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‘Faggots Shouldn’t Be Alive’ – Sexual Harassment Made Work ‘a Living Hell’

‘Faggots shouldn’t be alive’ – Sexual harassment made work ‘a living hell’

‘Faggots shouldn’t be alive’ is what one boss told a worker in a case of horrific sexual harassment and discrimination.

The worker says his boss targeted him because he is gay, and made work “a living hell”.

Furthermore, when he complained, he says the company sacked him.

‘Faggots shouldn’t be alive’

Timothy Bye has filed a complaint in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal alleging sexual harassment and sex discrimination.

He claims his senior manager at Barkers Fresh Produce in Epping targeted him as a result of his sexuality.

Bye claims the manager would greet him and his female co-workers by saying “good morning ladies”.

“He would look at me while saying this but then he would go and greet all the other men by name and shake their hand,” Bye said.

On another occasion Bye alleges overhearing a conversation involving the manager and a colleague.

“He said faggots shouldn’t be alive,” Bye said.

Bye claims the former chief executive of the company did nothing when he complained.

Other comments allegedly made by the manager to Bye’s work colleagues included:

  • “poo pushers are f**king disgusting”
  • and that he is “against faggots”
  • and that they “do not deserve to live”.

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Effectively demoted

Bye took three weeks annual leave as a result of the harassment, however, when he returned, a temp worker had been assigned to his duties.

“When I came back I was no longer doing the job I was employed to do,” he said.

He told VCAT the change to his role amounted to a reduced level of responsibility and “was therefore effectively a demotion”.

Bye claims the sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation caused him significant hurt, psychological distress and lost income.

“It turned into a living hell for me because naturally I’m a very happy, bubbly person,” he said.

“To be put into a space where all that was completely taken away from me, I was dehumanised and made to feel like there was someone in the office who would rather have me in a coffin than sitting at my desk.”

Timothy Bye has lodged a complaint in VCAT alleging sexual harassment and discrimination based on the fact that he is gay.

Harassment and discrimination unlawful

Miles Heffernan from Discrimination Claims said it’s unfathomable that this sort of conduct still goes on.

“The message still hasn’t got through to many Australian businesses that sexual harassment and discrimination is unlawful,” he said.

“If the claims in this case are true, it makes you wonder what sort of internalised homophobia the manager is dealing with.

“Further I would recommend he seek urgent therapy for those issues.”

Bye has launched a gofundme page to help pay for legal and medical expenses.

VCAT will hear the matter later this month.


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