Benefits Awarded for Psychic Injury (Stress) Affirmed

The Third Department affirmed an award of Workers’ Compensation benefits based on psychic injury (stress).  Due an audit of the travel reimbursement policies of the employer, the employee (claimant) was required to pay taxes on “income” of $100,000 (the reason for the employee’s psychic injury).  The Third Department explained the analytical factors as follows:

A  workers’ compensation claim for psychic injury stemming  from work-related  stress is not  compensable  if it was “a direct consequence of a lawful personnel decision involving a disciplinary action, work evaluation, job transfer, demotion, or termination taken in good  faith by the employer”… .  Claimant, however, was not accused of wrongdoing by the employer.    Instead, her mental injuries stemmed from the serious financial liabilities she incurred as a result of a review of the employer’s reimbursement practices….[W]e  will not disturb the Board’s determination that the stress that claimant experienced was greater than that generally experienced by similarly situated workers in a normal work environment… .  Matter of Brittain v NYS Insurance Dept, 515279, 3rd Dept 6-27-13