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Hopes that a new employee would "hit the ground running" did not materialise, and prompted numerous workplace issues that ultimately caused her psychological injury, a commission has ruled.

Evidence showed the employee: believed she was being targeted at work; had various communication difficulties; and wasn't supported "from very early on" in her employment, NSW Personal Injury Commission Member Parnel McAdam found.

In workers' compensation proceedings, the Commission heard that soon after the employee began working as a water project engineer for Warrumbungle Shire Council in May 2019, she reported difficulties working with her manager.

Following some interpersonal conflicts between the pair, a complaint, and a probationary review, among other things, the employee stopped working. She was subsequently diagnosed with a psychological injury, having reported the workplace was "toxic" and that she was treated "like a slave"...