The Australian workplace safety regulatory agency, WorkSafe, announced on Thursday that Court Services Victoria (CSV) was convicted and fined in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace. CSV, the body in charge of Victoria’s court system, pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined $379,157 by WorkSafe. The allegations of a “deadly work culture” concern the Coroners Court of Victoria, specifically.
Throughout an identified period from at least December 2015 to September 2018, workers at the Coroners Court were at ongoing risk due to high workloads and work demands, exposure to traumatic materials, role conflict, poor workplace relationships, and inappropriate workplace behaviors. Over the same period, numerous complaints were raised by employees of the Coroners’ Court citing allegations of bullying, favoritism, cronyism, verbal abuse, derogatory comments, and intimidation.
In a tragic turn of events in September 2018, Jessica Wilby, the Principal In House Solicitor at the Coroners Court, took her own life after taking three months of personal leave. Wilby, who had a significant caseload, had been diagnosed with a work-related major depressive disorder. The Age reported the Corners Court had been put on notice that its workplace environment was toxic and carried a risk of causing suicide. Despite being warned, Wilby was assigned the workload of two people in the months leading to her death. Wilby had expressed a desire to take leave but was concerned for her reputation.
The conviction of CSV and the consequent fine underscores the legal ramifications of failing to maintain workplace safety, and serves as a stark reminder to corporations and law firms worldwide. It underscores the critical importance of ensuring employee mental health and wellbeing, and taking immediate corrective measures when problems are identified.