A New Zealand woman has been awarded NZD 20,000 (USD 13,268) and three months’ pay after being bullied in her workplace by a recruitment firm manager, reports the Otago Daily Times. A decision by Employment Relations Authority member Peter van Keulen found that Jessica Williams, who worked for AWF Ltd at Select Recruitment, was bullied by her manager and then unjustifiably dismissed. A personal grievance was raised by Williams last year. AWF allowed her to work from home while the complaint was investigated. The investigation eventually proved she had been bullied by her manager, but that AWF had responded appropriately. In an attempt to resolve the issues between Williams and the manager, AWF devised a return to work plan which included Williams still working under the manager who had bullied her. The company hoped the two could "draw a line in the sand". However, when Williams expressed concerns about that plan, AWF’s response was to place her on leave without pay and suggest she returned all AWF property to the office. Williams raised another personal grievance for unjustified dismissal, a complaint that AWF denied, claiming it responded appropriately to alleged bullying once it was raised. AWF also said it did not dismiss Williams, but rather she was on leave without pay as she chose not to accept the return to work plan.

Van Keulen wrote that he had no difficulty in ruling that AWF compensate William for the physical and mental toll she experienced, as well three months’ ordinary time pay to make up for being placed on leave without pay.