Examples Of Victimisation

Most examples of victimisation focus on the person who made the complaint. The protection is wider than that, and the people it covers are the ones organisations most often forget.

• The witness. Someone who gave a statement finds themselves left off the project they had been leading.
• The supporter. A colleague who sat in on the meeting is described afterwards as having taken sides.
• The investigator. An internal manager who reached an unpopular finding is quietly moved sideways.
• The person who intended to complain. Protection can apply once the intention is known, not only after a complaint is filed.
• After they leave. A reference that turns lukewarm, or a rehire application that goes nowhere.

Each of these is capable of being unlawful in its own right under the federal anti-discrimination Acts, independently of whether the original complaint succeeded. The Australian Human Rights Commission handles these complaints. This is general information rather than legal advice.

See Sentrient’s equal employment opportunity course and code of conduct training.