There are lots of types of work-related illnesses that could lead to a successful compensation claim. Some of these include

• Workplace stress
• Skin conditions
• Osteoarthritis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Stress is a word that is often used but in general terms it is a psychological reaction to excessive work pressure or harassment or bullying in the workplace. If you have been diagnosed with a recognised psychiatric illness confirmed by a doctor (such as a reactive depression, anxiety or other condition) you need to consider:

• Has my employer breached a duty of care to me ?

• Has my working environment posed a real risk of causing my illness and did my employer know (or ought to have known) that I was being exposed to that risk ?

• Can I prove that my employer knew the difficulties I faced were severe enough to create a risk of me developing a psychiatric illness, in other words was it “foreseeable” ?

The courts have said that foreseeability will depend on what the employer knew (or ought to have known) about the pressures on an employee at the time. This does not mean that employers have to ask about a worker’s health all the time, but once an employer becomes aware that a worker is having difficulties, they must investigate the problem and find out what they can do to help resolve it. What they should do will depend, to some extent, on the size of the employer and the resources available to them.

For example, the courts have said that an employer who offers a confidential counselling advice service is unlikely to be in breach of their duty of care. However, just having a counselling service is not enough. Employers must do more than just suggest that an employee makes use of a company counselling service or refer them to occupational health if they complain of stress.

Under the Equality Act 2010, stress may turn out to be the sign of an underlying condition that would amount to a disability. Under the Act, employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace, such as reducing an employee’s workload or changing ways of working to reduce pressures on an employee who is under stress. If someone is being treated unfairly by, say, a line manager who treats female staff in an overbearing and dominating way, they may also be able to argue that such behaviour amounts to sex discrimination.

If your mental health has been affected by your work, please contact us at Serious Accident Solicitors Ltd. It can be difficult to know whether you are able to make a claim. Often, an employer will not admit they are at fault. You might not even work for the company any more.

We understand that all this can be confusing. Often someone who has suffered from workplace stress or harassment also has to deal with the emotional fall out of what is happening to them. We offer a free, no obligation enquiry that is totally confidential. After you have spoken to us, we can tell you whether you may be able to make a personal injury claim.

Work out what evidence you need to support your case. Make a written note about:

• the date a particularly stressful or bullying event happened – record the date and time of when something happened, especially if more than once
• the names of anyone involved, a colleague or manager who harassed or bullied you, write down exactly what they said or did and who was there who may have witnessed it
• write down anything you can remember and print out any other evidence, such as an email which may be important evidence later on
• Look for evidence on social media if it has been used to communicate with people from work. For example, a threatening message on Facebook could be evidence. Print out any emails or texts / other messages if you can or take a picture or a screenshot.
• Make sure your employer has done everything they are supposed to do. Get copies of your contract and any internal policies on things like bullying or equal opportunities. You may be able to lodge a grievance about what has happened.

Work-related illness claims differ to other types of work accident claims. One difference is that you might not know straightaway that you have developed an illness because of your work.

As soon as you suspect that your health has been affected by your working duties, contact us straightaway. You will need to see your GP and take medical advice. Inform your GP that your illness is work related – this is very important. We will tell you what action you can take. If you are in a position to make a claim, we can handle the whole process for you and help you through what can be a very difficult time.

Work-related illness claims can sometimes be complex. This is particularly true if you no longer work for the company, as key pieces of evidence may not be immediately available. If you still work for the company, it is important to gather evidence. For this type of claim you need a specialist solicitor to manage your claim.

At Serious Accident Solicitors Ltd, we are highly experienced in dealing with workplace stress and other workplace personal injury claims. We have claimed compensation for those who have developed an illness at work. We are waiting to help you too.

The decision to pursue a claim is entirely yours. We will never pressure you into making a claim. You might think it sounds like a daunting task, especially if you are struggling with ill health and the thought of taking on your employer. However, if are suffering and want to take action to protect yourself or the financial position of your family, rest assured that we will be on your side and do the hard work for you. We have done this successfully before.