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Governor Kathy Hochul signed landmark legislation to expand workers’ compensation benefits to all New York workers experiencing mental health crises due to extraordinary work-related stress. The law, previously limited to certain first responders, is a step toward addressing the state’s growing mental health needs and ensuring equity between physical and mental injuries in the workplace.

“New Yorkers work hard – and those who have experienced the unthinkable on the job deserve fair treatment,” Hochul said. “The mental health crisis our country has experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, and we must do everything we can to reach out to those in need.”

The legislation (S.6635/A.5745) allows any worker to claim compensation for mental injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from work-related stress. By removing barriers to benefits, the law aims to provide relief to previously excluded workers in several industries.

Labor leaders and advocates praised the move. New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento called the law “an important step toward helping workers who suffer from mental illness as a result of their work,” while Assembly Member Karines Reyes called for the need emphasized “safety and security of the mind, equal to that of the body.”

The legislation is in line with Hochul’s broader commitment to mental health care. Her $1 billion plan to overhaul the mental health continuum includes expanded mental health clinics in schools, support for justice-involved individuals with mental illness, and more inpatient psychiatric care. The 2025 budget allocates significant resources, including $55 million to add 200 psychiatric beds and $19 million to provide care for youth outside the school setting.

Senator Jessica Ramos, co-sponsor of the bill, emphasized the importance of recognizing non-physical injuries in workers’ compensation law. “Together, we are consistently driving the change and making the investments needed to care for the mental health of New Yorkers,” Ramos said.

Now that the new law is in effect, New York’s Workers’ Compensation Board will review claims for mental health problems caused by extreme stress in the workplace. Chairman Clarissa M. Rodriguez applauded the expansion, saying, “Workers’ compensation is for workers who have been injured or become ill on the job, regardless of whether their injuries are visible or not.”

Advocates say the legislation is a critical step toward modernizing workplace protections and addressing the mental health challenges of the 21st century economy.

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