Retaliation Bullying In Workplace

Retaliation bullying in workplace settings follows a complaint, and organisations consistently underestimate it.

It rarely looks dramatic. Good work redirected elsewhere. Exclusion from meetings the person used to attend. Shifts reduced. Sudden scrutiny of things nobody previously mentioned. Colleagues cooling off after a quiet word from somebody senior.

Two things make this serious. Adverse action taken against a person because they exercised a workplace right raises a separate legal issue from the original conduct, sometimes with a reverse onus attached.

And it is often easier to prove than what was complained about, because the change in treatment is documented in rosters, allocations and calendars.

Watch the weeks after any complaint deliberately, and check in with the person, rather than assuming nothing will happen.

The Fair Work Commission deals with adverse action claims. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s workplace bullying course for managers and whistleblower training course.