Employees and clients of mental health institution GGzE in Eindhoven threaten legal action against the Supervisory Board. They will go to court if the GGzE Supervisory Board adheres to the decision to suspend the board. There is a lot of unrest, several reliable sources say to Omroep Brabant. Last year, the GGzE treated about 12,000 people who needed psychological help.
Last Wednesday, the Supervisory Board suspended the board of GGzE. This came like a bolt from the blue for the two board members Peter Littooij and Machteld Ploeg, as well as for staff members and clients.
The resignation of the board members leads to a lot of unrest within the GGzE. This is apparent from conversations that Omroep Brabant had with several insiders. They only want to tell their story anonymously, for fear of measures by the Supervisory Board.
‘Care for clients in danger’
Staff members say there is little support for the Board’s decision to suspend the board. According to them, the decision was made ill-considered and impulsively. They also fear that the care for clients may be endangered.
For this reason, the works council and the client council threaten legal action. They will start a case at the Enterprise Chamber in Amsterdam if the Supervisory Board adheres to the decision to suspend the board.
The Enterprise Chamber can intervene firmly in organisations. For example, it can sweep decisions such as suspending a board from the table. The Enterprise Chamber can also suspend, dismiss or temporarily appoint directors or supervisory directors.
Disagreement over board chairman
The Supervisory Board suspended board members Ploeg and Littooij last week after a difference of opinion about how to fill the vacancy of board chairman. After former chairman Joep Verbugt recently retired, the GGzE is looking for a new one.
Through recruitment agencies, the GGzE has tried to find someone who has extensive administrative experience, but also a lot of experience in healthcare. Several attempts to find a candidate who meets these requirements have failed, according to the Board of Trustees.
That is why the Supervisory Board is now trying to recruit a chairman with only extensive managerial experience. The current two board members, supported by the client council, works council, medical staff and some directors within the GGzE, want the chairman to have a broad background in healthcare.
This difference of opinion has increased in recent times and, according to the Supervisory Board, has led to ‘an irreparable breach of trust’. The board was then suspended last week.
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