Enduring high levels of stress over a prolonged period can be damaging enough to mental health that medical attention may be required.
Employers are bound to a duty of care to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of employees. If this obligation is breached, they may open themselves up to claims for stress in the workplace.
Some of the most common stress at work claims are, but not exclusive to:
- Denial of rights – Toilet, coffee or lunch breaks, dental, hospital, GP appointments, unreasonable demands to stay for extended periods after working hours, etc.
- Excessive workload – Too much work for one person to be expected to realistically manage. This can affect personal time and even sleep.
- Harassment – Being threatened, physical, sexual or verbal assault, attacks on ‘protected’ characteristics, and some forms of workplace bullying.
- Ignored mental health issues – When your employer is aware of an employee’s mental health condition(s), but don’t make satisfactory adjustments to suit your needs in the workplace.
- Insufficient training – Creating pressure to perform your role and to do so satisfactorily, having been offered no or insufficient training.
- Unfairly applied policies or procedures – Selective enforcement of rules, unreasonable demands, or being singled out to perform a task which you are unable to successfully complete.
- Workplace bullying – Physical or verbal abuse, being belittled either alone or in front of others, being excluded from duties or correspondence, malicious pranks, aggressive and passive-aggressive treatment, etc.
if you believe you are a victim of one or any number of the above circumstances, have raised issues with your employer and nothing was done (or was unsatisfactorily handled), you may be eligible to seek compensation for the harm done.
Further reading
For a detailed look at stress at work claims, check out this resource.
How do I get in touch?
Contact our team today on 0113 306 9039, and we will advise you on whether or not your case is likely to succeed.
