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A 60-year-old employee who deprived herself of water to avoid taking toilet breaks was "her own worst enemy", the Fair Work Commission has found in rejecting she was bullied.

The Woolworths employee worked in stock replenishment. In 2021, she lodged an internal complaint, followed by a stop-bullying claim, against one of her managers.

Before Fair Work Commissioner Bruce Williams the employee claimed that while the manager sometimes helped her unload pallets, he failed to leave her the lighter ones, or ask other employees to help with the heavy ones. She also accused him of forcing her to work through breaks and perform overtime.

The employee said that some of the pallets were so heavy she felt terrified they might crush her. She agreed that she had to unload pallets on other shifts too, but said other managers gave her lighter work, and were more appreciative and grateful...