Unfriending colleague on Facebook can be "workplace bullying", Australian tribunal finds

Deleting a colleague from Facebook can be considered a form of workplace bullying, an Australian tribunal has ruled.

The Australian reported that the issue came to light after two estate agents from Tasmania had an argument over the loss of a sale at work. Rachael Roberts, who had worked with the company for over 10 years, reported to her manager that Lisa Bird, an administrative worker blamed her for the incident and stopped welcoming her “Good morning” at the office.

Roberts then took her concern to James Bird, the owner of the company and the husband of Lisa Bird. Roberts also complained that her properties were not getting a fair amount of coverage in the shop window. In response, Mrs Bird called a meeting with Roberts where she admonished her as a “naughty school girl running to teacher.”

Roberts then checked Facebook too see if Bird had posted anything online regarding their meeting, whereby she found out that her co-worker had unfriended her.