Are you having a bad day?

It seems that our lives at home and in the workplace are getting busier and busier, and sometimes, the demands of either one or both simply get too much.

In terms of the workplace, however, work-related stress is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United Kingdom and can be caused by several factors including:

• Either a too-high or too-low workload.
• A lack of support or in contrast, too much guidance, resulting in a feeling of oppression.
• Inadequate training or experience.
• Bullying or abuse from work colleagues.
• Bad/poor management.
• A physically uncomfortable working environment, such as it being too hot or cold.

The Courts in this country recognise that every person is likely to be exposed to a certain amount of stress and pressure and that inevitably, this will arise in most workplaces at some point, and therefore to bring a claim for stress at work is not an easy task.

So what is the test for being able to bring a claim for work-related stress?

For a claim to succeed, you will need to be able to prove the following:

1. That there was a foreseeable risk of psychiatric injury arising from the work that you were required to undertake or from the conditions in which you were working, and 
2. That insufficient or inappropriate steps were taken to address this risk, and crucially your employer was made aware of the problems you were experiencing AND that this impacted your health.

If you can satisfy all the above, then you may be able to bring a claim for compensation against your employer for work-related stress.

What should you do, therefore, if you are suffering from ill health because of your workplace?

• Tell your employer.
• Keep a diary/notes of your ill health and keep a timeline of events at your workplace.
• Seek medical assistance either through your work or through your GP. You will need to have a diagnosis of work-related stress from a medical practitioner to make a claim.
• Keep a record of the impact of your ill health upon your life and keep a record of any financial losses because of ill health, such as loss of earnings, travelling and parking expenses, medications and details of any assistance you may have received.

Because of the nature of psychiatric illnesses, which can be caused by a number and range of factors from both a personal and workplace perspective, it is often difficult to attribute these injuries specifically to the workplace and to therefore bring a claim against your employer.

If, however, you feel that you may have suffered stress and ill health as a result of your employment, we may be able to help. Please use the Contact Us button or call us on 01473 232121 for an initial free consultation, and our team of experts will be happy to help.