New York Legislation Supports Workers with Job-Related Mental Health Crises

Stress and burnout persist in the public sector.

Consider recent research that found frontline workers—including firefighters, first responders, 911 dispatchers and other inherently stressful public sector roles—dealing with mental health issues at higher rates than other employees.

Another poll saw more than half of public sector employees (52%) reporting work-related burnout, compared to 46% of their private sector counterparts who said the same.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill into law that allows employees in the state to file for workers’ compensation for types of mental injuries premised on this type of extraordinary work-related stress. The legislation expands coverage to include all workers in the state of New York, whereas only certain first responders were previously eligible for such benefits.

“New Yorkers work hard—and those who have experienced the unthinkable while on the job deserve to be treated fairly,” Hochul said in a statement announcing the new law. “The mental health crisis our country has experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, and we need to do everything in our power to lend a hand to those in need.”

“Not all injuries are physical, but all workers should get support for injuries sustained on the job,” said New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, who introduced the bill, in a statement expressing her gratitude for Hochul’s support of the legislation.

Assemblymember and bill co-sponsor Karines Reyes also lauded the signing of the “vital legislation” into law.

“Claims of post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of mental injury, which are becoming more common in workplaces and industries, are more than deserving of study and potential consideration for disability benefits,” said Reyes, in a statement.

“It is time for our state to recognize that productivity requires the safety and security of the mind, equal to that of the body. This new law will ensure that our state’s social safety net addresses the challenges that employees face in the 21^st Century economy.”