undue stress

by Leslie
(Southfield, MI)

My workplace laid off half of it's workers and then cut pay for the rest of us. There is far too much work to complete with the staff available, but they are not hiring anyone. My job duties have changed radically and I was told that I had to do the new duties on top of my old ones or quit. I have since developed severe anxiety, tension headaches, and stomach problems. I am now on several medications to manage the various symptoms that my increasing stress at work is causing. I want to quit. I feel that this job is slowly killing me, body and soul. Do I have recourse? I am in Michigan, have been with the company for over 5 years now, never had a write up, and all absences were backed with doctor's notes. I feel my physician will be willing to give me a recommendation to quit. Unemployment is necessary or I will be homeless. Do I have a chance?


Hi Leslie,

You know that you are not alone in this situation of feeling like your job is killing you with stress. It's so common .. it's frightening.

You must pursue the medical need to quit and it must be attributable to the employment.

Michigan does not have a provision which allows a VQ for a worker's illness.

But if a person can prove that the health related issues are due to the work .. then the usual element that requires the quit must be attributable to the work .. can potentially be fulfilled.

Here is the MI precedent decisions

Wynne (Michigan Department of Social Services 10.53 may be of particular interest to you.