WRC recommends sushi chef engage with investigation of bullying complaint

The WRC recommended that a sushi chef engage with his employer’s investigation of his bullying complaint and follow the internal grievance procedure. The recommendation was dated 5 June 2024. The worker alleged that his line manager bullied and harassed him, including mocking his native language and threatening him. The employer denied the allegations and said it first learned of the complaint on 29 June 2023, the day it was sent to the WRC. The adjudication officer found that the worker had not shown he exhausted the internal procedure before referring the matter and had not meaningfully engaged with the employer’s later requests. The recommendation addressed the process and did not determine whether the alleged conduct occurred.