Excerpt from APWU Western Region Coordinator Omar M. Gonzalez’ Dealing With Postal Monsters Guidebook
Postal workers who are harassed may suffer emotional stress when carrying out their postal assignment duties. At times employees file Workers Compensation claims and are taken aback by the denial of such claims by the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) which only adds more stress.
Not every personnel or administrative event is compensable under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA). Abuse has to be determined. Altercations and/or difficult relationships with supervisors if properly documented may be considered a compensable factor of employment.
There are requirements that must be met because the relationship between the condition to the exposure is not always obvious. When assisting an employee with a workplace harassment the employee, if in distress, should be advised to seek medical attention and report the matter to a competent medical professional. There could be stressed related conditions such as emotional, gastrointestinal or heart conditions that arise from the harassment or abuse which should be medically documented.
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