Short Answer

Federal equal treatment laws obligate every single German employer to maintain a functional, independent internal complaints office.

You do not have to rely on your direct line manager to trigger a formal corporate investigation into workplace harassment.

What Most Expats Don't Realize

You attempted to address ongoing inappropriate behavior by reporting it informally to your immediate supervisor during a weekly check-in. Your supervisor downplayed the incidents as a cultural misunderstanding and took no administrative action, leaving you stuck in a hostile environment for an additional six months. The resulting severe psychological distress forced you to take extended medical leave, costing you a €3,500 quarterly performance bonus and stalling your career progression.

What To Do

  • Print a physical timeline documenting the exact dates, times, verbal statements, and names of any present witnesses.
  • Book a private, confidential consultation with a member of your company’s internal Works Council (Betriebsrat) to discuss your options.
  • "Ich reiche hiermit eine formelle Beschwerde wegen sexueller Belästigung am Arbeitsplatz ein." (I herewith file a formal complaint regarding sexual harassment at the workplace.) — send this statement alongside your documented evidence directly to the official AGG complaints unit.