Most people in New York City hear the term “workers’ compensation” and likely only associate it with workplace accidents that leave you with visible physical injuries that prevent you from working for an extended period of time. In reality, however, the conditions that may impede you from effectively doing your job may be much more subtle.
This is especially true if you suffer from anxiety. Many in your same position have come to us here at Bangel, Cohen & Falconetti, LLP asking if such an issue qualifies them for workers’ compensation benefits. The answer to that question may not always be clear.
Connecting anxiety to your career
What is clear is that only conditions that arise from work-related issues qualify for workers’ compensation. Thus, no matter how disabling your anxiety may be, if your career is not the cause of it, earning such benefits is unlikely. It may seem even more difficult proving that your job is what causes your anxiety, yet fortunately, several indicators exist that may support your claim. These include:
- Constantly having to meet tight deadlines
- Tensions due to your position relative to your coworkers
- An uncomfortable workplace atmosphere caused by harassment and/or bullying
If your doctor or therapist can link the beginning of struggles with anxiety to the time any of the aforementioned issues arose at your work, you may have a strong case.
Proving your anxiety prevents you from working
After identifying the cause of your anxiety, you must then demonstrate its net effect. The American Bar Association points out that if you can show your stress-level is above that facing others in similar positions, and that it has resulted in an impairment, you may indeed qualify for workers’ compensation.
You can discover more information on making the case for workers’ compensation throughout our site.