Gradual Onset Psychological Injury for Employers
Understand what’s covered and how to get help
People can experience physical or psychological injuries at work. Psychological injuries may happen suddenly after a traumatic event, or gradually as serious work stressors happen over time.
A gradual onset psychological injury (GPI) is caused by repeated, significant stressors at work—most often ongoing bullying or harassment. Feeling stressed about things like missing deadlines, difficult tasks, or not getting along with a co-worker is normal—and not usually covered by WCB.
For employers, GPIs can be complex. There is still stigma around mental health, and when bullying or harassment is involved, other workers may be part of the situation. Your role is to support the worker’s recovery, help ensure a safe and respectful workplace, and address harmful behaviours through your policies and processes—while respecting privacy and dignity for everyone involved.
This page explains what GPIs are covered and provides links to next steps.
Looking for information about a different kind of injury?
Get information on traumatic psychological injury, PTSD, or physical injury claims.
Find out if a worker’s situation might be covered
Every situation is different. Workers can complete the psychological self-assessment to see if what they are experiencing might be covered by WCB.
What a covered workplace GPI is—and isn’t
What’s covered
Nova Scotia’s Workers’ Compensation Act covers gradual onset and traumatic psychological injuries when:
- The injury is caused by a significant, and ongoing harmful behaviour at work—usually bullying or harassment
- A WCB-approved registered psychologist or psychiatrist diagnoses the injury
- The injury is caused completely or mostly by things that happen in the workplace
What’s generally not covered
The legislation excludes day-to-day pressures that are part of normal workplace relations or management decisions. Examples include:
- Expressing different opinions
- Making a valid complaint through proper processes (e.g., labour relations)
- Changing duties, working conditions, or hours
- Expecting workers to meet performance targets or deadlines
- Firing, laying off, transferring, promoting, or reorganizing workers
- Disciplining, supervising, or giving feedback about performance
GPIs can also be caused by things workers experience outside of work. However, injuries that are not work-related are not covered by WCB.
Rare exceptions
Coverage usually applies to bullying and harassment. In rare situations, WCB may cover GPIs caused by other workplace stressors if all of the following are true:
- They went on for a long time (not a one-time incident)
- They were very serious or extreme
- They were beyond normal job pressures like deadlines, feedback, or performance management
Review these claim scenarios for examples of injuries that qualify and ones that don’t.
Bullying and harassment examples
Some behaviours or comments that may indicate workplace bullying or harassment:
- Verbal aggression
- Insulting or demeaning names
- Vandalizing personal belongings
- Sabotaging work
- Spreading gossip or rumours
- Hazing or humiliating rituals
- Threats or personal attacks about someone’s private life or personal characteristics
- Inappropriate sexual conduct
Employer Responsibilities
As an employer, you are responsible for keeping your workplace free of physical and psychological safety hazards. You are also responsible for supporting workers if they are injured in your workplace. The WCB is here to help.
Explore helpful tools for navigating and preventing workplace psychological injuries.
Resources and related pages
- Employer webinars on GPI — Watch the series of employer information sessions
- Open a claim — Get information on opening a claim for a psychological injury
- Traumatic psychological injuries — Learn about workplace TPI causes and coverage
- PTSD in first responders — Learn about PTSD causes and coverage for first responders
Have questions? Contact a client care navigator.
If you have questions about opening a claim or the claim process, a client care navigator is the place for you or your worker to start. They are the first point of contact for psychological injury claims.
Call: 1-833-491-8889 or 902-491-8888