The victim left the office crying and then checked to see if the bully had commented on the incident on Facebook [which as we all know, especially after this ruling, is akin to firebombing the victim's house], only to discover that the bully had instead unfriended her.
The horror!
Now to be fair, the bully was the wife of the boss, so the positions and work relationship of these two women couldn't be considered equal. And apparently the bully had also engaged in other bullying-type behavior directed toward the victim, including, over a two-year period, failing to say hello in the morning and delivering photocopies and print-outs to all staff but the victim.
The commission has issued an order to stop the bullying. “This action by Mrs Bird [bully] evinces a lack of emotional maturity and is indicative of unreasonable behaviour,” the tribunal ruled.
Moral of this story: never friend anyone you work with.
Article in The Telegraph
Totally agree, never friend workmates. There've been cases here where bright sparks have posted their (sicky) day at the cricket on FB when their boss is a friend... Duh!
ReplyDeleteBut regarding the case above... while I don't condone bullying of any kind, unfriending on FB is hardly that. Just unfriend back. There are too many judges in this country who don't use common sense. They go the other way for serious crime (oh, the poor darling was high on ice when he bashed and robbed you, we must feel sorry for him and I'm sure he'll get treatment. Let's offer him a good behaviour bond!!!!)
And yes, for those who don't know, I'm Aussie =)
This whole case is strange to me. I think both of those women really need to get a life, or at least a grip. The “bully” seems passive-aggressive. The victim needs to grow a backbone. Crying, depression, and anxiety because of unfriending and failure to receive a morning smile?
DeleteYou Aussies are a bunch, that's for sure =)
Dena, we're a whole other life form *grin*
ReplyDelete