Your employer has a duty of care to consider the impact of stress in the workplace. Where this hasn't happened and your mental or physical health has suffered as a result, you may be able to make a work-related stress claim.
Work related stress can have serious effects on your health and wellbeing. It can lead to feelings of anxiety and fatigue, weight loss, persistent headaches, loss of appetite and sleeplessness; potentially sending you into a downward spiral of depression.
Where workplace stress is adversely affecting your physical and mental wellbeing, you might perhaps see it as a sign of weakness to mention it to your employer in case it impinges on your prospects in the company.
Today, however, you no longer need to accept the old-fashioned advice to 'man up' when you're suffering from the effects of stress.
Instead, you should talk to your employer about it, to find ways to manage the effects of stress before they can do irreparable damage to your health and wellbeing. There's a legal requirement for companies to undertake risk assessments to minimise the risk of stress-induced illness or injury to employees.
Responsible employers will therefore help you take steps to ensure that the root causes of your stress are resolved. Where your employer is unwilling to do so, you may be entitled to a stress at work compensation claim.
If this has happened to you, speak to one of our understanding and experienced employment solicitors about making a stress at work compensation claim today. Call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online and we'll call you.
What should my employer do if I'm suffering from stress?
If you're suffering from stress at work, and it has started to affect your health and wellbeing, you should talk to your GP and your employer to discuss ways of relieving your stress before it becomes a more serious issue.
Following this, it's possible that your GP will suggest reasonable adjustments to your duties or work patterns that may help you to manage the stress you are suffering. Particularly in cases where you're suffering from depression or another stress-related condition, your condition may amount to a disability and so your employer may have a duty of care to make reasonable adjustments such as:
Re-allocation of excessive work
Extra supervision or support
Reduced working hours
Confidential counselling
It may also be that the culture and working practices in your workplace are causing you excessive stress, including:
Bullying and harassment: Many workplaces have a robust and macho culture in which discriminatory remarks, abusive language and even threatening behaviour are the norm
Improper training: Without adequate training, many workers can feel overwhelmed by the demands of their job, leading to feelings of stress and anxiety
Denial of rights: Rights to regular breaks, rest periods, adequate time between shifts, days off and paid leave are enshrined in employment law. Where these rights are denied, workers can often feel worn down and stressed
How to make a workplace stress claim
Call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online today for a no-obligation chat about your case with one of our specialist workplace stress solicitors
We’ll assess your claim and help you collect all the necessary evidence, working with medical experts and witnesses to support your case
As part of your claim, we will need to access your medical records, and we’ll consult with an independent medical expert who will review your case and provide formal legal evidence testifying to the impact stress at work has had on your wellbeing
Our experts will ensure you have access to the best quality treatment, support and therapy to help you begin to deal with and overcome the impact of workplace stress
We’ll work hard to secure the best possible compensation in negotiations. Rarely, a claim may go to court, in which case your solicitor will represent you through proceedings
How Slater and Gordon can help with your stress at work claim
We are immensely proud to have a team of highly acclaimed occupational illness solicitors here at Slater and Gordon. With many decades of experience across the team, many of our solicitors are accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) as industrial disease specialists, and are highly ranked in prestigious independent legal guides including Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500.
We understand that the impact of stress at work can go far beyond work itself, and we work hard to provide the best possible support to our clients, from legal expertise to providing access to support networks and therapy. Whatever you need, we’re here to help.
If you're suffering from stress at work and you believe that your employer is failing in their duty of care towards you, talk to one of our experienced solicitors today about starting a stress at work claim. Call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online and we'll call you.
Jordan Bell provided thorough and clear explanations of all my options, ensuring I was fully informed every step of the way. His dedication to achieving the best possible out come where evident throughout the entire process. Communication was prompt and clear and I felt supported. Thanks for his hard word, my case was resolved favorably.
Mason (client testimonial for Jordan Bell)
Jordan dealt with myself and my mother with such consideration and understanding. Very pleasant person to talk to which made this process more easy to deal with.
Client testimonial (for Jordan Bell)
Pauline is always willing to listen and explain which is very helpful to somebody like me that sometimes struggles. She is first class!
Client testimonial (for Pauline Chandler)
We are an award winning law firm and have a dedicated team of industrial disease solicitors to advise and guide you – no matter how complex your situation may be.
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Frequently asked questions about stress at work claims
How do I prepare a claim for work-related stress?
If you are thinking about making a work-related stress claim, you must be able to evidence that you have tried to resolve the issue directly with your employer and that this has been unsuccessful. Your employer has a duty of care for all their employees, but they can only act if they know that you are struggling.
If you have not spoken to your employer about how they can support you in managing your workplace stress, you will usually be unable to make a claim until you have done so.
Does my employer have a responsibility to manage stress at work?
Yes, they do. Every employer has a duty of care for their employees, and that includes taking all reasonable measures to reduce the impact of workplace stress.
It is a fact of life that we all experience stress for time to time, and there will be situations at work where this is unavoidable. However, an employer has a responsibility to ensure that you have the support you need to help you to deal with stress when it arises, and that where stress is a continuous or frequently occurrences, steps are taken to identify and resolve the issues at fault.
How much can I claim for workplace stress?
The amount of compensation you may be able to claim for workplace stress will vary from case to case, as it will depend upon the extent of the stress you have experienced and the impact that this has had on your wellbeing and quality of life.
As everyone deals with stress differently, no two workplace stress claims are alike. To understand how much your claim could be worth, our experts will discuss the details of your case and, working closely with independent medical experts, evaluate the impact workplace stress has had your wellbeing. To learn more, or to start your claim, speak to our team today on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online to arrange a call back.
How long do I have to make a stress at work claim?
Under UK law, you have three years from the date you first became aware that the stress at work was making you ill to begin a claim, though if your symptoms began to occur while working outside of the UK, time limits may differ.
Whatever your circumstance, we strongly advise that you speak to a specialist work-related stress solicitor, as they will be able to advise you on any time limits relevant to your case.
Jordan Bell provided thorough and clear explanations of all my options, ensuring I was fully informed every step of the way. His dedication to achieving the best possible out come where evident throughout the entire process. Communication was prompt and clear and I felt supported. Thanks for his hard word, my case was resolved favorably. Mason (client testimonial for Jordan Bell)
Jordan dealt with myself and my mother with such consideration and understanding. Very pleasant person to talk to which made this process more easy to deal with. Client testimonial (for Jordan Bell)
Pauline is always willing to listen and explain which is very helpful to somebody like me that sometimes struggles. She is first class! Client testimonial (for Pauline Chandler)