Bullying at work
Bullying is not acceptable in any workplace. It can impact people’s health and their ability to perform and enjoy their job.
WorkSafe can provide advice to help workers and employers to prevent and respond to workplace bullying.
We also have a compliance and enforcement role in dealing with offences committed by workers and employers.
The first step in taking action is to determine whether the undesirable behaviour at the workplace is bullying or if it might be another issue, such as management of a person’s work performance. Reasonable management action can be upsetting for some people, but if it’s carried out fairly, it is not bullying.
It’s important to get the right help and, depending on your situation, it might be appropriate for you to seek advice from another agency.
Getting the right help
You should contact the following organisations for information and advice on undesirable behaviour or types of management action in your workplace.
Your rights at work
If your complaint relates to a dispute about performance management or working conditions such as pay or hours of work, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Termination or unfair dismissal
If your complaint is about unlawful termination or unfair dismissal from your job, contact Fair Work Australia in the first instance.
Discrimination
If you’re seeking advice about discrimination on the basis of personal characteristics, sexual harassment or racial or religious vilification, contact the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission or the Australian Human Rights Commission.
