Getting ready for the new workplace bulling laws - cost effective and practical preparation for employers

One of the fastest growing areas in workplace law is in the workplace bullying space.

Despite the relatively high profile that workplace bullying has had in recent years, it has, in fact, been relatively difficult for an aggrieved employee to successfully pursue a legal remedy against their employer. In short, the traditional legal avenues that have been available to an aggrieved employee to advance a claim of workplace bullying have been legalistic, expensive and time consuming to pursue. This will all change with the introduction of the new workplace bullying laws that will apply across Australia from 1 January 2014.

From 1 January 2014, an employee who wishes to legally pursue their employer over a workplace bullying grievance, will have a relatively speedy and cost effective way of doing so in the form of an application to the Fair Work Commission. The Fair Work Commission estimates that it will receive approximately 3,500 workplace bullying complaints per annum.

National Workplace Lawyers has assisted employers with workplace bullying matters for many years. We also have a great deal of practical experience in appearing before the Fair Work Commission - where workplace bullying complaints will now be dealt with.

To assist employers with their preparation for the introduction of the new workplace bullying laws, we have developed a cost effective, practical and user friendly Workplace Bullying Employer Assist Package. The key features of the package are as follows:

• a streamlined and contemporary Anti Bullying Policy that complies with the new laws;
• a streamlined and contemporary Harassment and Discrimination Policy;
• a streamline and contemporary complaints procedure for dealing with workplace bullying, harassment and discrimination complaints;
• a combined workplace bullying, harassment and discrimination training package for employees. The emphasis here is to educate employees about what is and isn't workplace bullying, harassment and discrimination, in order to reduce the risk of complaints arising in the first place; and
• a combined workplace bullying, harassment and discrimination training package for managers which covers 　the same matters as the training for employees but which also details the investigation process and legal exposures to increase management awareness.

We can offer all of the above at a discounted fixed fee package rate or otherwise as separate fixed fee components. In addition, we can appear for and otherwise assist employers in workplace bullying matters before the Fair Work Commission at a discounted rate for employers that have purchased the abovementioned package.　

We understand that some employers, particularly larger employers, will already have detailed workplace bulling, discrimination and harassment policies in place. In this instance, we are able to review the existing policies and simply make any necessary amendments to them to ensure compliance with the new workplace bullying regime and recent amendments to discrimination law.

If you would like more information about our new Workplace Bullying Employer Assist Package, including price details, please contact National Workplace Lawyers on +61 2 9233 3989. 

National Workplace Lawyers

Note — this is for information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to render legal advice.