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Russell Kennedy Lawyers discuss: - How does the anti-bullying jurisdiction work? - How is it working in practice? - What are the big issues? - What can we learn about dealing with internal bullying complaints? Originally presented on 27 November 2014 by Anthony Massaro and Ben Tallboys.
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Bullying and the Fair Work
Commission – a year in review
Anthony Massaro, Principal
Ben Tallboys, Senior Associate
27 November 2014
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> How does the anti-bullying jurisdiction
work?
> How is it working in practice?
> What are the big issues?
> What can we learn about dealing with
internal bullying complaints?
> Q & A
Purpose of today
2
The process
> Application for an anti-bullying order
> Must name applicant, respondent(s)
and employer
> Must identify bullying conduct
> Response must be filed within seven
days
> Commission must start to deal with
matter within 14 days
The anti-bullying process
4
> Options:
> Mediation
> Preliminary hearing (threshold issues)
> Final hearing
> Decision/Outcome
> Application dismissed OR
> Orders made to stop bullying
The anti-bullying process
5
> Anything BUT compensation
> Orders on an individual to stop the
specified bullying behaviour
> Orders on an employer to do
something to stop the behaviour
> Failure to comply with an order can
attract penalties
What orders can be made?
6
> Change the workplace
> Regularly monitor certain worker’s
behaviour, health or safety
> Develop a bullying policy
> Comply with a bullying policy
> Provide additional support and training
to workers
What orders can be made
against an employer?
7
> Lawyers usually granted permission to
appear
> Workers’ names typically de-identified
> Employer’s names often disclosed (but
sometimes not)
> Generally, costs cannot be awarded
Procedural issues
8
Observations
> Employer tends to assume the role of
the “defendant”
> But the respondent is actually the
individual or group of individuals doing
the “bullying”
> Employer is interested/affected party
> Concerns its workers and workplace
> Findings/outcome may affect its
reputation
What is the employer’s role?
10
> Contest legal issue with claim
> Defend management decisions
> Protect reputation
> Defend spurious claims on behalf of
respondent worker(s)
> Have a say in any ultimate orders
Why would the employer take
an active role?
11
> 343 applications
> 93 withdrawn shortly after filing
> 63 settled during proceedings
> 20 withdrawn after conference/hearing
> 13 dismissed due to application not
being pursued
What floodgates?
12
> 270+ conferences/hearings
> 37 procedural decisions
> 13 jurisdictional decisions
> 4 substantive decisions
> 2 consent orders
> 1 appeal
> 0 judgments for the Applicant
What floodgates?
13
> Fewer claims than expected
> Commission focused on prevention
> Most claims are obvious
> Obvious claims resolve very fast
> Commission is still finding its feet
regarding its role and powers
> Lots of technical arguments
> Lots of lawyers involved
Key themes
14
> Cases are going to hearing if:
> Commission’s jurisdiction challenged
> Management issues involved
> The alleged bullying is varied and complex
> Cases are therefore complex, time-
consuming and costly
> Commission seems reluctant to find bullying
has occurred (so far)
Key themes
15
> More and more applications are
coming
> Bullying will be established eventually
> Applications are now being used as a
negotiating tactic (sword)
> Applications are being used to
generate a general protections claim
for victimisation (shield)
Oh, those floodgates!
16
The law
The applicant must prove that:
> they are a worker; AND
> they are at work in a constitutionally-
covered business; AND
> they have been bullied at work; AND
> there is a likelihood that they will be
bullied at work in the future
When will FWC make orders?
18
> What happens if the Applicant or the
Respondent resigns or is dismissed?
> Same result:
> No future risk of bullying
> Application must be dismissed
> What if the conduct precedes 1
January 2014?
Likelihood of future bullying
19
“Constitutionally-covered
business”
20
Red Cross Blood Service Yes
MFB Yes
Shire of Cue No
Shire of Dalwallinu Yes
Etheridge Shire Council No
CFA Yes
State Government Department No
Peninsula Support Services No
> Repeated unreasonable behaviour
> By an individual or group of individuals
> Poses a risk to health and safety
> That is not reasonable management
action
> Can include conduct which occurred
before 1 January 2014
“Bullied at work”
21
> In the workplace
> Working from another premises?
> Working from home?
> On work trips or at functions?
> At drinks after work?
> What about through social media?
> What about bullying by unions?
What is “at work”?
22
> Actions taken in relation to
employment
> eg. performance management,
disciplinary action, restructures
> Actions must be lawful and rational
> Need not be perfect
> Lower standard than unfair dismissal,
WorkCover systems
What is “reasonable
management action”?
23
What can we learn?
> Having bullying policies is crucial
> Managers need to identify behavioural
issues and stop them immediately
> Managers need to act on complaints
> immediately
> in accordance with policies
> Everything needs to be documented!
What can we learn?
25
Q&A