A former Flight Centre assistant store manager has today lodged an adverse action claim that alleges he was victimised by his manager after complaining about bullying of a colleague by a store manager and that the company, including its HR manager, failed to take action to halt the conduct.
Richard Barnes, at the time an assistant manager at the chain's Chadstone store, alleges that he complained repeatedly to the company's management, including the area manager, about the store manager's egregious bullying of a female colleague.
He claimed the manager repeatedly criticised the colleague's work, made insulting comments, moved her workstation next to her own "to an unusual and excessive degree" and remarked how happy she was that the colleague, as the poorest-performing employee, would be required to wear to the monthly award night a "boob apron".
After he complained, the assistant manager claimed the manager bullied and victimised him, via conduct such as overloading him with tasks, criticising his work , failing to pass on messages from clients, telling clients they should complain about him, and making derogatory comments about him.
The assistant manager claims he met with the company's area manager in mid-2011 and complained about the bullying of his colleague and the bullying and victimisation of himself after his earlier complaints.
However, he claims the company responded a month later by notifying him he would be transferred to another store at Hawthorn, as a consultant.
The assistant manager maintained this was a demotion.
He alleged he was subjected to a renewed bullying campaign in the weeks before his transfer took effect, and was then issued a warning, at a meeting with the store, area and HR managers, for alleged misconduct towards the manager.
He alleged he was "ambushed" by the allegations, which he strongly denied, and he resigned at the end of the meeting.
The case targets the company and the store manager, area manager and HR manager.
Maurice Blackburn principal Josh Bornstein, who is acting for Barnes, said in a statement today that the adverse action provisions played an important role in protecting whistleblowers from victimisation and retribution.
Flight Centre Limited said in a statement this afternoon that it wasn't in a position to comment in detail because the case was before the courts.
However, it said it had "investigated and acted against several people who were involved" when it received the complaint last year.
It said the company believed it had acted appropriately, that it denied the allegations and that it would vigorously defend the case.
It said the company "takes allegations of this nature seriously and has policies and procedures in place to prevent and discipline such behaviour.
"In addition, the company has a whistleblowers' facility that staff can use to report any alleged wrongdoing".
Barnes v Flight Centre Limited & Ors, VID360/2012