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Details in this case study have been anonymised to protect the privacy, dignity, and safety of the individuals involved. The core events, insights, and outcomes remain entirely factual.
Anahera’s Journey: Breaking Free, Finding Strength
1.The Journey
How WorkRight23 gave Anahera the tools and support to rebuild her life and protect her future.
At 23, Anahera entered a codependent and abusive relationship that lasted just over four years. Two years in, she became pregnant with her son. “I felt even more trapped and obligated to give my relationship another chance (after countless chances),” she recalls.
Eventually, Anahera realised she needed to do what was best for herself and her child. “I did not want our child growing up thinking that this was normal behaviour and that it was okay to treat someone this way.” Though ashamed to admit the domestic violence, she found the courage to leave and moved closer to her parents. Her mother helped care for her son while Anahera worked as a marketing assistant.
For a time, things seemed stable, until her ex was transferred to the same town. He began waiting outside her workplace, contacting her during the day, and re-entering her life in ways that left her mentally and physically drained. At the same time, Anahera felt bullied at work.
2.The Insight
With encouragement from her mother, she visited her GP, who recognised the stress she was under. The GP provided a medical certificate and, due to concerns about workplace bullying, also referred her to WorkRight23.
Anahera opened two cases in WorkRight23. The first was for work, where she documented the bullying, she believed she was experiencing from her manager. The second was for Domestic Violence at Work, where she recorded her ex-partner’s behaviours, such as waiting for her when she arrived or left work, and the text messages he sent during her workday. She uploaded screenshots of these messages into her incident reports.
When her manager later initiated a performance management process, Anahera felt completely overwhelmed and under attack.
After logging a particularly stressful incident and completing a mental health check, Anahera received a call from a WorkRight23 Options Coach. “I broke down in tears. I was overwhelmed. Someone was reaching out to help…help me!” The next day, she met with her Options Coach.
For the first time, Anahera shared the full truth, including the shame she carried from her abusive relationship.
3.The Outcome
With her Options Coach by her side, Anahera attended the performance meeting and explained the pressures she had been under. Her employer responded with compassion, placing her on a performance improvement plan and introducing safety measures such as having someone walk her to and from her car. Slowly, things began to improve.
Months later, Anahera heard from a WorkRight23 Options Advocate (a lawyer) who explained that her ex had also been matched in a case involving a second target. Anahera’s documentation was used to support the second target’s sexual harassment case, and in return, that target’s documentation helped Anahera through her family court process.
Both women are now doing well. Reflecting back, Anahera says:
“Once the match was made, I never again had doubts that walking away was the right decision.”
Summary
Anahera’s story shows how workplace bullying, personal abuse, and overwhelming stress can intertwine, but also how early support, documentation, and advocacy can change the outcome. Through WorkRight23, Anahera gained a safe place to record her experiences, an Options Coach to stand beside her, and an Options Advocate to ensure her case was heard.
Her courage, supported by the right systems, not only protected her but also helped another woman seek justice.
WorkRight23 exists so no one has to face harm, inside or outside of work, on their own.
If you’ve experienced bullying, harassment, or abuse, you don’t have to face it alone.
WorkRight23 provides confidential tools, coaching, and advocacy to help you stay safe, protect your rights, and find a way forward.
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