Otago woman's big payout after workplace 'broke my spirit'

Warning: This article deals with suicide and may be upsetting for some.

A woman who was bullied at her Oamaru workplace to the point her mental health suffered and she attempted to take her own life wants to tell her story of hope to inspire others.

Resthome worker Kayla Miller was bullied for more than a year until she resigned because it was "untenable for her to continue working".

She took her case to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and said the process - although difficult for her - was important in her healing.

Miller has just been awarded more than $20,000 after the ERA accepted that her complaints of bullying at work were never investigated.

The ERA found Miller had been constructively and unjustifiably dismissed from her job at Harbour View Resthome in Oamaru.

Now, Miller says she is in "a really good place" and is thankful she found her way through a dark time.

"I want others who are being bullied at work to know they are not alone, that they should speak up about what is happening and get help.

"What happened to me really broke my spirit and I want there to be awareness that bullying at work is not okay."

Miller said she had met wonderful people through the legal process who helped her heal.

She was now "in a really good place" with a fiance and new baby boy, and a great job at another rest home with a lot of support.

"My beautiful son Freddie is such a blessing and I have come such a long way I want other people who are struggling to know there is hope," Miller said.

"I am passionate about aged care and I was upfront and open with my new boss and she has been amazing and supportive."

Miller said if sharing her story helped one person to speak up or prompted employers to act with kindness her hardship was "worth it".

"It sounds bizarre to say but I really want people to feel comfortable talking about their mental health and for employers to support them and stop bullying."

The 24-year-old now had motivation and energy, and had started her own business focused on wellbeing and mindfulness.

Through her Instagram page Inspiredby_NZ she sold scented candles, adult colouring books and tea called "Anxietea" to help calm the mind.

She was already donating some of the proceeds of her sales to the Mental Health Foundation.

Miller said she did not want to dwell on the bullying at work but hoped the ERA decision improved processes for future workers.

The ERA heard Miller was bullied in varying degrees for most of her employment from October 2017 to August 2018.

She resigned from Harbour View Resthome in October 2018 stating that it was "untenable for her to continue working in an environment where her concerns over bullying had not been addressed and where she felt compromised".

The ERA heard of seven examples ranging in severity.

These ranged from colleagues obstructing her from doing her duties, yelling at her, talking about her and being rude to her, to an incident when a colleague failed to help when Miller was forcibly restrained by a resident.

Harbour View manager Denise Jeffares told the ERA she responded and investigated the incidents but the ERA found she had not.

The ERA found Miller had been open with Jeffares about the "decline in her mental health" and the resulting suicide attempt.

Instead of supporting Miller and investigating the bullying complaints, the rest home sent Miller a disciplinary letter about her behaviour at work.

The letter stated that if Miller's explanations about her behaviour were not acceptable "we may have to take disciplinary action which might include termination of employment".

The ERA accepted Miller consistently complained of bullying by colleagues with specific examples and also advising her employer that work issues were part of an attempted suicide.

"Despite all of this there is no evidence that Harbour View investigated any complaints other than those complaints which were made about Ms Miller ... nor did it consider how it could support Ms Miller at work."

The ERA awarded Miller $15,000 compensation, $3091.00 for lost wages and $4500 costs.

The  New Zealand Herald sought comment from the rest home but management did not respond.

WHERE TO GET HELP:

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:

• 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)
• https://www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline
• YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633
• NEED TO TALK? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7)
• KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757 or TEXT 4202