Russell v. Whirlpool Financial Corp.

This worker’s compensation case arises under subsection 301(5) of the Worker’s Disability Compensation Act (wdca), MCL 418.301(5); MSA 17.237(301)(5). 1 The primary issue is whether an employer must pay worker’s compensation benefits to a disabled employee who is terminated after ending a subsection 301(5)(a) period of unreasonable refusal. 2 We hold that subsection 301(5)(e) requires benefit payment to an employee who, after having been employed pursuant to subsection 301(5) for less than one hundred weeks, ends a period of refusal, but subsequently loses the job. 3 The Court of Appeals and…