It said it was only trying to help, but a judge wasn't buying it
A British Columbia employer that discouraged a worker from taking her mental disorder claim to the province's workers' compensation board has lost its bid to overturn that finding, even though management insisted it was only trying to help.
On May 29, 2026, Justice Whately of the Supreme Court of British Columbia dismissed BC Hydro's petition for judicial review, leaving in place a Workers' Compensation Board order that found the utility had sought to dissuade a worker from reporting a mental disorder claim. Because the Board chose not to seek costs, none were ordered.
The matter began in November 2020, when the worker raised concerns about a fellow employee and engaged BC Hydro's respectful workplace process. She went off work for medical reasons in February 2021. The following month, management met with her and advised that she would receive disability benefits and was not required to file a claim with the Board.
The worker said she was told it was preferable to stay on disability benefits rather than report the claim, because a Board investigation would be upsetting and unpleasant. She eventually filed the claim herself in August 2021, after the company told her in May that the option was open to her. By the end of that August, the Board had issued an inspection report and order against the company.
The company argued it never intended to keep the worker from the Board. Its staff, BC...
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