Workplace Bullying Lawyers
Any systematic offence, humiliation, or intimidation happening in a workplace which is directed towards a certain employee by others, or by employers can be considered workplace bullying.
Workplace bullying can be significantly damaging for an employee’s mental well-being and work productivity buy creating distress and lowering self-confidence. It can also lead to more serious psychological problems for individuals which may finally lead them to claim for their rights and entitlements as a worker.
If you believe that you are subject to workplace bullying, you should notify your manager or employer about it and seek help regarding both your mental health and legal rights. Bullying in the workplace can emerge in many forms, being informed about them can help you pinpoint if you are a target and take necessary action accordingly.
Can you claim compensation for workplace bullying?
You will not be able to claim compensation for workplace bullying in itself, however, you may make a claim for its psychological results depending on the diagnosis of a mental health professional. The workers compensation scheme in NSW allows workers for claiming compensation for work-related psychological injuries and illnesses, as well as physical ones. Although bullying is not a psychological condition by itself, it may lead to situations like stress and anxiety. Psychological injuries need to be diagnosable, recognized illnesses in order to be considered in the compensation scheme, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression. If you are eligible, you may receive benefits such as weekly payments, medical and related expenses, domestic assistance, and lump sum payment if your psychological injury is assessed as 15% or more permanent impairment.
How can you make a claim for workplace bullying?
If you are eligible, you can make a claim for your work-related psychological injury by submitting a Workers Compensation Claim Form to the insurer or your employer. You should attach the medical certificate received from the doctor to the claim form, which will prove to the insurer that you suffered from a diagnosable psychological injury making you eligible for claiming compensation.
Examples of bullying in the workplace
Workplace bullying can be in various forms such as:
• Gossip
• Social exclusion and isolating
• Aggressive behaviour
• Sexual harassment
• Cyberbullying
• Denying an employee’s right to attend trainings
• Withholding information
• Denying an employee’s right to promotion
• Insults and offensive language
• Assigning tasks beyond an employee’s competency
• Unjustified criticism
• Verbal abuse
Frequently asked questions
If you are experiencing bullying, you can check if your workplace holds a policy against it, which may introduce you to procedures to follow. You can also report the issue to a manager or supervisor, or human resources officer so that they can guide you or take the necessary steps to manage it. If you are dealing with emotional/psychological issues resulting from bullying, you may get help via the Mental Health Line, a 24/7 support service provided by the NSW government.
If you are diagnosed with a psychological illness resulting from workplace bullying, you may be entitled to compensation. Consulting our experienced psychological injury lawyers can help you better navigate your claim-making process. They can provide critical advice on your rights and entitlements, or guidance on how to proceed if your claim is disputed by the insurer, which is a common case for psychological claims.
You can make a psychological claim by reaching out to our lawyers via our offices in Parramatta, Wollongong, Penrith and Liverpool, as well as Sydney.
You can consult our expert lawyers at any point in your claim process. They can assess your case for eligibility for claiming compensation, lead you with respect to legal procedures or offer advice on how to move on if your claim is rejected.
The scope of compensation you may receive from a psychological injury claim will depend on the circumstances of your case. Our experienced lawyers can offer tailored information on this by assessing the specifics of your situation.
No win no fee Workplace Bullying Lawyers
Our experienced workers compensation lawyers can help with your claim process all around NSW, via our offices in Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, Liverpool and Wollongong. They also work on a no win no fee basis, which means you will be free from financial concerns regarding our legal fees until we achieve your claim and you receive your compensation. Do not hesitate to contact us for an initial consultation.