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The lawyer for an Ottawa public servant who won the right to work in a different building from an annoying colleague says the case is a victory for all employees with mental health issues.

“It’s certainly a step forward in recognizing the impact of mental health issues in any workplace — not just the federal public service,” said Kim Patenaude, who represented Line Emond, a data manager at the Parole Board of Canada, in a recent case heard by the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board.

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She said the decision might broaden the definition of what constitutes a disability since it recognizes stress-related mental health problems.

In its recent decision, the board ruled that the federal government had a duty to accommodate Emond’s “emotional stress” by relocating her to a separate building from Mr. X, the unnamed colleague who triggered her mental health crisis.

The tribunal heard that Mr. X was often loud, barefoot, profane and flatulent in the office, and that he made a vague threat against Emond during a confrontation in May 2010.