Legal Advice for Compensation Insurance Claims & TPD Payouts

QLD Workplace Bullying Lawyers: 100% No Win, No Fee

If you have been bullied or harassed at work in Queensland, you could be experiencing significant stress, anxiety, and depression. When this behaviour results in a work-related mental health condition or psychological injury, our QLD workplace bullying lawyers provide expert legal advice.

Don’t suffer in silence when you are being bullied on the job. Contact our workplace harassment lawyers for immediate legal support. Our experienced workers’ compensation solicitors have been helping Queenslanders know their work rights for over three decades. 

It costs nothing to get started, and there are no costs or fees until we win your case. Pay nothing if you lose – Call Now – 1800 954 153. or email us >

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What Qualifies as Workplace Bullying?

Workplace bullying is when a worker or group of workers acts unreasonably toward a colleague, and the behaviour is recurring. A single instance does not qualify. Workplace discrimination and sexual harassment are not considered bullying. Other legal remedies exist for this behaviour. (see below)

If bullying is repeated and unreasonable, it may qualify. What a reasonable person would deem unreasonable under the same circumstances determines what constitutes unreasonable behaviour. The following must have occurred to be eligible as bullying:

  • Over time, the unwarranted behaviour keeps recurring.
  • A single incidence of unreasonable conduct does not define bullying at work.
  • The behaviour is a Workplace health and safety risk.

 

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) outlines your right to a safe working environment.  For immediate legal advice, call Splatt Lawyers now on 1800 700 125. For free, a workplace bullying lawyer will explain your legal position.

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Our expert workplace bullying lawyers will guide you through the legal process to a better tomorrow.

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100% No Win, No Fee Workplace Bullying Compensation

When you have been harassed or bullied at work, attending your place of employment every day can be very stressful. Time off work can lead to a loss of income, and now you need an expert work injury lawyer to help you through your predicament. So, it’s a relief to learn that Splatt Lawyers has you covered. Using our 100% No Win, No Fee policy means you have no out-of-pocket for legal costs or fees until we win your case. The Splatt No Financial Risk Guarantee means the following:

  • Pay nothing to start your case
  • There are no legal fees or costs during your case
  • Pay our fees and charges when you win
  • Owe nothing if you lose
  • We fund your medical reports and assessments
  • We support your rehabilitation costs

No one should have to tolerate a toxic work environment. Get the expert legal help you need from our experienced bullying lawyers. They have a well-deserved reputation for championing the rights of Queensland workers. Contact us now for your free legal case review. Call 1800 700 125.

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What Claims Can I Make for Workplace Bullying and Harassment?

If you are impacted by bullying at work, you can petition the Fair Work Commission (FWC)

to order the behaviour to cease. As a result, the Fair Work Commission will initiate an enquiry and issue a ruling when bullying is discovered. An order may require a person or group to:

  • Cease bullying
  • Monitor the Workplace
  • Or examine the employer’s current Workplace Bullying policy.

Fair Work Australia also handles cases of unjust termination. For example, you might be eligible to file a claim for unfair dismissal if your employment was terminated unjustly due to Workplace Bullying.

The FWC is unable to pay any compensation connected to employment. Therefore, if you seek compensation, your best option is to submit a claim for Workers’ Compensation or Negligence.

You can make a Workers’ Compensation claim if you have a diagnosed psychological injury due to workplace bullying. Sadly, psychological injuries are the typical outcome of bullying.

To have a successful workers’ compensation bullying claim, you need to prove that your psychological damage occurred during your employment and that your employment was a significant contributing factor to your injury. Ask our workers’ compensation team for help!

More about mental illness workers comp >

Employees can expect a duty of care from their employers under Common Law. This owed duty requires employers to exercise reasonable care for their employees’ safety, including protecting them from Workplace Bullying. If your employer has breached their owed duty, you may be able to claim compensation and receive a damages payout for lost wages and pain and suffering.

More about common law claims >

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What is My Workplace Bullying Claim Worth?

The value of compensation for workplace harassment and bullying varies considerably based on various factors. The impact of unwanted behaviour on your life is the main criterion to assess your claim. Proving the extent of your workplace psychological damage requires expert evidence. 

When a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist says you are totally or partially incapacitated and can’t work, you could get a weekly benefit and claim your medical costs. In more severe cases, you could be entitled to a lump sum compensation for permanent impairment.

Can I Claim Workplace Bullying Compensation?

If you experience repeated and unreasonable behaviour while working, you may be eligible to make a workplace bullying claim. Most companies will have workplace policies about bullying and harassment, so read them carefully before making a formal complaint.

Usually, these policies allow concerns to be raised first with another employee if they’re available or with a manager if they’re not. Alternatively, your employer may have a health and safety representative who deals with workplace safety issues. Your employer should seek to resolve the problem through mediation or a confidential, informal settlement between both parties. You could also seek legal advice from employment lawyers.

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What are the Effects of Bullying Behaviour?

Bullying in the Workplace can create an unhealthy work environment and negatively impact your health and the health of others. Adverse effects may include:

  • Severe mental distress, disturbed sleep, and anxiety
  • Loss of confidence, self-esteem, and occasionally suicidal tendencies.
  • General ailments, including stomach problems and headaches
  • Work incapacity, diminished output and performance

How do I get stress leave? >

   

Workplace Bullying by Management and Co-workers

Harassment can happen from any person towards another at any time within a workplace, when their behaviour creates a health and safety risk. For example:

  • Your co-worker is harassing you
  • An employee harassing their boss
  • Your boss is harassing you

Workplace Bullying happens in various settings, including, on the phone, in person, via email, and on social media. Forms of workplace bullying include the following:

  • Demanding impossible work or other unreasonable work expectations
  • Being omitted from work-related events and activities
  • Verbal abuse, insults and recurring ridicule
  • Recurring threats of termination
  • Intimidating and aggressive behaviour, physical assault.
  • Humiliating behaviour like criticism, insults and sarcasm
  • Suppressing vital information necessary for your work
  • Actively sabotaging your work
  • Jokes, Taunting and hazing are unacceptable
  • The dissemination of malicious rumours, gossip, or innuendo

The following actions do not constitute Workplace Bullying:

  • Reasonable Management Action

The term Workplace Bullying does not apply to any acts performed by management that are legitimate and reasonable. These actions may include valid and appropriate feedback, transfer, demotion, termination, or disciplinary action.

  • Conflict at Work

It is usual for employees to dispute or differ in opinion. This behaviour is not considered workplace bullying unless it escalates into recurrent, unreasonable behaviour that endangers an employee’s health and safety.

  • Discrimination or sexual harassment

Sexual harassment and discrimination at work are illegal and governed by anti-discrimination, equal employment opportunity, human rights, and workplace relations laws.

Workplace discrimination occurs when someone suffers an ‘adverse action’, such as being fired or demoted, because of their ethnicity, religion, or gender.

Bullying occurs when an individual’s repeated unreasonable behaviour towards another or others threatens their health or safety in the workplace. However, they do not need to be bullying someone based on a person’s characteristics, and adverse action does not need to have happened.

Steps to Take for a Workplace Bullying Claim

Record Events

Record work-related events, including time, date, location, and parties involved.

Ask Them to Stop Bullying Behaviour

Request that they cease the bullying behaviour. Make sure your bully understands you do not find their behaviour acceptable. Document these conversations.

Seek Legal Advice

Seek the counsel of a third party: your union representative, employment lawyer, HR counsellor, OH&S representative, or bullying lawyer.

Understand Your Workplace Policies

Investigate the policies and processes of your Workplace. What documentation does your employer have to manage this conduct?

Try to Resolve Matters Yourself

Attempt to resolve workplace difficulties with your employer. Inform them of your concerns and request action from them.

Take Legal Action

Other options are available if your employer has failed to address workplace bullying appropriately, like contacting our workers' compensation team.

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Ask a QLD Workplace Bullying Lawyer for Advice

If you are experiencing workplace bullying and diagnosed with a mental health condition, you could be eligible to file a workplace bullying claim. WorkCover is the Queensland workers’ compensation scheme that covers various physical and psychological injuries supported by employer premiums.

If your WorkCover claim is approved, you may be eligible for weekly payments for your time off work, reimbursement of your medical and similar expenses, and, in some situations, a lump sum payment for permanent impairment.

All our workplace legal services are 100% No Win, No Fee. Pay nothing until we win your case, and nothing if you lose. Call Us – 1800 700 125.

Workplace Bullying Lawyers Near You

When you need expert legal advice for a QLD Workplace Bullying and Harassment case, it’s reassuring to know that Splatt
Lawyers is nearby. Choose your location:

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Workplace Bullying Compensation Claim FAQs

There are different ways to report bullying, depending on who engages in the unwanted behaviour.

  1. For coworkers, make a report to your manager
  2. For your manager, have a meeting with your HR department
  3. If it’s your manager, meet with their direct report

All Queensland employees are legally entitled to a safe working environment. You do not need to suffer if you are stressed at work because of harassment and bullying behaviours. Seek expert legal advice immediately. It costs nothing to understand your legal rights.

Safe Work Australia defines bullying as unreasonable and repeated behaviour directed at individuals or groups that threatens their safety and health. Section 789FD of the Fair Work ACT 2009 outlines a similar definition: an individual (or group of workers) posing a danger to another employee (or group of workers) behaving unreasonably and repeatedly, creating a risk to work health and safety. This type of legal matter is covered by employment law.

If you are bullied while working and have a psychological injury, you could have grounds to make a WorkCover claim for workers’ compensation.  It will help your case if you have already been seeking support from a counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or GP, and they have documented the impact of the undesired work behaviour.

How do I get stress leave? >

To make a successful workplace bullying compensation claim, you need proof, so please keep thorough records of written and verbal conversations with dates and times.

Our Team are Ready to Help. Request Your Free Claim Assessment Now!

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