The Bullying sky rocket may have fizzled - but it still has the potential to explode

While there was considerable 'colour and movement' around the Fair Work Commission's (FWC) anti-bullying powers - after the first 12 months of operation the laws have substantially been a non event. Out of over 500 applications that have been filed, just two anti-bullying orders have been made by the FWC. Whilst these are modest indeed, there is real scope for many more orders to be made given nearly 1 in 10 Australian workers say they experience bullying at work.

That is why the seeming 'slow-burn' early impact of the FWC's bullying powers should not lull businesses into thinking that bullying is not a significant workplace issue for them now and into the future.

Bullying comes with significant cost, both financial and personal, so it is right that this area of workplace misbehaviour is being targeted so directly.