Who is responsible for dealing with workplace bullying?

[draco664]

In the new year, Australian workers can elect to skip the HR department and go straight to the Fair Work Commission.

Some good points (making this story a contender for an Un-Social-Woes forum...)
- the new laws cover any worker - meaning now employees; full and part time, contractors, volunteers and the like are all covered.
- the new laws specify that the perpetrator can be any 'individual' - meaning that a customer that bullies a worker can be called out.

Some bad points
- no way to filter out frivolous claims (meaning that you could make a claim in order to bully someone...)
- no legal force other than direction the behaviour must stop.
- the bullying must be repeated - meaning that a single instance of abuse does not qualify.

Personally, I'm glad there is now a way for bullied workers to get action that does not rely on internal processes.

[fireheart17]

Some bad points
1. no way to filter out frivolous claims (meaning that you could make a claim in order to bully someone...)
2. no legal force other than direction the behaviour must stop.
3. the bullying must be repeated - meaning that a single instance of abuse does not qualify.

Personally, I'm glad there is now a way for bullied workers to get action that does not rely on internal processes.

1. I'm sure that they would address the frivolous claims by asking for evidence if any. I found it very hard to lodge a discrimination complaint because the only evidence I had was some vague emails.

2. If the bullying escalates into physical/sexual abuse territory, I think at that point calling Fair Work Australia wouldn't be an option-I'd be calling the police!

3. No clue.

[ebonyknight]

Some bad points
- the bullying must be repeated - meaning that a single instance of abuse does not qualify.

I don't think that's a "bad point". Everybody is or can be an asshole at times, doesn't mean there should be a legal remedy to it.

If it is a continuing thing, then yes, it's bullying.

[Hyena Dandy]

- the bullying must be repeated - meaning that a single instance of abuse does not qualify.

Insulting someone once isn't bullying. It's losing your temper, having a bad day, taking shit out on the wrong person... That's an HR issue. Insulting someone repeatedly is bullying.

[s_stabeler]

problem is, I've seen teachers excuse bullying as "isolated incidents" before- so you DO have to be careful in making sure that so-called "isolated incidents" actually are.