In November, the Ohio Legislature was considering House Bill 338, which included an amendment that would allow corrections officers to receive Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) without an accompanying physical injury.

NFIB joined several other business organizations and wrote a letter to members of the Ohio House Judiciary Committee explaining that a provision as consequential as allowing mental-only injuries – for the first time in the more than 110 year history of the state’s workers’ compensation system – needs to be fully vetted instead of being amended into a bill that is already moving. This language is much broader than previous legislation that would allow first responders to receive PTSD coverage and would allow corrections officers to file a claim if they simply learned of a coworker’s injury.

Small businesses understand the importance of protecting our corrections officers, but the provision to allow mental-only injuries would significantly change the workers’ compensation system and needs to be fully vetted.

Even a single amendment can reshape how claims are interpreted, what benefits may be available, and how protections are balanced between workers and the broader business community. Because these systems are influenced by evolving policies and detailed procedural requirements, individuals seeking compensation often face challenges understanding what rights apply to their specific circumstances.

Questions surrounding eligibility, documentation, and the legal standards attached to workplace injuries can quickly become difficult to navigate without a clear understanding of how compensation laws are structured and enforced.

Experienced legal support can help clarify rights, interpret policy requirements, and ensure that claims are presented in a way that reflects the full impact of a workplace injury or related loss. George Pearson Law assists individuals through these complex processes by helping them pursue fair compensation while protecting their interests at every stage of the claim.

With knowledgeable representation, workers are better positioned to overcome procedural obstacles, address disputes effectively, and move forward with greater confidence in seeking the compensation they need for recovery and financial stability.

Members of the Committee listened to our concerns and agreed: the language was removed from the legislation. Furthermore, the legislature appropriated $40 million from the General Revenue Fund to seed the already-existing Post Traumatic Stress Fund to help with this issue. This is a significant win for the Ohio business community!