A trans-identified male in Dortmund, Germany, is facing scrutiny after winning over €250,000 over the course of 240 separate discrimination lawsuits. Many have accused the man, who has been unemployed for 12 years, of using Germany’s strict protections for those who self-identify as transgender to enrich himself.
Apart from three internships and one short-term job, the trans-identified man has been unemployed since 2012 and receives public welfare. While Germany has strict privacy laws that have resulted in the man’s identity being censored, Reduxx can reveal his name as Alina Steffen.
In a recent interview with Westphalen Blatt, Steffen claimed to have applied for over 1,577 jobs over the last eight years, but reported he has struggled to find a position. But critics have accused Steffen of running something akin to a racket, labelling him an “AGG-hopper.” The German slang term refers to individuals who do not apply for a job with the intention of actually taking it up, but rather to receive compensation for alleged violations of anti-discrimination laws.
Steffen has been known to apply for jobs he does not actually qualify for throughout the North Rhine-Westphalia region. For example, in one instance he applied for a job which was a one-hour drive from his home despite the fact he does not have a driver’s license and cannot drive.
But the moment Steffen receives a rejection from a job he applies for, he files a lawsuit citing a violation of the German Equal Treatment Act (AGG). Steffen has also filed lawsuits for jobs he never applied for, but found to be “discriminatory” in advance by focusing on minor errors in the job advertisements.
For example, in one case, an advertisement omitted to specify that people of “diverse” genders can apply, and only stated that “male and female” applicants were welcome. Steffen sued over this omission and won.
Despite being on welfare, the hefty compensation awarded to Steffen by labor courts in various districts is not offset against his welfare benefits and is tax-free. As a result, Steffen is collecting welfare and raking in hundreds of thousands of Euros in court awards.
The director of the Bielefeld labor court, Joachim Kleveman, estimated that Steffen has so far won approximately €250,000 (approx. $257,000 USD) from various discrimination suits. Due to welfare checks, Steffen must regularly provide lists of his compensation payments. This year, Steffen has already reported winnings of €25,000.
Most recently, Steffen successfully sued ND-Rack, a company from Langenberg that distributes roof tents for cars and other camping-related gear. Nius reported on the case, noting that in his application, Steffen described himself as being 50% disabled, and a “male to female” transsexual as well as “intersex.”
Stell dir vor, du hältst hier als Mittelständler dieses Land am laufen, schaffst Arbeitsplätze, zahlst einen Haufen Steuern und deine Regierung piesackt dich permanent mit irgendwelchen Gesetzen, die in der Regel nichts weiter als ein Einfallstor für Irre darstellen, um aus… pic.twitter.com/1YHaGVYADa
— Anabel Schunke (@ainyrockstar) December 25, 2024
Steffen justified his lawsuit before the labor court by arguing that he was rejected because of his disability and sexual identity. He also felt discriminated against due to his age, as the company advertised that it was looking for workers for its “young team.”
Moreover, the position was not reported to the employment agency, which is legally required for jobs that could be suitable for people with disabilities, and he demanded €7,500 in compensation.
Nikolaj Dudenko, the CEO of ND-Rack in Langenberg, explained that he did not intend to discriminate against anyone and only read the first sentence of the application.
“We receive 450 applications a year. I immediately filter out all applicants who live more than 30 kilometers away because experience shows they quit after a year,” he told RTL West. He did not read further and rejected the application immediately. He was not aware that he was required to report the position to the employment office.
During the hearing, Dudenko tried to offer Steffen a position, but the man declined out of fear of being dismissed during the probationary period. The court suggested a settlement of €3,750 in compensation. The CEO felt this was unfair and accused Steffen of using the discrimination lawsuits to enrich himself. He ultimately offered €2,500 in compensation, but Steffen insisted on €3,750 as per the court’s suggestion. The entrepreneur reluctantly accepted the settlement.
According to the State Labor Court in Hamm, Steffen’s repeat litigation does not constitute an abuse of law.
Recently, another hearing took place at the labor court in Hagen. In this case, Steffen is suing a printing company for discrimination. According to RTL West, his application was rejected due to insufficient qualifications, not, as he claimed, because of his transexuality.
“The reason I generally do not want to appear before the press is that I am withdrawing from public life because I am very much discriminated against in private, laughed at on buses, and insulted in the city because of my transsexuality,” Steffen said.
Alina Dünnebacke, responsible for personnel at the printing company, explained she had rejected the applicant due to having inadequate qualifications. But despite arguing that Steffen was clearly incapable of performing the job, the company paid out a small settlement of €700.
In addition to his lengthy history of court battles, Steffen is a self-published author who sells ebooks for less than one euro on neobooks.com. Among his publications are books on job hunting, including one titled “The Professional Application.” The book describes itself as offering expert advice on finding a job. Another book written by Steffen is called “Tips for the Perfect Job Interview.”
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