Bullying is not acceptable in any workplace. It can impact people’s health and their ability to perform and enjoy their job, says WorkSafe Vic on their website. How ironic as WorkSafe Victoria, the very organisation that has is campaigning itself silly for an increase in the reporting of workplace bullying, has been and is still being alleged of itself having a culture of bullying and harassment!
WorkSafe Victoria says Bullying at work is not acceptable
WorkSafe's tweep
“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.” ]How interesting.]
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. – we particularly value the last part of WorkSafe’s advice 
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.
Bulying at WorkSafe Victoria
We remind injured workers of the following bullying [media] articles and reports about WorkSafe Victoria
Worksafe Vic accused of being unsafe
WorkSafe Victoria, the very organisation that has recently been campaigning itself silly for an increase in the reporting of workplace bullying, has been and is still being alleged of itself [WorkSafe] having a culture of bullying and harassment!
More bullying alleged at WorkSafe Vic
THE agency that investigates workplace bullying in Victoria has been accused of fostering its own culture of widespread bullying, sparking calls for an independent inquiry.
Sacked employee says there is a toxic work environment at WorkSafe Vic
Ms Ramsden, former WorkSafe health adviser, lodged a claim with Fair Work Australia alleging she was sacked because she lodged a successful WorkCover claim – which is administered by WorkSafe.
View WorkSafe’s bullying article on their website >>
Shortlink: http://aworkcovervictimsdiary.com/?p=5757
WORKCOVER STAFF BULLYING ALLEGATIONS
Page: 14216
The Hon. CHARLIE LYNN [5.18 p.m.]: I raised in this House on 28 October 2008 a Public Service Association survey that revealed a significant number of WorkCover staff had had suicidal thoughts due to bullying and harassment. On 23 November 2007 the Daily Telegraph published an article “Watch Dog Bites its own Staff”, documenting that 86 per cent of WorkCover staff surveyed nominated their own boss as the culprit. In a recent WorkCover corporate survey, 20 per cent of staff indicated “it is almost always true that the organisation is a psychologically and emotionally healthy place to work”, only 29 per cent agreed that management is honest and ethical in its business dealings and only 24 per cent believe management is competent at running the business.
I understand staff will not report bullying and harassment to WorkCover’s Human Resources Branch, headed by Miss Moira Heath, because they will be persecuted. When one considers the vicious and unethical way Miss Heath and Mr David Clark, Manager of WorkCover’s Employee Relations, have treated whistleblowers and other employees, is it any wonder? Serious allegations of misconduct against the Chief Executive Officer of WorkCover, Mr Jon Blackwell, continue to arise, including allegedly committing perjury at a budget estimates committee hearing, failing to comply with government directives on senior executive service cuts, victimising whistleblowers and approaching insurance companies tendering for WorkCover agent contracts to contribute funds to fulfil his desire to travel to Nepal.
I have outlined previously how WorkCover General Manager Miss Vicki Telfer was terrorising workers, and regularly swearing and intimidating officers. Such conduct brings WorkCover into disrepute and undermines the public’s confidence in the organisation. Minister Joe Tripodi has done nothing to address these matters. Unless he acts to address the continuing trouble at WorkCover, this House should consider intervening and holding a committee inquiry into its operations.
An Industrial Relations Commission statement of decision in Public Service Association v WorkCover NSW dated 19 December 2008 documents more disturbing conduct by Mr Blackwell and his cohorts. The case involved a member of WorkCover’s Public Service Association departmental committee whom I shall refer to as Mr M, a young family man with a wife and children to support. Mr Blackwell and a “close friend” of his, Miss Melayne Williamson, spitefully pursued Mr M. Several years ago Mr M beat Miss Williamson for the presidency of WorkCover’s social club. When he subsequently became treasurer of the club Mr M was subjected to a campaign of vilification.
The statement indicates that Miss Williamson approached Mr Blackwell and the director of WorkCover’s internal audit unit, Mr Greg Byrne. Despite WorkCover having no jurisdiction over the social club, Mr Blackwell proceeded to order a disciplinary investigation into Mr M’s management of the club’s funds. Mr M was immediately demoted from an acting grade 8 position to a grade 1/2 position, resulting in the loss of a significant amount of money. The commission notes that on 8 April 2008 Mr Byrne and Miss Williamson went to Mr M’s desk and without his permission removed all financial records of the social club. The commission naturally found that Miss Williamson was “not authorised” to access Mr M’s desk drawer, nor was she authorised to confiscate the records and give them to others. The commission subsequently ordered WorkCover to cease its investigation.
Mr Blackwell used thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money to pursue his vendetta against Mr M. His decision against Mr M was based on improper grounds. Mr Blackwell’s conduct is shameful in the extreme and amounts to serious maladministration. I understand that WorkCover is currently defending a case before the Industrial Relations Commission involving “victimisation” of another officer. It will be interesting to see whether Mr Blackwell and his cohorts continue with the persecution of this officer and waste more public funds. I will watch the case with interest.
I am astounded at the power Miss Williamson wielded over Mr Blackwell. Despite having limited qualifications, she is now the executive officer of Mr Blackwell’s office. WorkCover has regularly breached its own and New South Wales Government’s recruitment policies, and the evidence shows that there is little regard to merit selection principles at WorkCover. Only 16 per cent of staff surveyed believe promotions go to those who most deserve them. I call upon Minister Tripodi to act to end the continued disgraceful conduct of WorkCover’s executive and others who are clearly unfit to hold office in the public service.
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20090401042
Miss Melayne Williamson, spitefully pursued Mr M/….
I am astounded at the power Miss [Melayne] Williamson wielded
Despite having limited qualifications, she [Miss Melayne Williamson] is now the executive officer….
WorkCover has regularly breached its own and New South Wales Government’s recruitment policies, and the evidence shows that there is little regard to merit selection principles at WorkCover. Only 16 per cent of staff surveyed believe promotions go to those who most deserve them. I call upon Minister Tripodi to act to end the continued disgraceful conduct of WorkCover’s executive and others who are clearly unfit to hold office in the public service.
Are we surprised, folks?
Thank you for the tip, my friend!