Lesser v. TIAA Bank, FSB

**Lesser v. TIAA Bank Case Summary** This case involved a dispute over whether a former TIAA Bank employee properly participated in job retraining services and genuinely looked for new work after losing their job. The employee was receiving workers' compensation benefits and was required to work with vocational services to find suitable employment or get retrained for new work. The court's decision was split. The majority of judges agreed with an earlier commission ruling that found the employee did follow the vocational services requirements and did not unreasonably refuse job opportunities that were offered. However, one judge disagreed, arguing that the commission should have looked more carefully at whether appropriate jobs were actually available and whether the employee truly made sufficient effort to find work. This case matters for workers because it shows how courts handle disputes about job search requirements when receiving workers' compensation benefits. It demonstrates that workers have rights when participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, but they must genuinely participate in good faith. The split decision also highlights that these cases can be complex, with reasonable disagreement about what constitutes adequate job-seeking efforts and suitable employment opportunities.