How WorkRight23 and her GP helped her turn workplace harm into a new path toward wellbeing and purpose.
Lynn, a 27-year-old executive assistant, was excited to begin a new role. On her first day, her boss made it clear: “I don’t accept mistakes. If you are unsure of something, please ask questions before attempting to do the work.” Lynn saw this as a challenge and looked forward to the learning opportunities ahead.
But over the weeks that followed, the environment changed. Each time Lynn asked questions, her boss reacted with irritation, snapping back that tasks were “a no-brainer.” Slowly, her confidence eroded. She began to feel that nothing she did was good enough and often broke down in tears in the bathroom.
At home, her husband noticed the toll. He encouraged Lynn to see her GP, who listened carefully and recognised that she was showing signs of depression linked to mistreatment at work. The GP recommended some time off, provided a medical certificate, and referred Lynn to WorkRight23, explaining that she could document her experiences and that he could monitor her mental health through the program.
That first night off work, Lynn finally slept well. The next day, she opened the WorkRight23 invitation email, downloaded the app, and registered. Her first step was completing the Negative Acts Assessment. For the first time, she had a clear way to name and recognise what was happening. Lynn opened a case and began documenting incidents as they occurred. She also used strategies from the Options Knowledge Base to help manage her situation.
One day, after logging a particularly distressing incident, Lynn’s mental health check triggered an alert. A WorkRight23 Options Coach reached out, referred her to a counsellor for two sessions, and began bi-weekly check-ins. This gave Lynn a sense of support and reassurance she hadn’t felt in months.
Over the next few months, Lynn realised her situation would not improve without change. Using her documented case file, she made a formal complaint, but her boss’s behaviour worsened. “I knew then I had to leave for my own sanity,” she recalls.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but the support of her GP, counsellor, and Options Coach gave her strength. The confidence she gained from documenting her experiences and receiving regular encouragement helped her prepare for interviews. Lynn ultimately left the role and chose a new career direction.
“After quitting that job, I never wanted to work in an office again,” Lynn says. Today, she is working part-time and training in Work Health and Safety (WHS). She feels excited again about learning and her future.
Looking back, Lynn reflects:
“I would never have called anyone for help, but having my Options Coach follow up reminded me I wasn’t alone. That gave me courage.”
Summary
Lynn’s journey shows how workplace mistreatment can deeply affect health, confidence, and family life—but also how the right support can create a turning point. With her GP’s referral to WorkRight23, Lynn documented her experiences, accessed professional and peer support, and found the courage to make life-changing decisions.
WorkRight23 exists so no one has to face workplace harm alone.
If you relate to Lynn’s story, you don’t have to go through it alone.
WorkRight23 provides confidential tools, documentation, and one-on-one support to help you take control of your situation and protect your wellbeing.
