Unfriending a colleague on Facebook now constitutes ‘workplace bullying’

A workplace tribunal has found that a Facebook unfriending constituted an example of bullying.

Rachael Roberts worked for the Tasmanian real estate company VIEW for three years and reported the company's owner James Bird and his wife Lisa to the Australian Fair Work Commission She cited 18 examples where she felt she had been treated unfairly, with the fact that Lisa Bird unfriended Roberts getting the most attention. Other examples included complaints that her work was deliberately held up and her properties not displayed in the company's window, while she was also prohibited from answering the phone while in the company of Lisa, a sales administrator. “I am of the view that Mrs Bird took the first opportunity to draw a line under the relationship with Ms Roberts on 29 January 2015, when she removed her as a friend on Facebook as she did not like Ms Roberts and would prefer not to have to deal with her,” a member of the Commission said. Nine of Roberts' 18 claims were upheld, including the Facebook unfriending. Next time you reach breaking point when you see Mary from accounts has posted another HILARIOUS cat gif, think twice before clicking that mouse.