Melville Law Firm Praises NY Workers’ Comp for Mental Health Coverage

MELVILLE, New York — The Harrison Law Group, P.C., a renowned personal injury and workers’ compensation law firm serving New York for over 30 years, welcomes the groundbreaking legislative changes to New York’s Workers’ Compensation Law. Effective January 1, 2025, it now includes coverage for mental health injuries caused by extraordinary work-related stress, marking a pivotal moment for employee rights and well-being across the state.

Signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on December 6, 2024, the new legislation—S.6635/A.5745—broadens the scope of workers’ compensation, treating mental health issues stemming from extraordinary stress with the same seriousness as physical injuries. This shift acknowledges the significant impact of workplace pressures on employees’ lives and represents a critical step in providing necessary financial and medical support to those affected.

Under the revised regulations, the requirement that job-related stress must exceed the usual levels experienced in similar roles has been removed, allowing for a wider range of workers to seek compensation for cumulative or extraordinary stress resulting from their employment. Previously, such claims were largely limited to first responders experiencing stress from work-related emergencies. Now, all employees may qualify, provided the stress is shown to be extraordinary and work-related.

“The inclusion of mental health injuries under workers’ compensation is a strong affirmation of the importance of employee mental well-being,” said Brett J. Harrison, Founder and CEO. “This legislative change modernizes compensation laws and protects workers enduring extraordinary stress on the job by giving them access to support that reflects their challenges. At The Harrison Law Group, we are proud to stand by New York’s workforce and ready to advocate for those impacted by work-related mental health struggles.”

While this expansion means a potential rise in claims, it underscores the need for employers to provide safe, supportive workplace practices that minimize extraordinary stress. Additionally, the new law eliminates the prior requirement of a single stressful event triggering the claim, allowing employees to file for stress caused by cumulative factors over time. However, the determination of what constitutes “extraordinary work-related stress” remains subject to careful review by the Workers’ Compensation Board, supported by expert medical testimony.

The new legislation also significantly aligns workers’ compensation and employee rights by reinforcing protections against emotional distress. However, it retains the principle of “workers’ compensation exclusivity,” which generally prevents employees from suing their employer in court once workers’ compensation benefits for job-related mental health injuries have been granted.

For more information on how this legislation may affect you, contact The Harrison Law Group at (631) 465-9797 or visit https://www.hlgny.com/.

About The Harrison Law Group, P.C.

The Harrison Law Group, P.C. is a well-known and respected personal injury law firm that is exclusively dedicated to handling a wide range of personal injury cases, which include but are not limited to motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, traumatic brain injuries, serious and catastrophic injuries, soft tissue injuries, construction accidents, and many other injury cases.

Our focus is dual—to maximize financial compensation for those we represent, while also assisting them in reconstructing their lives following injury. We have a strong track record of negotiating claims strongly to attain substantial settlements without protracted legal proceedings, though we are prepared to litigate vigorously when court action is unavoidable.

At the Harrison Law Group, we understand that achieving favorable outcomes for our clients starts with bringing in the right legal team. Over three decades, our expertise and commitment of resources have enabled us to secure successful results against large insurers time and again.