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An employee with no imminent prospect of returning to work from medical leave has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission to issue a stop-bullying order.

Deputy President Andrew Bell rejected the application because the Telstra business specialist's apparent ongoing absence from work meant that she could not be at risk of being bullied.

The employee had initially made a bullying complaint to a Telstra HR manager in August 2021 about her then manager and a co-worker allegedly making unwarranted and rude comments, setting tasks that were below or beyond her skill level, and disregarding her wellbeing and requests for support and assistance.

She also alleged that she had not been sufficiently performance managed or assisted in progressing her career. Both co-workers rejected all the allegations, with Telstra telling the Commission that the "alleged bullying was reasonable management action, carried out in a reasonable manner"...