Workers' Compensation & Discrimination

I sustained a lower back injury, saw my doctor, and was placed on workers' compensation with a 10kg lifting restriction. When I returned to work, my supervisor made me lift meat carcasses, weighing 15kg to 20kg, and push trolleys which aggravated my back injury. I went to see my doctor and he was quite irate with my manager as to what occurred. I gave my employer a further medical certificate, they said they had no light duties and terminated my employment. Connect Legal, please help.

I’ve been working as a truck driver for at least 6 months and sustained a workplace injury to my lower back while I was carrying goods from warehouse A to B. I reported this to management, but they seemed only to give lip service. they said, “see how you go and if the pain persists, go see a doctor.” I then went to see my doctor who placed me on sick leave and then within a week thereafter, placed me on workers' compensation. When I provided these certificates to my manager, he looked very surprised. He said, “What are these injuries just from carrying boxes?” I said, “yes, the boxes were over 20kg and when I got injured, I told you straight away.” I have been on workers' compensation for about 3 weeks. However, this morning my manager walked in and said, “we’re making your position redundant as a truck driver.” I said, “what are you talking about? We’ve got so much work to do. There are trucks coming in from Brisbane and Melbourne. What redundant?” I said, “are you sure it’s not because of my workers' compensation?” He said no but I don’t believe him. Connect Legal, please help me.

I have been working as a forklift driver for a large Australian Meat Processor for the past 8 years. Recently, whilst climbing a 2-meter ladder, I sensed it was unstable and fell off and injured my lower back – the L4 and L5 discs. After taking 4 weeks off to seek medical attention, I have applied for Workers' Compensation due to not being able to return to work for an estimated potential long period of time. My manager has sent me various messages and emails, threatening me with words to the effect of “if you do not return to work within the next week, we will get rid of you. Stop being dramatic about your injury”. He said, “You only fell because you’re clumsy.” He is constantly bombarding me with messages and phone calls. I expressed that “I injured my back and am unable to return to work. I am also currently on workers' compensation.” Yesterday, he called me and said “we no longer need you at work. Please do not return.” Connect Legal, please advise me of my rights.

I work as a construction laborer and was injured at work last October 2022. I fell over a pile of bricks, and I twisted my ankle. I straight away told my boss and he said, “It’ll get better, just get back to work.” However, when I returned home, my ankle was swelling, and I had to go to the doctor. The doctor said, “You sprained your ankle, and you will have to be off work for three weeks”. He then provided me with worker’s compensation. I went to work and gave my boss my worker’s compensation which stated that I will need to be off work for three weeks. He said, “No way, your ankle looked good when you were here, this must’ve been done at home.” I went to HR, and they said, “We will give this a hand, ring us in about an hour”. An hour later, I rang them, and they said, “We’ve been told that the injury occurred outside of work, and we’re going to terminate your employment immediately”. This is unbelievable, I sustained an ankle injury, and now I’ve been terminated. Connect Legal, please help.

I work as an age care assistant, and I’ve been injured for at least 5 months with a lower back injury with pain running down my right leg. The management has placed me on light duties, but I’m finding it very difficult to handle patients and move them within the disability accommodation home. I told my manager that these light duties are not working, and they said, “Well, we’ve got nothing else.” I said, “I’ll do everything except heavy lifting. Also, can you get my fellow disability support workers to help me?”, and my manager said no. Two weeks later, my management called me into a meeting and said “We're making you redundant because we’ve got no money” I said “What do you mean you have no funding? You have NDIS funding.” I don’t believe my dismissal is genuine, I believe it’s because of my injury. Connect Legal, please help.

I work as a process worker at a meat manufacturing plant in Brisbane. Last June, I got injured when a colleague pushed me by accident, I slipped and injured my back. I told the management very quickly, and they were very helpful. I then went to see my doctor, and I was off work for about nine weeks. I then returned to light duties, and this is when all the problems started. Even though my employer’s website states, “We are a model employer, we respect all people”, in this recent situation, that has not been true. My operations manager regularly questioned me on my injury, saying “Why are you on light duties for so long?”, “Is your injury genuine?”, “When are you going to get better?” I said, “I fell at work! And it’s on camera. Why are you questioning my injury?” she said, “It’s been 3 months! We have other employees who were injured, and they’re working fine. Are you playing the system?” This is ridiculous, I got injured and now I’m being bullied and questioned. It’s affecting my family and life. Connect Legal, please help.

I work as an accountant for a mid-tier accounting firm and recently completed my Master’s in Marketing Management. My work even funded the complete course, and my peers said they were very happy that I was undertaking further education. But after completing my work, I sense that other teammates became very uncomfortable working with me and would say “Look at her, she knows everything.”, “Look at her, she thinks she knows everything just because she did her Master’s.” The hurtful comments went on, and in an open meeting, one person who was very envious of me said, “Stop talking! You don’t know what you’re saying. You’re not a team player. Don’t think you know everything.” I informed human resources several times, and they’d say “We’ll look into it” but they never did. I then had to see my doctor, who placed me on worker’s compensation because of workplace bullying and anxiety. This is ridiculous, I don’t know why my peers are envious and are bullying me when I’m only trying to improve. Connect Legal, please help me.

I’m an apprentice baker, working in North Queensland, working Monday to Friday from 3 am to 11 am. I thoroughly enjoy work, but one of the senior bakers has been regularly swearing at me using the B, C, D, and S words. I come from a loving home, and I am not used to this foul language. Sometimes, he even comes to work with the use of this language, and my manager knows. But, because he’s an Artisan baker, and he’s good at everything, the manager turns a blind eye, even though I’ve made several complaints. I feel that I am being used and that my bullying complaints aren’t being taken seriously. My mother wants me to leave, and I’m inclined to. I saw a doctor, who placed me on worker’s compensation. I gave my employer the forms, and I could feel they weren’t happy. Connect Legal, please advise.