The Victorian Supreme Court recently issued a stunning decision awarding an employee over $600,000 comprising $210,000 for pain and suffering and the balance for lost past and future income, despite the employee having a significant pre-existing psychiatric illness and a finding that no bullying had occurred.
Continue Reading Damages in bullying claims – the stakes are rising even higher
In the world of anti-discrimination law awards of money against employers for psychiatric injury or illness caused by sexual harassment by one of their employees have been rare and low, typically in the range of $12,000 to $20,000. Similarly, the anti-bullying jurisdiction of the Fair Work Commission has seen limited orders made to prevent further bullying where claims have been made, and compensation is not available as a remedy for bullying behavior.
But things are changing, especially in the area of sexual harassment where awards of damages for psychiatric illness are increasing. This reflects change in societal attitude towards this type of conduct that has (finally) started to be reflected in judicial pronouncements.
The spectrum of mental harm that can be experienced by victims of sexual harassment or bullying covers depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) any of which can be debilitating for a significant period.Continue Reading Damages in sexual harassment and bullying claims – the stakes are rising
‘Snapchat is about sharing moments and having fun’ reads the tagline of the mega-app that has the fastest-growing social network in the world. But despite its phenomenal popularity, what potential impact might Snapchat have on your workplace?
Continue Reading Snapchat in the workplace: where’s it app?
Bullying behaviour comes in all shapes and sizes. Identifying and deciding how to respond to diverse bullying behaviour by a worker (or workers) can create challenges for employers.
Recent headlines have cautioned that unfriending on Facebook could be considered bullying. That this seemingly innocuous action has been elevated to “bullying” has been the subject of many concerned water-cooler discussions since hitting the mainstream press.
Continue Reading Death threats and unfriending – what is bullying?
Many thousands of car fanatics are mourning the loss of Jeremy Clarkson from BBC’s internationally successful Top Gear program. But the case is a good illustration of a common tension in many business – that of a high performing and ‘successful’ employee who engages in controversial (and sometimes unlawful) behaviour.
Clarkson is renowned for behaviour which might be called ‘edgy’ by some, and ‘offensive’ by others. Often high-performing employees are excused for ‘quirks of character’ that, in other employees, might lead to a swift exit from the business. These quirks are often seen as part and parcel of the person’s high performance nature – ‘oh, that’s just the way he is’ or ‘that’s what you get with her’. Managers can be reluctant to take action for fear of losing a person responsible for bringing in significant customers or high volumes of sales.
Continue Reading Have you applied the ‘Clarkson test’?
As the year goes on, a relatively small number of cases involving the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) new power to make orders that bullying stop continue to trickle out. In the last month, two decisions have put the brakes on attempts by employees to use these powers outside of their intended area of operation.
Continue Reading No bullying orders if employment ended
The decision of Commissioner Peter Hampton in the Fair Work Commission on 12 May (Ms SB [2014] FWC 2104) reveals more about the operation of the new bullying jurisdiction.
Continue Reading More aspects of the bullying jurisdiction unmasked
Since 1 January 2014 employees who have been bullied at work have been able to apply to the Fair Work Commission for a range of remedies. Monetary compensation is not available as a remedy. It has been held that conduct occurring before 1 January 2014, when the laws commenced operation, can be considered in dealing with claims.
Continue Reading Bullying before 2014 counts!
“Don’t stand, don’t stand so
Don’t stand so close to me
Don’t stand, don’t stand so
Don’t stand so close to me”
The chorus of the 1980 hit Police song might be the most succinct way of summarising the first set of substantive orders made by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) under the bullying jurisdiction in operation since 1 January 2014.
Continue Reading Don’t stand so close to me – Fair Work Commission makes detailed anti-bullying orders
The new workplace anti-bullying laws came into effect on 1 January 2014 and we recently posted our 7 top tips to successfully manage bullying complaints.
Amidst the many reports about how employers need to be prepared for the new laws, the message could equally apply to union behaviour in workplaces – and not just their own.
Continue Reading New anti-bullying laws: How will unions respond?