Seeking Workers’ Comp for Stress in New Jersey
In New Jersey, you can pursue workers’ compensation for harm caused by undue stress in the workplace, but doing so comes with unique challenges. While proving physical injuries is generally a relatively straightforward process, proving that your uniquely stressful job caused you to experience related loss is more difficult. If the stress of your career has negatively affected your life to a significant degree, you can trust an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at Matarazzo & Lubcher to help.
Mental Health Conditions Can Be Compensable Injuries in New Jersey
Mental health conditions can be challenging to diagnose and treat, but this doesn’t alter the fact that they can also lead to devastating emotional pain and suffering. The State of New Jersey has recently enacted legal changes to workers’ compensation that allow employees who have suffered significant job-related stress to seek compensation.
The Legal Requirements
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits that are related to stress, you’ll need to establish that specific factors apply to your claim.
The Work Conditions Were Objectively Stressful
To address the losses that were caused by your job in your workers’ compensation claim, you’ll need to show that the stressful conditions in question were objectively stressful. This means that other reasonable employees would find them excessively stressful. If you found the conditions far more stressful than others would, however, you probably won’t have a claim.
Unreasonable Work Conditions
Most jobs come with some stress. In fact, just about everything we do in life can be somewhat stressful. To bring a successful workers’ compensation claim that is based on stress, you’ll need to provide evidence that proves your work conditions were unreasonably stressful. Prime examples include the following:
- Unreasonable expectations that lead to burnout
- Extreme workloads, including those related to excessive downsizing
- A traumatic event at work or workplace violence
- Harassment or abuse
Normal work-related pressures, such as performance evaluations that include constructive criticism, do not make the grade. If, however, the stressor exceeds the boundaries of what is considered reasonable, it will bolster your stress-related workers’ compensation claim.
The Stress is Work-Related
Additionally, you must prove that the harmful stress you experienced was work-related. Life is very stressful, and the involved workers’ compensation provider will do what they can to confirm that the stress you’ve cited is the result of your life in general rather than your work specifically. This aspect of your claim can be exceptionally challenging.
It’s important to note that if the stress intensifies a preexisting condition that you have, it may not support a workers’ compensation claim. Instead, work-related stress must be a primary cause of stress or a material contributing factor.
You Need an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Backing You Up
The savvy Wildwood workers’ compensation attorneys at Matarazzo & Lubcher recognize how significant the losses related to workplace stress can be, and we’re well prepared to do everything in our power to help. Your mental health is a critical factor in your overall health and well-being. Contact us online for more information today.