Workers' Comp And Stress or
Sleeping On The Job - Part I...

...and getting away with it.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm probably going to get flak for even entertaining such a notion, but it's a catchy title.  Now let me explain how it works.

Stress on the job.  In 1987, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a 191 page report called 'Stress Management In Work Settings'.  One of the major themes of the report is that "stress management, as currently defined, has a limited role in reducing organization stress because no effort is made to remove or reduce sources of stress at work.  Focusing on the individual as the prime target for organization intervention creates a dilemma of ‘blaming the victim.’  A more appropriate application of stress management would be as a complement to job redesign or organizational change interventions."

So what's your problem?  You mean those breathing exercises you do haven't stopped your boss from lashing his acid tongue at you?  The "treat others like you would like to be treated" mantra doesn't keep your co-workers from saying hurtful, nasty things about you behind your back?  Thinking "happy thoughts" doesn't make work a happy place to be? 

Jeez, maybe you're not the one with the problem.  If the drama at work is causing you insomnia, loss of appetite, depression, migraines or any other life altering effects, you can take control, fight back and win.

If confronting the harasser or going to your Human Resources department to complain hasn't stopped the source of irritation, maybe the vaccination didn't stick, then it's time to put Plan B into action.

This is very powerful stuff.  You do not want to engage into this lightly.  You do not want to fake injury or illness as that could land your sorry butt in jail.  If you want workplace laws to work for you, you must play the game by the law.

If work caused your stress, then you have every right to file a Workers Compensation claim for your work-related injury.  You do NOT need broken bones or be visibly bleeding from any part of the body in order to file.  Mental anguish is a valid workers comp injury.  They almost use the word "injury" to dissuade you from filing.

You want to file a claim for a variety of reasons.

• See your doctor, but do not use your health insurance to do it.  Tell the doctor's office on the phone that you wish to file a Workers Comp claim.  There is no cost to you and you want an official record of the injury.  It is illegal for your employer to attempt to stop you from filing a claim.

• Your doctor is required to file a Doctor's First Report of Injury for your claim.  This will be sent to your place of work or HR department and it will describe the nature of the injury.  Believe me when I say this, heads will role.  If you couldn't grab their attention by confronting the problem maker at work or by filing a complaint, this will do the trick.  It's sorta like car insurance in that if you have enough accidents or certain types of accidents the premiums go up.  Employers don't like that.  Depending upon the nature of the illness and which state you live in, your employer may be required to map out a plan of prevention, thereby making the stressor go bye-bye.  Sweet. 

• Your doctor can help you with the stress.  Chemicals do wonderful things.  I'm not saying that's the only solution, but they help when all else fails.  If necessary, your doctor will give you time off.  Depending upon the number of days he has you off, you will be entitled to receive a portion of your wages.  Go home and relax.  Sleep it off.  De-stress.  Doctor's orders.

• While you want the stress to go away because of the life-altering physical and mental effects, there is also another reason why you want to file a claim.  You get this one as a bonus.  They can't retaliate against you because you filed a claim.  They cannot treat you any differently.  You cannot be fired.  It puts you in a protected class.  Any attempt to take revenge upon you within the next few months and a court of law will interpret that as an act of retaliation. 

• If your stress does not go away and if need be, rinse, repeat. 

Employment law attorneys get paid to train supervisors and HR representatives in how to minimize employees' rights.  When training employees, they conveniently leave out the sections of the law that are most helpful to individuals, especially when dealing with abusive and unfair bosses.  Your boss wants to keep you in the dark, and will pay a lot of money to keep you from finding out about how to use your employment rights.

For a more in-depth look at the Workers' Compensation system or other state and federal laws that protect an employee's rights, download Work Laws Exposed.  No one should enter the job place without it.  Your employer doesn't want you to find out how you can protect yourself because he's having too much fun making your life miserable.

Work Laws Exposed is backed by a 60-Day Money Back Guarantee.  You won't learn these secrets even if you go out and hire your own attorney. The author has a B.A., a J.D., and a M.A. Graduate degrees come from Yale and the University of California.  You need a proven winner on your side to win the employment game with the secret strategies that have made him a proven winner in negotiations and in court, and that only come from over a decade of learning all the legal tricks, loopholes, and neglected rights that most people don't even know they have. With the Undercover Lawyer and the "Workplace Laws Exposed" book you will be a winner.  Order today and have it within minutes.