Manager’s Depression Recognized as Work Injury Following Employees’ Harsh Complaint Letter

A manager at the National Insurance Institute in Israel developed depression after employees sent a severe anonymous complaint letter demanding relief from her management. The letter accused her of extreme mood swings and abuse, prompting the branch manager to present it to her along with a summons for a disciplinary hearing. The manager claimed she was falsely accused and stopped attending work due to the emotional distress caused by the letter.

The case was brought before the Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court, where a psychiatric expert was appointed to assess her mental condition. The expert found a causal link between the employees’ letter and the manager’s mental health deterioration, diagnosing an adjustment disorder with depressive symptoms sometimes reaching major depressive episodes. Based on this, the court recognized her depression as a work-related injury.

As a result, the National Insurance Institute is required to compensate her with monthly payments once a medical committee determines her disability percentage. Additionally, the court ordered the National Insurance Institute to pay her 7,500 shekels for legal fees and expenses. Her attorney, Elisher Feingersh, emphasized that this ruling sends an important message that mental health conditions triggered by stressful work events can be acknowledged as occupational injuries.