| Bosses are being warned that they must | | | | medical advice is a supportive step in the |
| protect their staff from stress in the | | | | right direction, it's not the answer to the |
| workplace if they want to avoid costly | | | | problem as a whole. "Many employees feel |
| damages! The warning comes after a UK woman | | | | under pressure, particularly when a company |
| was awarded over £130,000 after she | | | | is working to meet tough deadlines, but it's |
| suffered a nervous breakdown brought on by | | | | the employer's responsibility to ensure their |
| pressure at work. A Shropshire Employment Law | | | | health does not suffer as a direct |
| Specialist in the UK, warns that this case | | | | consequence of striving for business |
| was a timely reminder for employers that they | | | | success." The scope and complexity of |
| must take stress seriously! "The woman had | | | | employment law has developed dramatically in |
| repeatedly told her employer about the amount | | | | recent years. There seems to be a new |
| of work she was struggling with, and she | | | | development every month and as a result, |
| claimed they did nothing to help her tackle | | | | keeping abreast of the rights and obligations |
| the issue." The High Court ruled that the | | | | of both employers and employees can be an |
| demands made on her were totally | | | | ongoing concern. Stress in the workplace is a |
| unreasonable, and if action had been taken, | | | | serious matter and should be a taken |
| her breakdown could probably have been | | | | seriously by all UK employers. Always seek |
| avoided. The employer in the case had | | | | professional legal advice form a specialist |
| referred the woman to a stress counsellor, | | | | employment solicitor if in any doubt of |
| but at no stage was anyone brought in to | | | | employee and employer rights. This article is |
| share her workload. "Simply offering stress | | | | free to republish provided this resource box |
| counsellings is not a long-term solution - if | | | | remains intact. |
| the root of the problem is the amount of work | | | | |
| an employee is facing, the management team | | | | John Mehtam heads the employment law team at |
| have to tackle the problem directly. As an | | | | Martin Kaye Solicitors. John runs numerous |
| employer, you are ultimately responsible for | | | | presentations on this specialist subject & |
| the welfare of your staff, and it's vital | | | | provides Employment Law Training for UK |
| that you take their concerns seriously. | | | | Businesses. |
| "Although access to stress counselors and | | | | |