Legal and Financial Stress Compensation

What is stress compensation in reality? Strain or pressure at work affects everybody differently, some people who experience tension at their workplace find themselves at odds whether to report their condition for fear they may be hassled.

The term occupational stress has found its way into the vocabulary of workers who feel that trying to manage too much stress in the workplace causes stress damage.

Today’s worker faces more challenges than ever before; there is a sense of urgency for many to perform at a peak level of productivity. This type of nervous tension creates a mental weight and emphasis on keeping their job highlights the stress claims currently being filed.

Claiming compensation for damage caused by occupational stress is not the same as worker’s compensation, there has not been a physical injury but a mental one, both are just as serious.

Demands at work cause stress, so do deadlines, and hostile working environments. Studies have shown that many people are stressed at work for a plethora of reasons; it is the employer’s duty to provide a work environment that is stress free. Although this isn’t always 100% agreed upon by those surveyed, it's still the responsibility of employers to make sure that they are not creating stress claims by their employees.

Work related stress is common and even though everybody has to deal with it on some level, prolonged exposure can cause health related problems. Insomnia or a change in a person's eating habits or excess indulgence in a vice that overtakes their work performance are key signs. If an employer does not take steps to curb the problems associated with stress damage they will have to pay for stress compensation.

Employees who decide to file a compensation claim for stress usually do so as a last resort. If they have noted their stress to an employer or supervisor and nothing has been done then they need to seek compensation for their stress. Emphasis on these types of claims should never be highlighted by employers; this is a violation of the employee and employer relationship.

Workers have rights to ensure that their workplace is free from threats so they can perform their job to their best of their ability. Workplace stress is different for blue-collar workers and professionals, each type of class faces work related stress at some level. Blue-collar workers might not feel their working environment is safe and that can cause low productivity. Professionals deal with stress depending on their work atmosphere, stress damage can be higher in surroundings where volatile or unstable working conditions exist.

Many employers are recognizing that work related stress injuries are on the rise, if they want to limit the number of cases filed, education is paramount. Holding classes or seminars or even lunch and learn sessions will help employees know that options are available. If an employee feels that they have nobody to turn to in stressful times at work, they will file a claim for stress compensation, and then the employer is now faced with a problem that could have been prevented.

If an employee does not have somebody to document their complaints of too much stress at work then employers cannot challenge the validity of such claims. Work related stress claims can be for harassment, sexual or racial. Workers who feel that they are being bullied or feel eminent physical danger develop stress that weights on their performance. If an employer does nothing to relieve this type of stress then a stress claim will be filed.

Employees who file claims often feel like they are singled out for hurting their company, this causes more stress and some even quit because they feel like they are not being given a chance to voice their concern.

Employers who terminate an employee that files a stress compensation claim will have to endure a wrongful termination lawsuit as well.

There are jobs that carry a lot of stress; some of them are ambulance drivers, teachers, prison officers, and police. There is physical stress associated with those careers.

Mental stress or psychological stress is linked to those in these professions; social services, veterinarians, management and academic research.

If you work in those areas then stress is expected to be your breakfast, lunch and dinner but it shouldn't be.

Stress causes burnout and low performance. To think that those professionals suffer stress that debilitates them so they cannot perform is frightening.

Avoiding Stress Compensation from Both Sides

There are ways to relive stress outside of the workplace, it's not just up to the employer to provide a stress free work experience, and employees do have a role that they need to participate in so that stress does not come to work with them.

Exercise, low impact, walking, or yoga is encouraged. Changes in diet or physical routines can help to relive some stress associated with work and life.

Realizing that a problem exists and taking steps to minimize stress damage is a healthy balance everybody should seek.

From Stress Compensation to our main page about Workplace Stress