Worker’s Depression after Workplace Assault Covered by Workers’ Comp

A worker was injured when she was assaulted by a co-worker. Her workers’ comp claims for depression and chronic onset stress caused by the incident were denied. The Appeals Commission noted that the worker claimed the incident was the culmination of harassment and intimidation she’d been experiencing from co-workers for quite awhile. But without any objective evidence of prior incidents, her claim for chronic onset stress had to be denied. However, her depression was at least partly due to the workplace attack and so was compensable [Decision No: 2013-0441, [2013] CanLII 30189 (AB WCAC), May 29, 2013].