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The Fair Work Commission has stressed the importance of adhering to open justice principles in anti-bullying matters, in refusing an appeal filed by an alleged bully who didn't want to be named in published decisions.

"The principle of open justice is an important one and sound reasons are required to depart from it," the bench said.

The dispute began with a stop-bullying application, filed by an employee of childcare provider The Herd Independent Learning Centre. The employee alleged she had been bullied by a former customer of the centre and sought orders to stop the behaviour.

In February this year, Commissioner Benjamin Redford noted the application was "somewhat unusual" and expressed doubt as to whether it would be appropriate or permissible for the Commission to make orders against a person who had no connection with a workplace...