Maurice Blackburn

A former WorkSafe employee has taken her fight for compensation to the Federal Court after being sacked because she complained about bullying, intimidation and harassment while working at Victoria's workplace safety regulator failed.

Jillian Ramsden was employed at WorkSafe as a commercial health adviser from May 18, 2011 and her performance was rated so well by colleagues and management that she was appointed as project lead on one of their eight key strategies after just two months.

As her employment continued, Ms Ramsden was subjected to relentless bullying including:
• Regularly being yelled at aggressively and loudly;
• Constantly being ignored in the workplace;
• Constant negative scrutineering of her work;
• Witholding of vital information relevant to her role;
• Exclusion from events in the workplace; and
• Belittling, undermining verbal abuse in front of other employees.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Emeline Gaske said Ms Ramsden made a number of complaints to management and WorkSafe's human resources department about the bullying.

"Our client's poor treatment culminated in Ms Ramsden being sacked on July 28, just hours after lodging a WorkCover claim following advice from her doctor that she was too stressed to work," Ms Gaske said.

"Ms Ramsden had a legitimate right to lodge her claim as a result of the stress and pain inflicted on her while working at WorkSafe.

"WorkSafe is the government body established to look after the health and safety of all Victorian workers and it has obviously failed to fulfil its charter in relation to its own employees.

"Attempts to negotiate a settlement through Fair Work Australia have failed and that is why her claim has been filed in the Federal Court."

Ms Ramsden said she would continue her fight to the Federal Court to expose the toxic culture at WorkSafe.

"I am taking this action because I want the truth to come out. Since taking this action I have been contacted by a number of former and current WorkSafe employees who have supported my decision to uncover the very poor workplace environment at WorkSafe," Ms Ramsden said.

"I had moved from Queensland only three weeks prior to taking up the position at WorkSafe and the bullying and stress left me depressed, anxious and humiliated.

"I had no support and there is a widespread culture of fear if you speak up

"And this occurs while WorkSafe runs publicity campaigns to urge all Victorian workers who are being bullied or harassed at work to do the same."

"It is a bitter irony that WorkSafe's campaign slogan says "I was new and afraid to ask" - "It doesn't hurt to speak up - WorkSafe".

Media inquiries: Stephen Moynihan at Maurice Blackburn
T   0419 112 711
E  smoynihan@mauriceblackburn.com.au