Workplace Harrasment or Bullying Causing Severe Anxiety and Stress

niish150887 on 19/08/2023 - 12:45
Last edited 08/09/2023 - 02:44

I work for a large telecom company and have been in several roles with the organisation for over 12 years. Recently I had an interchange in a role with higher responsibilities and salary for 7 months and had to come back in my home role as the person who I was replacing came back from his leave.

Upon return my Head of who is my direct manager and his manager who is a General Manager have been literally harassing me every single day which has caused me a lot stress anxiety to the extent that it is now affecting my personal life and mental health. I had been in the role for 4 years prior to going on interchange so I understand the roles, responsibilities and what is expected out of the role.

We catch up every week now to see what changes I need to make in my day-to-day performance to meet their expectations (Note I have been in the role 4 years and have never had any negative feedback or any issues). I am looking to make a complaint against both of them though the union and take sick leave at least for a couple of weeks. I am also looking for roles both internally and externally but haven't had much luck yet but there is lot of traction.

Does anyone know how long I can get paid sick leave? I have over 9 months worth of sick leave - I called HR and they informed me that I can take a maximum of 12 days in a calendar year - Are there any exceptions through the Fair Work Commission if someone is stressed and affecting their mental capacity to perform the role?

Has anyone been through similar situation and have gone through union and were they helpful ? If you have been through a similar situation would be great to know who assisted you and how were you able to come out of it. I don't really trust the internal HR process as I am aware that there were several complaints against the General Manager in the past and no action was taken against him.

Update: Thank you to everyone who have supported and shared your personal scenarios /additional information. Thanks you to all the others too who jumped to conclusions. I have realised that this is one of those situations in life that you would only understand if you have been through it and I genuinely hope no one goes through it.

Things just got worse over last few weeks and have pulled the pin and I am on sick leave. Doctor has been very supportive and to my surprise he conveyed that this is quite common in the corporate world and he sees at least one patient a week . I am on sick leave now and have raised a compliant with HR so fingers crossed !

Education & Work

Comments

        • Protractor on 21/08/2023 - 17:39
          +2

          It's a pattern of sociopaths to say stuff & threaten,bully,intimidate where there are no or few witnesses. Beyond devious.
          I'd rather have an "illegal" recording of this workplace bullying, than respect an AH's privacy. If they are not prepared to respect your right to a safe workplace, they forgo there's to anything (free of harm), that brings them to account.

          • JIMB0 on 21/08/2023 - 20:27
            +1

            @Protractor: Record anyway. There's no law against having a great memory and being able to write down every word of a conversation after the fact.

  • Misplaced on 20/08/2023 - 07:55
    +1

    From various things I've heard, going on stress leave is their cue to find some creative excuse to quietly get rid of you. Show any weakness or admit a mental health / stress condition and you instantly make yourself a liability…. blood in the water, sharks. The meetings they are making you have aren't for you - the entire purpose of them is to cover the company in any possible future proceedings (including if an employee happens to unfortunately bump themselves off). Anyway, obviously you want out. Find other people they're doing it to. Dig up more dirt. Document everything. Blow the whistle. After you've gone, name and shame. Leave a review on Glassdoor and similar platforms.

    • Protractor on 21/08/2023 - 10:36
      +1

      If it gets to that stage Drop an anon letter to the CEO (unless it's OPTUS because Teflon) and drop a copy on a media source.

  • jrvb42 on 20/08/2023 - 08:37

    HR will look after the company, not you.
    12 days a year is probably without a MC, otherwise why allow accumulation of it?
    You're on your way out, one way or the other. Reporting harrassment will kill your job. If you have proof, you might get money, but your job is finished. If you're over 40ish, most likely your career is finished too.

    • CyberMurning on 20/08/2023 - 08:54
      +1

      You mean other companies will not likely hire him if the blow this up? Thats unfair, assuming he is the victim

  • Meho2026 on 20/08/2023 - 09:26
    +2

    Make a written complaint of bullying.
    Go on 9 months sick leave
    Get another job.

    • Grunntt on 20/08/2023 - 10:29

      Make a written complaint of bullying.
      Go on 9 months sick leave
      Get another job.

      One small problem with this approach - who's going to employ someone once they see "on 9 month's sick leave"?

      • nick90 on 20/08/2023 - 16:27
        +4

        The potential employer doesn't have to know you're on sick leave. As far the potential employer is aware, you're still currently employed.

        • trapper on 20/08/2023 - 23:43

          So going to pretend to be sick for nine months… then to cover it up; fake your work history, lie in job interviews, provide a fake references who will lie for you… these are not the actions of an honest person.

          • chriskq on 20/08/2023 - 23:59
            +6

            @trapper: stress leave is not pretending to be on sick leave… whilst on sick leave you are still employed so there is no faking of work history and lying in a job interview required… most job roles allow you to supply specific references, rather than the HR phone number of a previous company so no dramas there either… did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

            • trapper on 21/08/2023 - 09:45

              @chriskq: Taking leave due to stress is understandable. However, planning to take nine months of 'stress' leave as a calculated move before resigning is absolutely a dishonest act.

              Any reference you could provide will know that you faked an illness for nine months to take advantage of your employer and colleagues before ultimately quitting.

              The manager that OP is struggling with won't even be affected. This will only serve to validate his stance entirely. 'I was right about OP'

  • chichi on 20/08/2023 - 10:20
    +17

    Jfc this place attracts some crappy people. Jumping to their own shitty conclusions and automatically siding with the bullies. Have a hard look at yourselves.

    • Protractor on 21/08/2023 - 10:39
      +1

      Bullies are cowards. That is all you need to know about what "that" says about those defending them. Crappy is a compliment.

    • infinite on 21/08/2023 - 18:53
      -1

      It also attracts a LOT of gullible people, who are willing to believe any obviously rubbish statements without even the slightest shred of evidence to back the claims up.

  • Dognosis on 20/08/2023 - 11:27
    +6

    You could be the 'problem' or it could be the managers. Either way, going through union, workers compo, fair work tribunal etc… can be such a distressing and drawn-out shit show and the employer will rarely get any 'punishment' that will satisfy your sense of justice and you will MAYBE get some form of compensation, but wait 12-24 months for it.

    Often easiest just to take some time off (sick leave, or a SHORT stint of workers compo) and find a new job. Take the experience and move on.

    For a good impression from management, your skillset and commitment to the job only counts for 20%. The remaining 80% is fitting in. So many people get stuck with this.

    Workplaces are full of jerks like anywhere else.

    • Jackson on 20/08/2023 - 13:09
      +1

      All true, but really some places should be having to pay compensation, and if you do this right you will get some. It's a bit of a balancing act, because you need to be willing to have your name printed on the register of results of the fair work tribunal website, and that means that future employers, if they use an investigative service, might know who you are. Most employers don't though. I have mates that reckon if they were hiring, even if you'd won they wouldn't hire you just on the off chance you caused the issues, they don't want to take the risk.

      If the company has had to turn up and waste money and pay up a few times, their HR people should get sick of it and start telling managers how things are going to be from now on, and that people of diverse mindsets need to focus on the work and get over things

      • infinite on 21/08/2023 - 19:01

        Nonsense. Almost all companies have a legal budget for dealing with employee claims like this & the baseline standard operating procedure is that you "never deal with terrorists" (scum who think they can get an easy dollar out of you). You always let the tribunal or court make a final decision if need be. A primary responsibility of any manager up the chain or executive is to protect the company and rolling over & paying out a crybaby or crybully is just opening the floodgates for everyone else to do it afterward.

        • Jackson on 21/08/2023 - 20:53

          Well that's what I was saying, you need to go to tribunal for a determination

  • mountaineer on 20/08/2023 - 11:37
    +2

    12 years of employement OP can accumulate 9 months of paid sick leave? That is 270 days and OP's company is giving the employee about 22 days sick leave a year and assuming OP never took any sick leave during the 12 years?

    • Jackson on 20/08/2023 - 13:12
      -3

      Some organisations give 30 days per year, so probably works in govt or semi govt e.g. University

      • michaelTito on 20/08/2023 - 15:31
        +5

        Yes university of large telecommunication company

        • Jackson on 21/08/2023 - 20:54

          Ah I somehow missed that bit

    • larndis on 20/08/2023 - 16:38
      +1

      9 months = 39 weeks = 195 work days, not 270

      I get 18 days a year so doesn't seem impossible

  • Homr on 20/08/2023 - 16:47
    +3

    "I called HR and they informed that I can take maximum of 12 days in a calendar year "

    LOL WHAT? Politely speaking, sounds like your HR department needs more training

    • Protractor on 21/08/2023 - 10:41
      +1

      HR dept does not employ geniuses.
      As long as they can add colours to cells on spread sheets they are fit for purpose.
      They probably socialise AH with the bullies.

  • SydBoy on 20/08/2023 - 16:53
    +1

    You can accrue 10 or 15 or 20 or 30 days per year based on your contract but that doesn't mean you can't take more sick leave…!

    Your company defines what type of medical certificate you need for the leave i.e. from specialist or GP but they can't stop you taking more leaves.

    Unfortunately some low life people who end-up being manager waste their time making others life measurable and I have seen it many time at various places I worked and I have seen those same people end-up their career measurably as karma never let you go scotch free .. !

    As other said start going to GP and talk about your problem, ask GP to keep note of those problems and take sick certificate as and when you need.

    There is something called stress leave which most organisations provide so take that…also don't leave job without using all your sick entitlement and also ask your manager to communicate with you in writing.

    • trapper on 20/08/2023 - 17:05

      also don't leave job without using all your sick entitlement

      lol, what? No this is bad advice. If you're going to leave then just get out of there asap and move on with your life.

      • SydBoy on 20/08/2023 - 19:34
        +4

        it is wise to move on obviously but if you have 9 months worth of sick leave then take and let your stress to be relieved at company expense instead of moving on to new one with past burden … in my opinion.. !

        but sure if someone has a week worth of sick leave then they should do everything to move on as i have never seen a candidate able to change their managers or get their managers on the notice because most employers run behind managers unless it is serious offense and employee has evidence (strong one) about it in my opinion.

        • trapper on 20/08/2023 - 23:34
          +1

          Pretending to be sick for nine months just to quit your job is both dishonest and unethical.

          This will seriously wreck your reputation, making it hard to get good references or connect with former coworkers down the line.

          Besides work, it raises questions about honesty and personal growth.

          • SydBoy on 21/08/2023 - 01:36

            @trapper: My comment don't say one needs to pretend, it is your inner imagination that thinks about pretending…!

            I have seen and worked with bully and intimidating manager and all of them either has sad personal life or end up living measurable at the end …!

            HR, lawyer at work all work for the benefit of sick manager… ! I have seen manager work with HR and company lawyer for few months to collect evidence (fabricated) before asking them to quit or being sacked. Dors any company provide HR and legal support to employee to collect evidence against a manaers?

            • trapper on 21/08/2023 - 09:53
              +1

              @SydBoy: Planning in advance to take nine months of 'stress' leave as a calculated maneuver prior to resigning.

              Yeah, 'pretending to be sick' hits the nail on the head.

              • SydBoy on 21/08/2023 - 13:19

                @trapper: again, it is the doctor who defines how much stress leave one can take not just employee who turn up to ask give me stress leave certificate for 9 months so it seems that your opinion are fixated by thinking everyone who takes stress leave are planning or making up or doing dodgy stuff nothing else.. !

                • infinite on 21/08/2023 - 19:06

                  @SydBoy: You can take reasonable sick leave, however they are only legally obliged to pay for a set amount of days of that sick leave. The rest will be unpaid sick leave. Then if an employer want's, they can simply just make you redundant and give you the flick.

                  Employers aren't stupid. If you aren't gonna show up to do the job, they'll happily and quickly replace you with someone equally as skilled, more motivated and happy to do the same work for less money.

                  • SydBoy on 21/08/2023 - 19:24
                    +2

                    @infinite: My understanding is that if you have accrued sick leave then with medical certificate you can use all of them as paid as long as doctor certify the duration of sick leave.

                    Now, under the workers compensation scheme employer can ask you to see their own recommended specialist in addition to whoever you are going to in order to verify your illness or disability but that is not the case for stress leave in my opinion.

                    I have seen that employer can replace you if you are on unpaid sick leave as they see you being on their books without coming to work and holding up position but I don't believe they can remove you when you have paid sick leave outstanding in my opinion.

                    If employer is of opinion that you are making up dodgy stress leave then certainly they need legal team ready as candidate can fight back legally.

                  • YesPleaseThankYou on 21/08/2023 - 21:43
                    -1

                    @infinite:

                    Then if an employer want's, they can simply just make you redundant and give you the flick.

                    The employer better be careful if it's not a genuine redundancy.

                    Further, we don't know the OP's employer to know whether an enterprise agreement applies. If it is one of the large telcos or universities, the agreement is going to specify a limited set of circumstances in which employment can be terminated.

                    Any employer would have to tread carefully making someone redundant while they are on sick leave.

                    • infinite on 22/08/2023 - 22:46
                      -1

                      @YesPleaseThankYou: Utter nonsense.

                      So long as you make someone redundant or terminate them within the law, no agreement has any bearing on your capacity to do that.

                      No "agreement" in existence overrules the law.

  • trapper on 20/08/2023 - 16:58
    +2

    We catch up every week now to see what changes I need to make in my day to day performance to meet their expectations

    Have the expectations changed dramatically from when you previously had this role?

    Also can you give an example of the bullying and harassment. Is it work related, or personal?

  • capslock janitor on 20/08/2023 - 17:07
    +1

    ye it's dirty tactic they gang up and force your hand in resignation

  • Alonzo on 20/08/2023 - 18:34
    -1

    I really hope you were a member of the union before you requested their help, otherwise you are just riding on the coat tails of fee paying members.

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 21/08/2023 - 10:14
      +1

      The Union will have rules as to whether it can assist in such a circumstance.

    • Protractor on 21/08/2023 - 10:42
      +1

      That's true, but if it excises the bullies. money well spent by the unions membership. Future (non fiscal but important) workplace dividends.

  • Dack Smith on 20/08/2023 - 19:16

    You’d think management have better things to do than to harass people, they get paid so much money to do their “job”

    How are you being bullied example wise?

  • Zapwap on 20/08/2023 - 21:49
    +4

    Been through more or less the same situation as yours.

    Last year, my manager denied my preplanned leave without any reasonable grounds, when I asked why, I was given pretty vague answers. This is where it all started, after crossing him off, manager called me on teams and literally started pointing out BS mistakes from my recent assignments and threatened me with escalations etc.

    Followed by, I applied for a jump program within my company to jump to a better position based on performance and merits. I was well aware of my performance as employees are able to track it from under company's intranet. However, not surprisingly, my application was rejected, and I came to know that my manager bad mouthed me when higher management interviewed him about my overall attitude and professional persona. Moreover, he used to call me on teams to demoralise me and to tell me how incompetent I'm within my current role.

    In town hall meetings, I always give suggestions, critically analyse several business processes that I think pose unidentified risks to business etc. After one such meeting, manager called me on teams to shut me up with my suggestions as they affect the whole team(!), I mean, I have over 10 colleagues in my team and none of them stood up to me against any of the suggestions I have ever given.

    things I did to curb the situation (won't say to resolve it, as such situations and people could never be neutralised, they just evolve and someone softer pulled under their radar)

    1. Kept notes of such incidences in writing with supporting evidence. After first incident, I started recording our teams calls on my phone.

    2. Internal HR is as useless as a lifeguard at Olympic swimming, after realising that, and when I had it all eventually, I wrote an email and to my regional general manager and copied almost all exec level people in it, explained the chronology and provided all the evidence I gathered over the period of time. Politely asked his immediate attention to the situation. Pointed out specific ombudsman references to each of the work ethics violations made by my manager.

    3. In the same week, had a one on one with the RGM, then a conference with my manager and I was really vocal without any fear, that was the first time I think I ever spoke out loud and stood for myself. I guess that's where it all turned green for me.

    My suggestion to you is to keep the notes and evidence. Most importantly, speak up if it's affecting YOU!!

    • chriskq on 21/08/2023 - 00:03
      +2

      thanks for sharing, are you able to say what happened after that final conference… turned green could imply things improved (green light) or things at that present time were sickly

      • Zapwap on 21/08/2023 - 14:30
        +2

        turned green could imply things improved (green light)

        I was going for a metaphor, but yes, things indeed improved. Although as I said control freaks like my manager won't really change, they keep hunting other softer targets.

        • SydBoy on 21/08/2023 - 19:28
          +1

          Agree what you said normally those control freaks has sad personal life.

    • CocaKoala on 21/08/2023 - 00:21

      Great job! Love a story with a great ending. I'm very happy for you.

    • Harold Halfprice on 21/08/2023 - 13:09
      +1

      In town hall meetings, I always give suggestions, critically analyse several business processes that I think pose unidentified risks to business etc. After one such meeting, manager called me on teams to shut me up with my suggestions as they affect the whole team(!), I mean, I have over 10 colleagues in my team and none of them stood up to me against any of the suggestions I have ever given.

      Based on what you've written, it's clear your manager didn't like you and it sounds like you may have be denouncing/opposing/undermining your manager in a public forum.

      Being critical and identifying risks is okay, but you always need to be conscious of where and how you announce your concerns regardless of how correct or valid you may be. People have egos, and hurting your manager's ego isn't a good idea.

      • Zapwap on 21/08/2023 - 14:34

        You're right, I think he was a pure control freak, so no matter what you do or don't, people like this sh*thole will always be on someone's ass

        • infinite on 21/08/2023 - 19:09
          -3

          So if that guy is correct and by your own admissions you were being unprofessional, sounds like they were right to get you out of the company ASAP.

          • Zapwap on 22/08/2023 - 22:10

            @infinite:

            So if that guy is correct and by your own admissions you were being unprofessional, sounds like they were right to get you out of the company ASAP.

            You sound like my manager.

            • infinite on 22/08/2023 - 22:43
              -1

              @Zapwap: Your manager must be good people then !

              • Zapwap on 22/08/2023 - 22:57

                @infinite: Yeah, he is good people now after I spanked him, I assume you'd love that too like my manager.

      • Zapwap on 21/08/2023 - 21:55
        +1

        denouncing/opposing/undermining your manager in a public forum.

        How did you deduct that? Did I name him? I agree with you on hurting egos could backfire irrespective of whoever's mistake it is. But that doesn't mean you keep taking sh*t from such managers. I clearly provided instances where I felt I was threatened, and I never said I committed or mentioned anything that opposed or denounced my manager's actions.

        If someone sharing their ideas in a meeting hurts your tiny ego then you should form your own company and hire b*ttlickers.

        • Harold Halfprice on 22/08/2023 - 19:02

          How did you deduct that?

          I'm not saying that's what happened cause obviously I don't have all the information, but based on this comment you made:

          In town hall meetings, I always give suggestions, critically analyse several business processes that I think pose unidentified risks to business etc. After one such meeting, manager called me on teams to shut me up with my suggestions

          You evidently pissed off your manager after one of your meetings where you were being critical.

          Town halls generally involve a wide audience and it's not always the appropriate forum to be critical of things and call people out.
          You may be 100% right in what you're saying, but that doesn't mean saying it in front of a wide audience is the right thing to do.

          If someone sharing their ideas in a meeting hurts your tiny ego then you should form your own company and hire b*ttlickers.

          Well unfortunately that's how the world works. Knowing how to deal with people (which includes your manager) is an important skill set.
          At the end of the day, what did you gain from critically analysing things in a public forum?

          You upset your manager, and the end result was he started being critical of you, denied your leave, tarnished your reputation to upper management and blocked your application.

          Your manager is clearly an ass, and none of what he did was justified - but the reality is you will be forced to deal with people like this in your life. You're not the first person this has happened to, and you won't be the last.

          • Zapwap on 22/08/2023 - 22:08

            @Harold Halfprice:

            the end result was he started being critical of you, denied your leave, tarnished your reputation to upper management and blocked your application.

            Yes, this was all temporary until I dealt with the situation. But in no way should it mean you give up to your manager no matter what.

            Problem started well before the town hall meetings as I have already mentioned in my response above. After I inquired about my rejected preplanned leave, this all started. There were BS reasons given which made no sense to me and as per fair work, businesses shouldn't deny rightful leaves without any reasonable grounds.

            Well unfortunately that's how the world works. Knowing how to deal with people (which includes your manager) is an important skill set.

            Absolutely, I'll be in a leadership role sooner or later and this will surely help in how not to lead.

            At the end of the day, what did you gain from critically analysing things in a public forum?

            Gain? What do people gain from social media? What did you gain by commenting here in this forum? People make other people aware by sharing their experiences and how they successfully dealt with a situation other people struggling to deal with. That's all..

  • cookie2 on 20/08/2023 - 21:56
    +2

    Sorry OP. Been n the 'overmanaging' position too. Where it came on after pushing back on some ridiculous behaviours and attitude towards me. Not everyone gets it because it can be a more subtle behaviour or harder to describe generally. It's a sudden clear difference in management and treatment that has no performance work related reason.
    Be strong, put yourself in control and get yourself in a position where you choose to stay (if you do) and not are forced to stay. Clean up your resume, LinkedIn, check out the job market and think about what you'd try for. Apply for a few if you think they look great.
    And use your sick leave. Hr are incorrect, lying, or not interested enough to probe further but you can't be limited in using your sick leave, you can use it whenever because you've accrued it.
    Make a complaint in writing and ask for union representative in any meetings and hr support to resolve your grievance.
    Do your peers have the same meetings etc? Try and keep things in writing. Ppl are often more careful about what they say.
    Do you wfh? If you can give a non related reason to let you wfh for a while that may help you. Gives you time away and encourages email comm. Better to not tell them real reason if so, it'll be used against you.

  • metrosilver on 20/08/2023 - 22:34
    +9

    Going through the exact same thing right now. Never had any issues with any other manager ever still really close with my previous manager but current is a complete control freak and doesn't like that i actually stand up for myself. Started to ostracise me from the team giving promotion opportunities to other less qualified team members, criticising my work to ridiculous degrees. For workers comp you just need to show you tried to work it out with them.

    I went on sick leave for 3 months
    came back for a month and tried to work it out with them but they just continued
    Told HR multiple times what was happening but nothing done
    Told them i'd be forced to go on workers comp if nothing is done they tried to stop me saying it would take longer but i simply couldn't do it any longer
    documented every little thing they ever did to bully me with as much detail and dates and sent to HR(look up forms of workplace harrasment and bullying some you wouldn't even realise it is)
    I told the union but they did nothing so was a waste of time for me

    Been on workers compensation since feb this year and was accepted by insurance immediately

    Please message me if you need any advice or need a doctor in western sydney mine has been amazing and has extensive experience in workers compensation

  • CocaKoala on 20/08/2023 - 23:40
    +7

    Just reminding you very gently that the HR is not there to help you or protect you. They're there to protect the company from you in case you sue them or anything.

    Nothing you discuss with them is "confidential" either. They've also likely told your toxic manager about your "number of sick days allowed" inquiry.

    The best solution is to find a better job, but that will mean some efforts. Talk to fair work or someone about your sick leave entitlements. HR will likely tell you what's convenient for them or may choose to keep information from you that you were to lazy to figure out yourself if it benefits them.

  • Punda on 21/08/2023 - 08:20

    I worked with someone who would go to his GP mothky and get 4 weeks at a time off. I think the max is months a year off. So that’s what he did.

  • drfuzzy on 21/08/2023 - 09:34
    +1

    You can take 9 months of sick leave with appropriate certificate, but expect to be fired or managed out upon your return.
    My previous boss took 3 months sick leave while he was being managed out. He was fired immediately upon return.

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 21/08/2023 - 10:29

      If it is a large telco employer, as is the case for the OP, the relevant enterprise agreement will provide details of the reasons allowed for dismissal.

      You can bet your bottom dollar that taking sick leave will not be one of those allowed reasons. Incapacity might be a reason, but then the employee will likely receive a payout under that same clause.

      • Harold Halfprice on 21/08/2023 - 13:11

        You can bet your bottom dollar that taking sick leave will not be one of those allowed reasons

        Of course they won't use "sick leave" as the official reason. They will find another reason, and they can pluck them out of thin air.

      • infinite on 21/08/2023 - 19:11

        Enterprise agreements are irrelevant so long as the employee is terminated within the legislation.

        • YesPleaseThankYou on 21/08/2023 - 21:46

          If a workplace has an enterprise agreement specifically dealing with termination, then they are the rules applying to termination at that workplace. Simple.

  • drfuzzy on 21/08/2023 - 09:37

    Best advice is to document everything carefully.
    If you have a phone call or in person conversation follow up with an email.
    Save the emails and send to a personal email address in case you are locked out.

  • YesPleaseThankYou on 21/08/2023 - 09:41

    I am looking to make a complaint against both of them though union and take sick leave at least for couple of weeks.

    It's good that you're a union member. Going through these processes on your own can be very stressful.

    Seek the advice of the union every step of the way. As others have said, document everything in a document you will have access to even if locked out of work systems.

    Also ensure that you retain and supply a copy of relevant emails and calendar appointments to your union.

  • F0rtitude on 21/08/2023 - 09:53

    If your workplace is fortunate enough to have a Health and Safety Representative, you can raise your issue with them if all other attempts at mediation is not satisfactory. The HSR can then raise a Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN). This is the final warning it gives to the business to get their act together - because the PIN will go straight the states Work Safe committee and they will come with an inspector to look into the matter. All PINs are taken seriously by WorkSafe, so the business will tend to take action because WorkSafe has the power to shut them down until the PIN gets resolved.

    Good luck!

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 21/08/2023 - 10:31
      +3

      If your workplace is fortunate enough to have a Health and Safety Representative

      They may be incompetent or a company lacky.

      • F0rtitude on 21/08/2023 - 10:39

        The HSR is voted by the group of employees they are representing, and not assigned by the company. They are an employee just like you and have no benefit of being a lacky. They have legal immunity when they raise PINs or other issues, so if a company turns on a HSR, they'll get even more f*ked by WorkSafe.

        As for being incompetent, all HSRs have a 3 year term, and get voted in. So if your HSR does a poor job, then nominate yourself when their term is up for a re-election.

  • Hangryuman on 21/08/2023 - 11:26
    +1

    milady was bullied to tears by a nasty temporary manager - she went to her GP who gave her a medical certificate for 6 weeks stress leave on full pay - meanwhile I put the story on the Australia-wide organisations Facebook page, and next thing the Australian boss got involved, and that nasty guy wasn't going to be working there anymore.

    milady ended up taking her extended leave as half pay (twice the time), and holiday pay on full pay, then retired with full super - so basically never went back, and got 9 months of nice pay on the way out the door - all thanks to that bully.

    • Protractor on 21/08/2023 - 12:48
      +2

      Moral of the story is stand up to and/or report bullies. Take what you are entitled to ,to recover from said bully. Leave at a later date if that's where your head is at. Bottom line for the company where 'milady' worked is , how much productivity did the bully cost them? How much lost $$$. And the worst impact, the harm done to another employee / person, which can't & shouldn't be underestimated.

      • Nice touch with the Facebook page
      • Hangryuman on 22/08/2023 - 14:51

        the story of the CBA salesmen who fraudulently changed retirees' life savings investments, without their knowledge or consent, from safer to high-risk funds just so they could get higher commissions, and who were then deemed top performers for their high sales success, until the funds went down the toilet and retirees sued the company for the fraud.

        I believe I've read that such 'high achievers' damage their companies' reputations far beyond the actual benefit they might have brought to the company in temporary (fraudulently induced) sales

        make up a figure - e.g they brought in $1Million in increased sales, but the damage cost CBA $100Million in future sales due to loss of trust and reputation.

        • Protractor on 22/08/2023 - 16:20

          Same for the OPTUS CEO who kept her job after epic fail at OPTUS via pathetic security systems / poor corporate decisions and blatant screwing over customers via those decisions and an avoidable hacking (or at least the proper removal/destruction and storage of customer data.) Add up what she gets paid + bonuses and subtract those losses. Is she worth the cost for the subsequent outcome and ongoing brand reputation?

    • infinite on 21/08/2023 - 19:13

      Nice Reddit copypasta.

      • chriskq on 22/08/2023 - 10:10

        please share the story, id be interested in reading more

  • [Deactivated] on 21/08/2023 - 12:44
    +2

    You'll need to put a work cover claim in for stress? GP first, probably we need to see a psychologist and possibly a psychiatrist for an evaluation or the company may request one eventually.

    But you would need a work cover certificate to take longer periods of work! Or

    I don't know what state you're in, but in South Australia you literally get peanuts but in New South Wales or Queensland potentially there's huge payouts!

    Total impairment in NSW I think is 15%? In SA it's 35%>

    Basically 20% lung damage in SA = 170k and (profanity) for life….NSW paid out for life.

    I've seen cases of harassment in QLD get 1 million, in SA the max roughly 100k.

    Once you start putting claims like this in, the truth is generally, the person is looking for a way out because the relationships become unrepairable.

    So depends if the company is self insured or not, that makes a huge difference.

    But anyways, like many have said you will need to see a GP, you'll probably need to see a psychologist and depending on your work to accept technically a psychological claim for stress and or depression. They may request you to see a psychiatrist or you may want to see on yourself.

    It's actually amazing how much they pay out for psych claims versus actual permanent physical injuries, which makes a bit of a joke of work cover in this country.

    I know someone who was stressed from a new job, got 100k and someone who crushed their ankle at work with surgery and got 65k.

    The system is a joke.

    • Protractor on 21/08/2023 - 12:50
      +1

      This is why companies need to not wait for bullies to be exposed. They need to be proactive and have a safe /independent way of workers reporting them and then having them binned. Time for a bully register

  • Empharand on 21/08/2023 - 15:28

    Upon return my Head of who is my direct manager and his manager who is a General Manager have been literally harassing me every single day

    Can you go into more detail about how they're harrasing you?
    Are they looking over your shoulder constantly? Setting unrealistic deadlines? Throwing unrealistic amounts of work at you? Asking you to list what tasks you're doing 20x a day?

    Also is the 'Workplace Harassment or Bullying' based on Performance only? Seems a bit odd that they're picking on you now after working with them for 4 years as your 'Performance' level would already be established, unless of course that there are outside factors causing performance to drop (eg. issues at home, outside of work etc) or they're trying to throw unrealistic levels of extra work into your day and then try and gaslight you into thinking you're lacking.

    The weekly performance reviews can be looked at in 2 different ways
    - That they're goading you and trying to manipulate you to do more work
    - That they're actually trying to help you

    Seems like you need a mediary between yourself and the General Manager & Direct Manager, eg. A meeting between yourself, these managers and 1 (or more) HR representatives in the same room, to put everything on the table and discuss your true feelings (eg. That you feel you're being harrassed). HR may (or may not) be biased towards the company so they may (or may not) be your answer. I know you said that people have approached HR about one of the managers to no avail, If they're indeed 'Looking the other way' regarding internal issues then that's the RED FLAG that you need to get out of there ASAP. You can also approach your union (if applicable) and explain the issue and see what they can do.

  • frugalftw on 22/08/2023 - 08:52

    Did you ask your manager what is all this meeting about? Ask about their intentions and say that you feel they had been harassing you. Of course, document the interaction. If nothing changes, talk to their higher up, same conversation. All the way to the top of you had to.

    For bullying to work, you have to play the role of a victim, think about ways you had fulfilled the role and change your behaviour and mindset.

    Underneath it all, you’d want to look at your own motivations and intentions. Are you going on a sick leave to get even somehow? If that’s even partially the case, you had been dragged down to the bully’s level, is that someone you wanted to be? Some things in life is a lot more precious than winning a fight. You are truly lost if you end up trying to bully the bully.

  • Batapotamus on 22/08/2023 - 15:42
    +4

    Ride that 9 months of sick leave out with medical certificates. If they're managing you out, manage yourself out!

    • Protractor on 22/08/2023 - 16:21
      +1

      and lob a few grenades on the last day

  • zanzir on 22/08/2023 - 16:33

    very interesting story, please keep us updated. thanks

  • DemocracyManifest on 22/08/2023 - 19:04

    If you go the workers compensation route you will get around 6 months paid if successful - and then they will terminate your employment or request you resign

  • nookie on 22/08/2023 - 23:26
    +1

    Buy a small recorder put it in your pocket and use the recording against both bullies when lodging your complaint through HR

  • bigbadboogieman on 23/08/2023 - 08:48
    +1

    OP accept my condolences for your situation. It's not an easy one. There are 2 options.

    Op1: Stick to it, try and improve your relationships with these 2 people. Usually the divide and conquer works by individually approaching these people, understanding their expectations and workinh towards it. Do the process with genuine intent that shows you did your best. You were away for 7 months so may be the expectations from the role have changed. Although I do acknowledge it seems fishy at best but that is what all large employers are doing now. Firing people and leveraging fear in the ones left behind to do more work or else..

    Op2: Look for a new job within the next 6 months. That is usually the time they will take to manage someone out of a job.

    Advice for others, don't accumulate 9 months worth of sick leave. Take it as you go for mental health / personal leave whatever it may be. You won't get paid for it if you leave anyway. I get the discussion on whether it is an entitlement or not. That discussion is for another day but if you have the option then take it. Don't kill yourself for a faceless corpo which will not even take the same amount of time (as your accumulated leave) to make you redundant.

  • Batapotamus on 25/08/2023 - 08:13
    +1

    Sick leave is factored in for every employees hiring budget. The money is there for you, the entitled leave is there for you. Never feel guilty about taking medical leave, personal leave. Its definitely great to have a buffer but if you need it…take it. Its not following you out the door when you do finally leave. You just saved the company money.

    Big corporations are just so faceless these days.

  • AS2035 on 27/08/2023 - 18:08

    I am currently in a contract.. A person who started same day but is seen as a supervisor is bullying and intimidating me almost daily.

    I need income so I am staying till I cannot stay.. as I am typing my arms and legs are tingling.

    I know what you are going through, I'vebeen there over Covid lockdowns. Another contract. I had 3 sic days but the Dr gave me 2 weeks and told me to come back if I am still not feeling well.

    Get Dr's certificate but check with Fair Trade.

    • DemocracyManifest on 27/08/2023 - 18:10

      You need to speak to a workers comp lawyer not fair trading

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