Sloan v. State Employees Credit Union

What Happened
Sloan worked as a loan officer at State Employees Credit Union and developed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (pain and numbness in both hands) from performing her regular job duties. She claimed this condition was an occupational disease caused by her work and filed for workers' compensation benefits.

What the Court Decided
The North Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission ruled in Sloan's favor. The Full Commission confirmed that her carpal tunnel syndrome was indeed a compensable occupational disease directly caused by her job responsibilities as a loan officer. The court awarded her medical expenses to cover treatment costs and also granted attorney's fees.

Why This Matters for Workers
This ruling is significant because it recognizes that repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome can qualify as occupational diseases under workers' compensation law. Workers who develop similar conditions from repetitive job tasks—such as typing, data entry, or other hand-intensive work—may be entitled to have their medical treatment covered by workers' compensation. The case establishes that employers can be held responsible for injuries that develop gradually over time due to job requirements, not just sudden workplace accidents.