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ARTICLE · 21 NOVEMBER 2011

The HR Space: Workers’ Compensation Mental Stress Claims May Be Expanded

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Employers have taken comfort from the fact that most provincial workers' compensation agencies provide benefits for workplace mental stress only in very limited circumstances. But that comfort may about to be threatened, at least in BC.

CanadaEmployment and HR
William Duvall
William Duvall
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Employers have taken comfort from the fact that most provincial workers' compensation agencies provide benefits for workplace mental stress only in very limited circumstances.  But that comfort may about to be threatened, at least in BC.  Earlier this month, the BC Government introduced legislation that, if passed, will expand workers' compensation coverage for mental stress claims.

The Current Experience

As it stands now, a worker in BC is entitled to compensation for mental stress not resulting from an injury for which the worker would otherwise be entitled to compensation only if the mental stress is an acute reaction to a sudden and unexpected traumatic event arising out of and in the course of the worker's employment. In addition, the condition:

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