Very serious allegations against a Flight Centre Store Manager in today’s Age. The manager is alleged to have engaged in “relentless” mistreatment of an employee and then reportedly victimised the top performing assistant manager for ‘calling’ such behaviour. Executive teams and HR Departments never look for such situations to deal with but deal with them emphatically they must.
A tragedy for all concerned if the allegations are true and the case potentially provides impetus for tougher victimisation laws that underscore the immorality and the folly of bullying staff and giving in to the instinct to “shoot the messenger”?
How many staff members will be motivated to stand up to inappropriate behaviour if they experience a backlash for speaking up? This is why the victimisation clause is enshrined in the legislation and why management must ensure that any unwelcome and offensive behaviour that gives rise to a  complaint, be stopped and further, that the complainant and anyone giving reasonable and courageous support to them must not become the targets of further hostile attention.