Federal Budget 2013
The Government announced an additional $21.4 million to enable the Fair Work Commission to implement the Government's commitment to providing workers with a quick and effective way to resolve bullying at work and to prevent it happening again.
Subject to passage of the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2013, the Fair Work Commission will commence dealing with applications for orders to stop or prevent workplace bullying.
The cost of bullying to employers and the Australian economy are estimated by the Productivity Commission to be as much as $36 billion.
“The Government's investment in addressing bullying complaints quickly and effectively through the Fair Work Commission is a step in the right direction in addressing the impact of bullying on productivity, but more needs to done,” said Scott Hartley, Public Sector Leader at Grant Thornton Australia.
“The risk is that process for resolution of complaints via the Commission becomes overly onerous and costly for the employer, the right balance between regulatory burden and productivity improvements needs to be achieved.”
“The role of workplace cultures in preventing and responding to bullying and the capacity for workplace based policies and procedures to influence the incidence and seriousness of workplace bullying should not be under estimated.”
“A balanced investment in prevention and cure is required to address what is a costly issue for the Australian Economy.”
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For more information, please contact:
Helina Lilley
National Public Relations Manager
T +61 2 8297 2421
M 0437 725 520
E helina.lilley@au.gt.com
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Grant Thornton Australia provides audit, tax and advisory services to dynamic, growing organisations and is a single national firm, with over 150 Partners, more than 1,200 people across Australia and national turnover of AUD $232 million. Grant Thornton International is the fastest growing international accounting network in the world, with a global turnover of US$3.7billion and more than 30,000 people, and was recently named 2013 Network of the Year by the International Accounting Bulletin.
