The Fair Work Commission has powers to make anti-bullying orders when a worker has been bullied by an individual or group and there is a risk that the worker will continue to endure this bullying if there is no intervention.

The Commission does not have the power to order any monetary compensation – the orders are there to get workers back working in a bullying-free environment as quickly as possible, while taking steps to remove future bullying risks.

What is workplace bullying?

Under these powers, workplace bullying occurs when:

• An individual or group of individuals repeatedly behave unreasonably towards a worker or a group of workers at work; and
• The behaviour creates a risk to health and safety.

The following conduct may constitute bullying:

• Aggressive or intimidating behaviour;
• Belittling or humiliating comments;
• Victimisation, isolation and ostracism;
• Spreading rumours or playing practical jokes;
• Unreasonable work expectations;
• Upwards bullying – such as where a group of employees bully a team leader.

It’s important to note that the unreasonable behaviour must be repeated for it to fit the definition, but it does not have to be the same specific type of unreasonable behaviour every time. So, if an employee is subject to belittling comments in one instance, and given unreasonable work expectations in another instance, together that could be repeated unreasonable behaviour.

The health and safety risk

Some bullying could be physically violent, or involve subjecting a worker to a physical safety risk at their workplace. However, bullying may also involve psychological and stress-related risks to health and safety. If you are a worker who is suffering stress due to bullying, it’s not necessary to have a doctor or psychologist’s diagnosis, but that might help show the health and safety risk that has arisen from continued bullying.

What’s not bullying?

“Reasonable management action” will not be held to be bullying. What is reasonable will depend on the facts: management action like performance appraisals, giving warnings or changing a worker’s roster can be reasonable or unreasonable depending on the circumstances, and it will be the Commission’s task to balance these factors.

Who and where?

The bully in question doesn’t have to be employed by the same employer as the bullied worker, the important thing is that the bullying occurred “at work” – that is, at a place at which work activities are done. Employees of some employers cannot use this process if they are not employed by corporations or certain other entities. For example, if you are employed by a sole trader, you are most likely not covered by the anti-bullying jurisdiction.

What’s the process?

A worker can make an application for an anti-bullying order to the Fair Work Commission. The Commission must begin work on the application within two weeks.

Once received, the Commission sends a copy of the application to the employer, and anyone named as a bully in the application. These parties have seven days to respond to the allegations. The Commission may then deal with the application by having a conference or mediation between the parties, or a more formal hearing. If necessary, the Commission can make an order to stop the bullying. Of course, the parties might agree on a solution or a way forward before the Commission gets to the point of issuing orders.

What sort of order? 

The order will depend on the facts presented to the Commission, and the orders sought by the affected worker or workers. The point of making orders is to prevent the bullied worker being put at a future health and safety risk.

If the person who had been causing the bullying is no longer in the workplace, then it might mean that the Commission does not need to make an order to prevent bullying. However, orders might be made such as changing employee’s shifts, changing the person a worker reports to, or changing the work location of the bullied worker or the person accused of bullying.

What if an employee is sacked or resigns?

If an employee is terminated, they are no longer able to bring a bullying application. However, there are other applications that can be made in those circumstances, such as unfair or wrongful termination or an application under the general protection provisions.

How can we assist?

If you are an employee, we can answer your questions about the anti-bullying process, such as whether you can apply for an anti-bullying order and whether there are other applications you can make. We can prepare and make an application for you and assist you in the conciliation and hearing stage of your application.

If you are an employer, we can advise on the type of behaviour that may constitute bullying and help you to implement policies and systems to mitigate the risk of bullying in your workplace.

If you need more information, assistance, or advice on how to proceed please call us on (02) 9963 9800 or via our contact form here.