I'm being bullied at work
What constitutes bullying, how to document it, and where to get help.
What is workplace bullying?
Workplace bullying is repeated unreasonable behaviour directed at an employee that creates a risk to health and safety. It can include: verbal abuse, intimidation, exclusion, spreading rumours, assigning meaningless tasks, withholding information, setting impossible deadlines, or changing work arrangements to disadvantage someone. A single instance of unreasonable behaviour is not bullying, but it may still be unacceptable.
What it's not
Reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable manner is not bullying. This includes: performance feedback, disciplinary action, allocation of work, reasonable directions about how work should be done, and decisions about restructuring or redundancy. However, if these actions are done in an unreasonable way, they could constitute bullying.
Document everything
Keep a written record of every incident: date, time, location, what happened, who was involved, and any witnesses. Save emails, messages, or other evidence. This documentation is essential if you need to make a formal complaint or apply to the Fair Work Commission.
What to do
1. Talk to someone you trust — a colleague, union rep, or support person. 2. Report it through your workplace's grievance procedure. 3. Contact your state's WHS regulator if there's a safety risk. 4. Apply to the Fair Work Commission for a stop-bullying order. 5. Contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline (13 11 14) for support.
Fair Work Commission orders
You can apply to the Fair Work Commission for a stop-bullying order if you're being bullied at work and the bullying is at risk of continuing. The FWC can make orders requiring the employer or individual to stop the bullying behaviour. There is no application fee.
Official resources
In this situation yourself?
Ask our AI advisor with the specifics — grounded in the Fair Work Act and case law, free to start.
Get notified when rates change
Free alerts when minimum wage, award rates, or workplace laws are updated.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.
Related reading
If you're experiencing workplace bullying in Australia, you have legal protections. Step-by-step: how to document it, report it, apply for a stop bullying order, and get help.
Unfair Dismissal in Australia: How to Know If You Have a CaseWas your dismissal unfair? Learn the eligibility rules, 21-day deadline, high income threshold ($190,100), remedies, and how to apply to the Fair Work Commission.
Recommended partners
Free tools surface the issue. Our partners help you solve it.
Authorised Employment Hero Partner
Employment Hero
Australian HR, payroll, rostering and award interpretation in one platform. Used by 300,000+ businesses. Fixes the underlying payroll/compliance issues our calculators surface.
Best for: SMEs that have outgrown spreadsheet payroll or want automated award interpretation.
See Employment HeroHR support partner
Liquid HR
Senior, hands-on HR support for your toughest workforce challenges — performance and conduct, grievances and mediation, redundancy and change. Liquid HR picks up where the technology ends.
Best for: employers and individuals who need a human HR professional to guide a workplace situation, not just a calculator.
Talk to Liquid HRIT, Microsoft & cyber partner
Frontrow Tech
Microsoft 365, Copilot rollouts, Essential Eight, Privacy Act 2026 and board-level cyber compliance for Australian SMBs. Where pay and HR end, your data and IT obligations begin.
Best for: SMBs running on Microsoft 365, anyone hitting cyber/privacy compliance, boards wanting an outside read on IT risk.
See FrontrowRecommended partners — we only recommend partners we've vetted as a good fit for Australian workplaces. Some partnerships help fund the free tools on this site.