workplace stress and burnout make up bulk of health-care worker disability claims

nurses have been hit particularly hard, with more than 75 per cent reporting higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress and burnout.

by nainesh kotak

published aug 12, 2022

2 minute read

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2 minute read

join the conversation

workplace stress and burnout are reason for a disability claim

because it's a mental illness, which is invisible — burnout disability claims are easy to deny. getty

burnout among health-care workers was already a concern before covid-19 began its global spread — these days, it’s an epidemic that’s threatening to bring our health-care system to its knees. where rates of severe emotional exhaustion were reported to be often in the range of 20 to 40 per cent before the pandemic — with higher rates in intensive care units and emergency medicine — later in the pandemic, those numbers rose to between 62 and 72 per cent, according to the conversation. nurses have been hit particularly hard, with more than 75 per cent reporting higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress and burnout.

burnout comes with heavy workloads

over the last year, our firm has seen a large increase of disability claim denials to first responders and those on the frontlines of health care, specifically nurses. workplace stress leading to burnout and post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) has made up the vast majority of cases. for nurses, having to deal with heavy workloads and sick and dying patients is a major driver of burnout, which can make even the most minor activities — like getting out of bed in the morning — suddenly very difficult.

filing a disability claim

when they can no longer cope, many health-care workers seek disability benefits or make a claim for mental stress injury through the workplace safety and insurance board (wsib). when people apply for a disability claim, the insurance provider will examine the application to assess whether their disability precludes them from working at an acceptable level.

if your ability to work has been impacted by burnout and anxiety, there are some important tips to be aware of when applying for disability benefits:

you can apply for short- and long-term disability benefits if the workplace stress results in you being unable to continue working;
it’s important to make your family doctor aware of the stress you face at work — they would have to provide an initial note explaining that you cannot continue to work;
when filing a claim for disability benefits, your doctor will be asked to fill out a physician’s statement detailing your symptoms and the impact on your function;
you may also be able to exercise your right to apply for employment insurance sick benefits.

it helps if your family doctor or treating physician is supportive and an ally — these are the people who are going to fill out the forms for disability claims. if you don’t have a family doctor, other options are walk-in clinics, maybe social workers, or employee assistance plans through your employer. some people end up going to a hospital in order to see a psychiatrist — this is unfortunate.

because it’s a mental illness, which is invisible — burnout claims are easy to deny, less likely to receive approval and more likely to be prematurely terminated. but getting the right advice can help improve your chances of approval.

nainesh kotak, is the founder of kotak personal injury law, a firm focusing on protecting their client’s rights to justice and obtaining the compensation their clients deserve. he also serves as the chair of the long-term disability section of the ontario trial lawyers’ association.

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