In Michigan, though you can sue your employer for emotional distress, claims for stress and anxiety are difficult to prove and the end result may not be what you expect. Nobody really knows what an employee is thinking or feeling. There is no test showing whether someone cannot work due to emotional distress.
“The elements of a defamation claim are: (1) a false and defamatory statement concerning the plaintiff, (2) an unprivileged communication to a third party, (3) fault amounting at least to negligence on the part of the publisher, and (4) either actionability of the statement irrespective of special harm (defamation per ...
In short, the offended party must prove a defamatory statement was made within one year of when the statement was made, why it is false, and if the statement is defamatory and the plaintiff seeks damages based on the per se or pro quod standards.
(11) The period of limitations is 1 year for an action charging libel or slander.
—Any person who shall falsely and maliciously, by word, writing, sign, or otherwise accuse, attribute, or impute to another the commission of any crime, felony or misdemeanor, or any infamous or degrading act, or impute or attribute to any female a want of chastity, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Address It Directly: If appropriate, consider confronting the person spreading the slander. Approach them calmly and express how their words have affected you. Sometimes, a direct conversation can resolve misunderstandings. Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or colleagues about the situation.
If a former employer is giving out false or misleading information about you, it could doom your job search. Michigan, like most states, provides some legal protection for employers who give information about employees to prospective employers who ask for a reference.
As long as it's fair and accurate, a reference can show that you're not suitable for a job. For example, a reference can show you do not have enough experience for a job.
You could go to the HR department and ask for a reference as it maybe possible that your manager has misunderstood that he is not able to provide a reference. It is standard now in the majority of companies for the HR department to complete reference requests.