested the institution should adhere to the directives of the ministry.

However, if the ministry maintains its decision and Holm Olsen’s dismissal is upheld, Glasir will be responsible for paying her compensation. The principal has expressed concerns about this outcome, emphasizing that the ministry is the entity at fault.

The case has been ongoing for over a year, with the compensation claim calculated from September 1, 2023. The claim is currently pegged at 741,467 Danish kroner for the period until July 2023, which includes a monthly retroactive payment with pension considerations. If reinstated, the total amount could rise to 1.2 million kroner due to additional notice period requirements.

Ultimately, if the ministry does not reconsider its decision to uphold Holm Olsen’s dismissal, it will need to negotiate and fund her potential compensation, according to Una Joensen’s legal representative.