Unfair dismissals bypassed by bullying

STATE GOVERNMENT bodies are encouraging workers to sue their employers for bullying and harassment rather than take their chances with stricter unfair dismissal laws under WorkChoices.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission recently launched a postcard campaign informing employees that they could sidestep restrictions in the Federal Government’s new workplace laws by lodging harassment claims instead.

“The Federal Government has reduced workers’rights under recent industrial relations changes,” the postcards read.

“However, Victoria’s equal opportunity laws still protect employees from discrimination in the workplace.”

WorkChoices has also triggered strong responses from other state anti-discrimination commissions, including those of NSW, Queensland and Western Australia.

“We expect the number of complaints received by the Commission to dramatically increase,” said West Australian Equal Opportunity Commissioner Yvonne Henderson.

She expressed particular concern about the impact of WorkChoices on pregnant women, and cautioned employers to understand the relevant anti-discrimination legislation.

“It’s inevitable that legislative change to unfair dismissal legislation will leave pregnant women more vulnerable at precisely the time they need the support of their employer the most,” Henderson said.

“I think there are mixed messages being sent out by the Howard Government. On the one hand they’re encouraging women to return to the workforce after having a child so their valuable work skills are not lost, yet they’re making it easier for an employer with less than 100 employees to dismiss their staff.”