Log in or become a subscriber

An organisation-wide performance assessment was a "stressful exercise" for participating employees, but it was nonetheless "necessary", and reasonable, a tribunal has found in rejecting a psychological injury claim.

Member Anna Burke of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal found an employee was predisposed to viewing his team leader and the performance appraisal in a "negative light", and that his psychological injury was caused by reasonable administrative action.

The employee had worked as an APS4 service officer for Services Australia (formerly the Department of Human Services) and was primarily responsible for processing age pension claims.

In September 2020, he sought workers' compensation for a major depressive disorder and anxiety arising from the "unduly harsh and unreasonable" performance assessment, but Comcare denied liability and he appealed to the AAT...