Carina Lauren Arnold v

[2021] FWC 6578

[2021] FWC 6578

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.789FC - Application for an order to stop bullying

Carina Lauren Arnold
v
.
(SO2021/4)

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS PERTH, 10 DECEMBER 2021

Application for an FWC order to stop bullying

[1] This decision concerns an application made by Ms Carina Arnold (Ms Arnold or the Applicant) under section 789FC of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act).

[2] The application was allocated to the Commission as presently constituted on 26 November 2021.

[3] The employer of the Applicant subsequently advised the Commission that the Applicant had given notice of her resignation which had been accepted by the employer.

[4] Consequently, on 30 November 2021 I wrote to the Applicant and explained my preliminarily view that in these circumstances the Commission has no power to make an order to prevent future bullying at work and so this application has no reasonable prospects of success and must be dismissed. The Applicant was invited to provide submissions in response to the preliminarily view expressed.

[5] In response, the Applicant submitted in writing that she believed that there was a risk of future bullying “… though this will not continue directly at my place of work”. The Applicant requested that her application not be closed as the outcome she is seeking is the reversal of decisions previously made by the employer concerning alleged misconduct by her.

The legislation

[6] The relevant parts of the legislation are set out below.

“789FA Guide to this Part

This Part allows a worker who has been bullied at work to apply to the FWC for an order to stop the bullying.

789FB Meanings of employee and employer

In this Part, employee and employer have their ordinary meanings.

Division 2—Stopping workers being bullied at work

789FC Application for an FWC order to stop bullying

(1) A worker who reasonably believes that he or she has been bullied at work may apply to the FWC for an order under section 789FF.

…

789FF FWC may make orders to stop bullying

(1) If:

(a) a worker has made an application under section 789FC; and

(b) the FWC is satisfied that:

(i) the worker has been bullied at work by an individual or a group of individuals; and

(ii) there is a risk that the worker will continue to be bullied at work by the individual or group;

then the FWC may make any order it considers appropriate (other than an order requiring payment of a pecuniary amount) to prevent the worker from being bullied at work by the individual or group.

(2) In considering the terms of an order, the FWC must take into account:

(a) if the FWC is aware of any final or interim outcomes arising out of an investigation into the matter that is being, or has been, undertaken by another person or body—those outcomes; and

(b) if the FWC is aware of any procedure available to the worker to resolve grievances or disputes—that procedure; and

(c) if the FWC is aware of any final or interim outcomes arising out of any procedure available to the worker to resolve grievances or disputes—those outcomes; and

(d) any matters that the FWC considers relevant.”

Consideration

[7] With respect to the matters considered below it should be remembered that the Commission has made no decision as to whether or not Ms Arnold has been bullied at work in the past.

[8] The Commission only has jurisdiction to make an order under section 789FF of the Act if, amongst other prerequisites, the Commission is satisfied there is a risk of continued bullying of the Applicant at work. Where there is not a risk of future bullying at work there will be no reasonable prospect of success of an application for an order to stop bullying.

[9] The Commission under section 587(1)(c) of the Act is specifically empowered to dismiss an application if it has no reasonable prospect of success.

[10] In this instance, Ms Arnold is no longer an employee and so I am satisfied there is no risk of future bullying at work.

[11] In the circumstances I find that there is no reasonable prospect of an order being made by the Commission under section 789FF of the Act. Consequently, I will exercise my discretion and dismiss this application that was made under section 789FC of the Act.

[12] An Order [PR736639] to this effect will be issued in conjunction with this decision.

Final written submissions:

Applicant, 30 November 2021.

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<PR736638>