WA Workplace Bullying - Employee Rights?

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Michael Berry

Active Member
10 September 2014
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My boss will not supply me with a work phone, which leaves me to use my personal phone for all business. I travel regularly for business and my company supplies my personal phone number to clients. My company agrees to reimburse my calls when I'm away on business but recently my manager has been scrutinising my bill and even going as far as calling personal contacts on my phone bill to find out who they are and why I'm calling them. We have an agreement to supply my phone bill with business calls and texts highlighted. I feel my privacy is being invaded and my employee rights breached, but my boss shrugs it off as his right.

This is not the only issue I have with this workplace bullying.
 

Rod

Lawyer
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27 May 2014
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He has no right to call numbers that you are not claiming. Is there anything in your employment contract that talks about reimbursement of phone expenses?

If I was you, I'd be making a log of the business calls and submit that as the expense claim. If the boss insists on seeing the actual bill charges I'd be saying you can see the original bill once every 3 months. Then on the bill I send in all calls except the business calls would be blacked out.
 

Michael Berry

Active Member
10 September 2014
12
0
31
He has no right to call numbers that you are not claiming. Is there anything in your employment contract that talks about reimbursement of phone expenses?

If I was you, I'd be making a log of the business calls and submit that as the expense claim. If the boss insists on seeing the actual bill charges I'd be saying you can see the original bill once every 3 months. Then on the bill I send in all calls except the business calls would be blacked out.

Rod,

In my contract it states phone expenses both personal and business related will be reimbursed while in service to the company (travelling for business). I use my phone sparingly while away on business due to the cost when abroad though most locations do not have accessible internet or landlines I can use. My boss requires daily updates which incurs high fees yet makes me chase and fight for reimbursement. He also does this with hotel bills and other living costs while away.
 

Rod

Lawyer
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27 May 2014
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Just black out all called numbers, destination is irrelevant according to your contract. And your boss shouldn't be calling anyone from your bill. Gross abuse of his position, and may be against company policy.
 

Sarah J

Well-Known Member
16 July 2014
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Melbourne, Victoria
Hi Michael,

How is the matter going? I would suggest speaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman about these behaviours by your boss. As Rod said, there does appear to be a privacy breach and possible breach of the employment contract regarding reimbursements.

However, practically speaking, what would you be seeking in the event your boss does not agree to change his behaviour?