A young policewoman in the fight against sexism and overtime

A young policewoman in the fight against sexism and overtime

In conversation with Anna, a former policewoman in her early twenties, it becomes clear how challenging and stressful the service in the police can be. "I had between 80 and 100 overtime a month," she reports, adding that the 24-hour services often lasted longer and that she even had to work on days off. Despite her passion for the job, she finally decided to quit. A crucial factor was sexism that she experienced as a woman in an environment dominated by men. These experiences were no longer wearable for them.

Anna, whose name has been changed to her protection, speaks "further thought" in the WZ podcast about her time with the police. The podcast is moderated by Petra Tempfer and Mathias Ziegler and illuminates Ana's motives to separate from their job. She says that she originally wanted to become a police officer to help other people; However, this ideal idea was severely impaired by the reality of their work.

The way to physiotherapy

After four years in the police service, Anna has taken a new direction and is now completing an apprenticeship as a physiotherapist. In between, she worked as a supervisor in a kindergarten. Your change to a less stressful job shows how important it is to prioritize your own mental health. Anna is an example for many who work in stressful professions and finally find the courage to take a fresh start.

The proportion of women in the police is currently around 30 percent, but on management levels it is only 10 percent. The Ministry of the Interior points out that the proportion of women in basic training is 38 percent, with a few classes that are majority female. Nevertheless, there is still massive need for action, especially with regard to equality in management positions.

sexism is a widespread problem in many professions, and the police don't seem to be an exception. Specific figures are difficult to get, but the staff representation reports of a few known cases. Another aspect that contributes to this misery is the lack of personnel. There is currently a lack of several thousand police officers, which leads to an enormous amount of overtime. In 2023, a total of ten million overtime hours were counted - that is an average of 23 overtime hours per police officer per month. In particularly stressed areas of service, such as the patrol service in Vienna favorites, there can even be up to 100 overtime hours a month.

The union emphasizes that the lack of personnel is not a new phenomenon and has existed for years. Although the number of police officers is to be increased to a maximum of around 32,000 for 2024, the situation is still worrying. A referendum entitled "Police - Critical Personnel Lack" demands a fundamental reform to increase the executive by at least 25 percent and ensure adequate salaries. The clear lack of personnel not only affects the operational readiness, but also contributes to an increased stress level among the officials.

It remains to be seen how those responsible will react to the situation, but Anna is certain that such topics must not be ignored. Your example shows that it is time to start changes in both police culture and personnel policy. Anna has made a decision for herself that has changed her life - and possibly inspires her to rethink her own life situation. Further details on this exciting topic offers a comprehensive article at www.wienerzeitung.at .