Stress At Work Claims – How Much Compensation Could I Claim?

Your employer has a duty of care to protect your well-being while you’re at work. As well as trying to prevent physical injuries in the workplace, they must also protect your mental health.Importantly, if you are suffering from the effects of workplace stress, and your employer has done nothing to try and prevent it, you may be eligible to make a stress at work claim for compensation.

Proving that you’re suffering from stress at work can be tricky, and you may wish to seek legal advice before proceeding with a claim. That’s where we can help. If you call our advice centre, your claim will be assessed for free, and an advisor will give you legal advice about your next steps. If your claim appears to have strong grounds, we could ask a solicitor to step in. They’ll represent you throughout the claim on a No Win No Fee basis if your case is accepted.

To discuss whether you’re eligible to claim compensation for workplace stress, please call our team on 0800 6524 881 today. Alternatively, please read the rest of this guide to learn more about the claims process.

Am I Eligible To Make A Stress At Work Claim?

To be eligible to make a stress at work claim, you’ll typically need to show that:

• Your employer had a legal duty to safeguard your mental health; and
• They were aware of your stress (or should have been aware) and failed to take reasonable steps to address it; and
• Your stress-related illness was caused or worsened by your employer’s failure to act.

Please contact our claims advisors today to check your eligibility based on your specific situation.

What Can Employers Do To Reduce Stress At Work?

As mentioned above, your employer has a legal duty to consider your welfare at work. This might include making reasonable adjustments to your work based on advice from your GP or an occupational health specialist. This might include:

• Reducing your working hours.
• Providing additional support or supervision.
• Reallocating some of your (excessive) work to others.
• Arranging for confidential counselling.

If your employer hasn’t done anything to address your health problems after you’ve made them aware of the situation, please call our advisors for free advice.

What You Should Do If You’re Suffering From Stress At Work

If you believe your health is suffering because of stress at work, there are some steps you could take to help. They include:

• Speaking to your supervisor or manager about your concerns.
• Seeking medical advice from a doctor.
• Asking for an occupational health appointment.

It may also be a good idea to write down how you’re feeling each day before speaking to a doctor or your employer, so it’s easier to remember how stress has affected you.

Common Causes Of Stress At Work Claims

There are many reasons that you might feel stressed at work. Some of the most common reasons people suffer from work-related stress and end up making a compensation claim include:

• Excessive workloads. Your employer might be asking you to do more than is manageable within your working hours.
• Impossible targets. Trying to achieve unrealistic goals can have a significant negative impact on your well-being.
• Micromanagement. Being constantly scrutinised, monitored, or told what to do can lead to stress and anxiety.
• Lack of training. Being asked to perform tasks without proper training can be both dangerous and stressful.
• Bullying or harassment. Where managers, supervisors, or colleagues pick on you based on characteristics like gender, age, or disability, which are protected under the Equality Act 2010. Find out more about claiming compensation for workplace bullying here.
• Denial of your rights. Stress can also result from being denied basic employment rights, such as paid leave, regular breaks, rest periods, or days off.
• Job insecurity. Constantly worrying about losing your job or being made redundant can cause prolonged stress.
• Workplace conflicts. Difficult relationships with colleagues or supervisors can contribute to stress, especially when not managed by your employer.

These are just some examples of why you might find work stressful. Importantly, different people worry about different things, so your employer may not realise you’re struggling unless you explain your concerns. However, if you’ve done so and nothing has been done to help, we might be able to help you seek damages for work-related stress.

Problems Resulting From Work-Related Stress

In the past, stress at work would be laughed off by both the employer and the employee. You might even have been told to ‘man up’ or ‘get on with your job’ if you raised concerns. Things have changed, however, and employers must take reasonable steps to try to reduce stress in the workplace.

Importantly, stress can cause both mental and physical symptoms according to the NHS.

Psychological Symptoms Of Stress

The psychological symptoms include:

• Feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
• Becoming forgetful.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Finding it hard to make decisions.
• Constantly worrying.

Physical Symptoms Of Stress

The physical symptoms include:

• Muscle pain, aches or tension.
• A faster heartbeat or chest pains.
• Stomach problems.
• Headaches and dizziness.
• Sexual problems.
• Weight loss and loss of appetite.

As you can see, there are a lot of problems that workplace stress can lead to. Therefore, if you believe you’ve suffered as a result of your employer’s failure to address your problems, please get in touch to see if you could be compensated by making a stress at work claim.

How Much Compensation For Stress At Work Could I Claim?

How much compensation for stress at work you might receive depends on various factors, such as how serious the effects are, has treatment been needed, future prognosis. Therefore, you may be able to seek compensation to cover:

• The suffering you’ve endured caused by stress. Remember, this includes both physical and psychological suffering.
• Any income you’ve lost because you had to take time off work while you were ill.
• Care costs if you needed support with daily activities while you were recovering.
• Travel expenses related to your injuries.
• Medical costs, such as those linked to private counselling.
• Future loss of earnings if your injuries will continue in the long term and affect your ability to earn.

A solicitor from our team will review your claim in detail before filing it with your employer. This will ensure that everything is included in your stress at work claim.

Average Stress At Work Compensation Payouts

A range of compensation payouts advised for psychiatric or psychological type issues commonly caused by stress at work are shown below.

• Severe issues caused by stress at work that might include affected relationships, trouble coping with life and a very poor future prognosis, might see compensation of £66,920 to £141,240.
• Moderately severe issues caused by stress at work, where there are significant issues but the prognosis is generally more optimistic, £23,270 to £66,920.
• Compensation for moderate cases where there may be some problems with the ability to cope with life, for example, but a marked improvement, £7,150 to £23,270.
• Compensation for stress at work-related problems that are considered less severe, £1,880 to £7,150.

To discuss what compensation you might be eligible to claim for stress at work, contact us today to arrange a free consultation to speak with an advisor.

Evidence To Support A Stress At Work Claim

To prepare for a claim for work-related stress, you should try to collate as much evidence as possible to support your claim. This could include:

• Medical notes. You should see a doctor if you’re worried about your stress levels. After they’ve confirmed your diagnosis, your medical records could be used as evidence in your case.
• Witness details. In some cases, your colleagues might be asked to provide a statement to confirm things like your working conditions.
• Correspondence. If you have any emails or letters from your employer regarding your concerns, you should print them or forward them to your solicitor.
• Occupational health reports. If a specialist was asked to review your working conditions, you could use a copy of their report to help confirm that problems were identified.
• Financial documents. Receipts, invoices, bank statements and benefits records could all be used to help prove any costs you’ve incurred relating to your injuries.

Then contact one of our advisors who will review your evidence as part of your no-obligation consultation. If you haven’t taken this step or are in any way unsure where you stand, it is still worth contacting us for free advice.

Time Limits For Claiming Stress At Work Compensation

As with most other personal injury claims, a claim for work-related stress will usually need to be started within 3 years. This time limit will normally begin on the date of the injury, but it could begin later if you only became aware afterwards that your stress was significant and connected to your employer’s negligence.

It’s often a good idea to seek legal representation as soon as possible rather than waiting too long. That should make it easier for you to remember what led to your illness and how you were affected. It will also mean there will be plenty of time to collect supporting evidence.

Do I Need A Solicitor To File A Stress At Work Compensation Claim?

In most stress at work claims, your employer’s insurance company will handle the claim, rather than the employer directly. It’s important to remember that the insurer is unlikely to offer compensation unless you can clearly prove that your employer’s negligence contributed to your stress and suffering.

While it’s not a legal requirement to use a solicitor to file a stress at work compensation claim, having a specialist on your side can significantly improve your chances of success. Our team of No Win No Fee solicitors has extensive experience in dealing with insurance companies, and if your claim is accepted, they’ll handle everything on your behalf.

Your solicitor will begin by gathering evidence, including medical reports, and may arrange for a psychological assessment if necessary. They’ll then file your claim with the employer’s insurer, managing all legal and medical aspects of the case for you. Throughout the process, they’ll keep you informed and answer any questions you might have.

If any disputes arise over liability, your solicitor will work to provide additional evidence to counter the insurer’s objections. If a settlement offer is made, your solicitor will review it with you to ensure it covers all your suffering, including financial losses and emotional distress.

Can I Be Fired For Claiming Against My Employer?

It is important to point out that, if you make a genuine compensation claim for work-related stress, your employer should not fire you or treat you unfairly simply for claiming. If you are singled out or treated unfairly by your employer because of it, you may have grounds for a separate employment claim.

Starting The Stress At Work Claims Process

We understand that nobody wants to risk paying for legal help and then losing their case. Therefore, if you choose to start the stress at work claims process with one of our solicitors, and they accept your case, they’ll work for you on a No Win No Fee basis.

That means no upfront solicitor’s fees, and you won’t have to pay for their work if the claim fails. The only time you’ll need to pay for your solicitor’s work is if you are paid compensation by your employer. To find out if you could claim on a No Win No Fee basis, simply call us today on 0800 6524 881.

Alternatively, our team are available via our live support chat, or you can complete a call-back form for a convenient time.

To learn more about how we can help with stress at work claims, please connect to an advisor via live chat.