Mrs Jogia v Belgravia Leisure Group
Deputy President Slevin
Not yet cited by other cases
Applicant: Mrs Jogia
Respondent: Belgravia Leisure Group
Ratio
Where an applicant has resigned from employment, the FWC has no jurisdiction to make an order to stop bullying under s.789FC of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), as the statutory prerequisite of current employment is no longer satisfied and the application has no reasonable prospects of success.
Outcome
Against applicant
dismissed
Authority signal
Not yet cited by other cases
Signal-weighted score: 0.0
Derived from how later decisions have treated this case. Dark green = leading authority,
green = positively treated, grey = neutral or sparse data,
amber = caution, red = treated negatively.
Key facts · 8
- Mrs Jogia lodged an application pursuant to s.789FC on 22 March 2025 alleging workplace bullying
- On 14 April 2025, Jogia sent a resignation letter effective 28 April 2025
- Belgravia accepted the resignation effective 28 April 2025
- On 24 April 2025, the Commission raised jurisdictional concerns regarding the resignation
- Jogia advised the Commission the application was pressed and invited the Commission to exercise discretion to proceed despite no longer being employed
- At directions on 2 May 2025, Jogia did not appear; Belgravia confirmed resignation had taken effect
- Deputy President issued further directions indicating no jurisdiction and intention to dismiss unless Jogia objected by 9 May 2025
- Jogia made no submissions opposing dismissal
Factors
For
- Applicant alleged workplace bullying occurred
- Applicant claimed resignation was forced upon her by the circumstances of the conduct she alleged
Against
- Applicant had resigned and was no longer employed at the time of the directions hearing
- FWC has no jurisdiction to make a stop-bullying order where the applicant is no longer employed
- Applicant did not appear at directions hearing or lodge submissions opposing dismissal despite opportunity to do so
Legislation referenced
- Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.789FC
- Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.587(1)(c)
Concept tags · 4
Principles · 1
articulates para 8
The FWC has no jurisdiction to make an order to stop bullying under s.789FC where the applicant is no longer employed, as the statutory power depends upon the applicant being a current worker in the respondent's business.
Archived text (447 words)
1 Fair Work Act 2009 s.789FC - Application for an order to stop bullying Application by Mrs Jogia (AB2025/214) DEPUTY PRESIDENT SLEVIN SYDNEY, 13 MAY 2025 Application for an FWC order to stop bullying – Applicant resigned – Application has no reasonable prospects of success – Application dismissed [1] Mrs Jogia (the Applicant) on 22 March 2025 lodged with the Commission an application pursuant to s.789FC of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act) for orders that bullying that she alleged was occurring in her workplace stop (the Application). The Respondents to that application included the Applicant’s employer Belgravia Leisure Group (Belgravia) and the Applicant’s manager. [2] On 14 April 2025, the Applicant sent to Belgravia, copying my chambers, a resignation letter dated to take effect on 28 April 2025. The following day Belgravia responded (again copying my chambers) accepting the Applicant’s resignation effective 28 April 2025. [3] On 24 April 2025 my chambers raised with the parties the jurisdictional concern raised by the applicant’s resignation and sought an indication of whether Mrs Jogia would be discontinuing the application. [4] The Applicant advised my chambers that the application was pressed. Acknowledging her resignation, the applicant nonetheless invited the Commission to “exercise its discretion” to proceed absent jurisdiction. [5] The matter was listed for Directions on 2 May 2025. Despite correspondence between the Applicant and my chambers regarding that listing the Applicant did not appear. A representative of Belgravia did appear and confirmed that the resignation had come into effect and that the Applicant was no longer employed. [6] Later that day I issued further Directions raising with the Applicant my view that the Commission had no jurisdiction to deal with the application where she was no longer employed and, subject to any views the Applicant might wish to put by 9 May 2025, my intention to dismiss the matter. [7] The Applicant has made no submissions opposing the dismissal of the application. [2025] FWC 1323 DECISION [2025] FWC 1323 2 [8] I am satisfied that where the Applicant has resigned there is no basis upon which the Commission might make an order to stop bullying. Accordingly, the application has no prospects of success. [9] I note that the Applicant did express that she felt the resignation was forced upon her by the circumstances of the conduct she alleged in the Application. In those circumstances there are other avenues open to her. [10] Being satisfied the application has no prospects of success and having afforded the Applicant ample opportunity to argue otherwise I exercise my discretion under s. 587(1)(c) of the Act to dismiss the application. DEPUTY PRESIDENT Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer <PR787257>