Worker fails to prove harassment caused mental disability

In Michigan, where a worker's complaints of constant harassment are not supported by the history he gave his therapists, and the evidence indicates that the worker's perceptions of the events at work are unfounded, the worker failed to prove a work-related mental disability.

Case name: Knuckles v. General Motors Corp., 112 MIWCLR 86 (Mich. C.A.C. 2012).

Ruling: The Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission affirmed the magistrate's decision denying benefits to a worker, who alleged that work-related stress caused, aggravated, and accelerated a psychiatric problem, resulting in disability.

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What it means: In Michigan, where a worker's complaints of constant harassment are not supported by the history he gave his therapists, and the evidence indicates that the worker's perceptions of the events at work, including harassment, being followed, and plotting to fire him, are unfounded, the worker failed to prove a work-related mental disability.

Summary: The commission affirmed the magistrate's decision denying benefits to a worker, who alleged that work-related stress caused, aggravated, and accelerated a psychiatric problem, resulting in disability. The magistrate found the worker's complaints of constant harassment were not supported by the history he gave his therapists. The magistrate explained that while some incidents at work may have been related to the worker's stress, it was more likely than not that they were not a significant contributor to his mental condition. His perceptions of the events at work -- harassment, being followed, giving confidential medical information to coworkers, trying to force him to quit, and plotting to fire him -- were unfounded, the magistrate concluded. The worker's doctor admitted that the worker's deteriorating vision could cause anxiety and depression by themselves. The commission found the magistrate's analysis fell within the parameters of the law.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

January 14, 2013

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