WRC recommends completing investigation into worker’s complaint

A WRC adjudication officer recommended that a worker’s workplace complaint be investigated to a conclusion after the employer’s assessor moved it into the formal investigation stage. The recommendation was dated 8 December 2022. The worker said her bullying complaint had been screened out and information disclosed to the manager she had complained about. The employer said its screening followed the Dignity at Work policy, which provides no appeal. The officer found that notifying the manager had moved the complaint beyond preliminary screening, contrary to the policy. The officer recommended that the parties negotiate whether to use the Dignity at Work policy or the Grievance Procedure, with mediation if they could not agree. The recommendation did not decide whether bullying had occurred.