Workers’ Compensation and Job-Related Stress

There is a lot to be said for engaging in work that fills us with pride and a sense of fulfillment. How often do we hear about lottery winners who insist that they are not going to leave their job because of the sense of purpose that it provides to them.  This type of work environment is what we all hope and strive for, but is unfortunately not what we all have. There are many situations where our jobs fill us with stress and worry, and this can lead to both mental and physical issues. When a physical or psychological condition develops as a result of job-related stress, the costs can be very real: workers may need time off, may incur medical expense, and may even be unable to return to the work environment. Workers’ compensation provides coverage for both physical injuries and mental injuries that are caused by job-related stress, and the Lancaster law firm of Vanasse Law can help you get the benefits that you need.

When it comes to stress and workers’ compensation, there are a few different categories of injuries for which you can claim benefits. These are:

• Physical situation or injury that creates a mental injury. A good example of this would be that of an employee who was involved in a traumatic accident at work, such as a serious fall, or having suffered an amputation or having been badly burned, and then suffering from depression or post-traumatic stress disorder afterwards.
• Emotional or mental situation that creates a physical injury. A good example of this would be that of an employee who was suffering severe stress on the job as a result of pressure or harassment on the part of a supervisor, and subsequently suffering a heart attack.
• Emotional or mental situation that creates a mental injury. A good example of this would be that of an employee who was subjected to extreme harassment or discrimination on the job that subsequently results in them being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety.

Though the first category cited here, a physical situation that creates a mental injury, is often the easiest type of job-related stress injury to prove, all three situations represent valid workers’ compensation claims that a qualified and experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you with. Though employers and their insurance companies often initially reject a claim for workers’ compensation benefits for job-related stress, the workers’ compensation board and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court have both found in favor of employees in many of these cases, acknowledging that stress can have a very real and debilitating impact on a person’s physical and mental health that often interferes with their ability to perform their job responsibilities.

If you are an employee who has suffered as a result of work-related stress, you are not alone. Contact the compassionate attorneys at Vanasse Law to learn more about your rights and how we can help you get the compensation that you deserve.