Work-related stress and claims for psychiatric injury

Stress has become a widespread issue in many workplace environments. Factors such as tight deadlines, heavy workloads, interpersonal conflicts and job insecurity contribute to increasing stress levels at work. While some levels of stress can be motivating and enhance performance, excessive stress can have harmful effects on both physical and mental health.  

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) published the annual statistics for 2023 to 2024 on work-related health and safety in Great Britain. The figures show that 1.7 million people are suffering from a work-related illness, of which 776,000 workers are suffering work-related stress, depression or anxiety. 

Trainee Solicitor in the personal injury team, Hamzah Nadeem, runs through the causes of work-related stress and the details for pursuing a claim. 

What is work-related stress? 

Work-related stress refers to the emotional, mental and physical strain caused by the demands and pressures of the workplace. It occurs when employees feel that the demands of their job exceed their ability to manage or cope with them. 

If you are experiencing work-related stress, it’s crucial to prioritize your health by seeking professional help, such as consulting a GP, to address any potential issues early on. 

Common causes of work-related stress: 

  • Heavy workload and unrealistic expectations: Often exacerbated by a lack of proper training or support. 
  • Bullying or harassment at work: Including both personal and professional mistreatment. 
  • Unclear or misaligned policies and procedures: Which can lead to confusion and frustration. 
  • Neglecting complaints or ignoring physical or mental health concerns: When your well-being is not taken seriously by the employer. 

Making a claim for psychiatric injury 

To pursue a claim for psychiatric injury due to work-related stress, you must demonstrate that the stress led to the diagnosed psychiatric injury. Simply experiencing stress in the workplace is not enough to warrant a claim; it must be a clinically recognised mental health condition resulting from that stress. 

Additionally, it must be established that your employer was negligent in their duty of care, directly contributing to the injury. This means you must show that the employer knew, or should have reasonably known, that you were at risk of suffering a psychiatric injury due to work-related stress.  

One of the key considerations in such claims is whether the employer was aware of your condition. If you did not inform them of the stress or its impact on your mental health, they may argue that they were not responsible for the injury. 

Time limit 

It’s important to be aware of the time limitations for making a claim. Court proceedings must be issued within 3 years of the “date of knowledge”. The date of knowledge is the date you knew or ought to reasonably have known you had suffered an injury. If you miss this deadline, your claim may be statue barred – in other words, out of time. If you are thinking of making a claim, you should not delay as many solicitors will not accept a case that is too close to the limitation date. 

For information on our services, get in touch with a member of our personal injury team on 033 3344 9600 or email [email protected]. 

Author: Hamzah Nadeem, personal injury.