Australian workers who suffer psychological injuries at work are less likely to claim workers' compensation for GP visits than those who sustain physical injuries, a new study has shown.
The Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research Centre (ISCRR) study shows 22 per cent of patients from more than 400,000 GP consultations across Australia didn’t make compensation claims even though their injuries were work-related.
ISCRR head research officer Dr Alex Collie says stigma could be discouraging workers from making claims.
The ISCRR is a joint research initiative of Monash University, the University of Sydney, Worksafe Victoria and the Transport Accident Commission.
Anthony Ervin
Mathematics Teacher at New South Wales DEC
How does the stigma go? "You are a wimp and there is nothing wrong with you. Get over it!" or "Talk about easy money!" or "yes you do have a mental illness but its because of your home life or upbringing".
What else?
Apparently because we cant see an injury there isn't really anything wrong.
Ngaire Kinnear
Office Manager
Aside from stigma, is there not simply the issue that a severely stressed person just isn't up to it?
Making a Workers' Comp claim is a stressful undertaking - it means loads and loads of little jobs, form-filling and appointments, lots of 'staying on the ball', being scrutinised, and worrying about the future. It's a bit like telling the person who broke their leg at work that the workers' comp office is at the end of a marathon run.