Browsing: Bullying and harassment

A worker who contends he was left to languish after he developed psych injuries, from being bullied, has failed to prove his employer unlawfully dismissed him for making a workers' comp claim.

Australia's Attorneys-General have agreed to work towards the harmonisation of human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, and progress other recommendations aimed at tackling workplace s-xual harassment and improving safety.

Safe Work Australia's sixth annual national statement on psychosocial health and safety and bullying in Australian workplaces shows the rate of mental stress claims is increasing, while the median direct cost of bullying-related claims has reached nearly $35,000.

A full Federal Court has rejected, after careful consideration, a worker's assertion that injuries like mental ailments must remain compensable if they were "ever" connected to a claimant's employment.

A trauma-informed response mechanism and a "serious incident team" should be established to cover critical gaps in the ability of Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces to respond to serious incidents, a review prompted by the alleged rape of a staffer has found.

Higher level safety controls for inappropriate or unreasonable workplace behaviour include adjusting staff levels for peak periods and setting achievable targets, according to a draft Code of Practice from Western Australia. Meanwhile, a regulator has issued alerts on lightning strikes and autonomous vehicles.

Ill-considered decisions on the COVID-19 vaccination, and on whether it should be mandatory for workers, could result in employers facing costly discrimination, harassment and bullying claims, a leading workplace advisor has warned.

Australia's first WHS Code of Practice on eliminating and minimising psychosocial risks has taken effect in NSW, and will, according to the State Government, remove the "guesswork" from tackling the issue. NSW has also launched its work safety awards for 2021.

The findings of an employer-initiated WHS inspection of its own workplace have helped defeat a worker's contention, before a commission, that the site was so unsafe he was forced to resign.

• New OHS provisions announced for psych hazards in Vic; and
  
• Comcare to scrap plant rule under WHS Regulations.