Hans Erik Varsi resigns as director of Tanavassdraget Fish Management in Norway amid workplace turmoil

Hans Erik Varsi, 68, resigned as director of the Tanavassdraget Fish Management (TF) on June 21, 2023, after 13 years in the position. He reported experiencing severe verbal attacks via emails, during meetings, and in media, which ultimately impacted his health and led to his resignation. Other employees at TF have also fallen ill or quit due to the work environment.

The Norwegian Labor Inspectorate was notified of these conditions in January but has yet to reach out to any employees. The Ministry of Climate and Environment has declared that TF lacks a legal board and has barred it from making crucial decisions, including hiring a new director. The board, consisting of eight men and one woman, is in violation of gender equality laws.

Varsi described the hostility he faced as “inhuman,” stating it was unlike any experience in his lengthy career. Despite attempts to establish a board that complies with gender balance laws, the current board refused changes, and Varsi claimed ongoing pressure from board members contributed to his declining health.

The ministry has emphasized that until a valid board is formed, TF cannot make critical decisions. In response to the turmoil, recent efforts to enhance gender representation on the board failed, with no women selected as representatives despite proposals from a nomination committee.

Following Varsi’s resignation, Benn Larsen has been appointed as the interim director. The ministry expressed regret over the unrest and is leaving it to TF to rectify its leadership situation promptly. Without a valid board, any decisions made could have legal consequences, according to the ministry.