By Jo Jeffries. Last Updated 5th January 2023. Welcome to our stress at work claims guide. Here, we shall discuss stress at work and bullying at work compensation claims in greater detail. Below, we look at what you may need to know about the average payout for stress at work in 2022 examples. We also look at how compensation for stress and anxiety in the UK could be calculated if you’re considering suing for emotional distress in the UK. Plus, we look at work related stress compensation for stress caused by bullying at work or undue stress due to a heavy workload. If you’re considering claiming for stress at work, this guide could give you some very useful information on claims for stress at work.
Below, we will also answer such questions as “how much compensation for stress at work”. And we also discuss work-related illness compensation. We spend a lot of our lives at work in some form or another. Whether you are a welder, office worker, teacher, doctor or lawyer, then the ideal situation is that you enjoy what you do. Claims for stress at work are not ideal, because ideally, your employer would have taken steps to address the issues surrounding your stress. However, if they haven’t, you could claim work-related stress pay loss, as well as compensation for pain and suffering.
FAQ on compensation for stress and anxiety – who could claim?
UK workplaces are becoming increasingly stressful. Workers are put under pressure due to budget constraints leading to heavier workloads. Therefore, it stands to reason that this can dampen their enjoyment of work.
When stress at work or harassment is caused by your employer – either directly or because of unfair work practices, the effects can be extremely debilitating. Some of the initial symptoms of stress can include racing thoughts, feelings of being overwhelmed or anxious, lacking self-esteem. While you may think this only affects the mind, it can lead to physical symptoms too. These could include, headaches, sleep problems, eating problems, muscle aches and pains and more.
Get in touch to find out more about stress at work claims
If you have been forced to take time off due to the stress at work you have encountered, then Accident Claims may be able to help you make stress at work claims for compensation. This could be both for the physical and mental trauma you have experienced. Plus, financial losses you may have suffered too.
If you’d like to speak to our team of experts about your workplace stress compensation, whether it is to ask about stress at work statistics, or to ascertain the average payout for stress at work, then call us now on 0800 073 8801, and we will be happy to help. Should you like to know more about stress at work before you speak to us, then click the sections below to navigate to your most pressing concerns about No Win No Fee stress at work claims or statistics.
Select a section
- A Guide to Claiming Compensation for Stress at Work Or Bullying At Work Compensation
- Work-Related Stress Statistics
- What is Work-Related Stress?
- What Are the Most Common Causes of Stress at Work?
- Mental Health and Work-Related Stress Compensation Claims
- Employers Legal Requirements and Responsibilities
- How Work-Related Stress Affects Different Employees
- Stress at Work and the Armed Forces
- Stress at Work and the Emergency Services
- Stress at Work and Self Employed or Contract Workers
- What to Do If You Have Suffered from Stress at Work
- Do I Have a Stress at Work Compensation Claim?
- What’s the average payout for stress at work – 2022 examples
- How Much Bullying At Work Compensation Can I Claim for Work-Related Stress?
- How to Start A Workplace Stress Compensation Claim
- No Win No Fee Stress at Work Claims
- Why Choose Accident Claims for Your Stress at Work Claim Or Claim For Bullying At Work Compensation?
- Bullied At Work – How To Sue For Emotional Distress In The UK
- Useful Links For Bullying At Work Compensation
A Guide to Claiming Compensation for Stress at Work Or Bullying at Work Compensation
Stress can, in some small ways, be somewhat of a motivator at work. However, when heavy or prolonged stress causes you to become ill, then you may feel more demotivated than you ever have. The mental, emotional and physical symptoms associated with stress can have far-reaching consequences. Consequences can affect both our careers and our relationships as well as our own health. If you or someone you know is suffering or has suffered from heavy or prolonged amounts of stress due to the workplace, employer, or unsafe working practices, it is only right that you should be compensated for it.
How much compensation for stress and anxiety could I receive?
If you are wondering how much compensation can I claim, then it is important to remember that here at Accident Claims, we have heard tales of stress at work many times before. We are on hand to offer actionable advice on how much can you claim for work-related stress with no obligation to utilise our workplace stress compensation services should you not wish to do so. If you do, we will walk through the steps needed to make workplace stress claims, advise you of the process itself, and provide an experienced solicitor to fight your case for you, ultimately leading to the best chance of securing compensation for work-related stress and depression.
How long do I have to claim?
You may have only realised after leaving a position that you have been under stress at work, and if this is the case, you may be under the misapprehension that you wouldn’t have a claim. Generally, you have 3 years from the date of the incident to start a claim. There are some exceptions to this rule if the claimant is under 18 or doesn’t have the mental capacity to claim.
In the guide below, we hope to answer all of the pressing questions you have about making a claim, along with providing information on how common stress is in the workplace, and what can cause workplace stress, such as being bullied at work. Should you have any questions about stress at work compensation payouts or anything else about making a work-related stress claim. We can easily assist with No Win No Fee stress at work claims if you get in contact with us.
Work Related Stress Statistics
Stress can be difficult to cope with, and you may feel like you are the only person dealing with it. However, this is not the case. A simple look at the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) website shows some shocking statistics about how common workplace stress is.
According to 2021 statistics from the HSE:
- Around 822,000 workers suffered from stress, depression or anxiety in 2020/21.
- 451,000 workers reported suffering from a new case of work-related stress, depression or anxiety.
- The three sectors with higher than average rates of depression, stress and anxiety between 2018 and 2021 were public admin/defence, human health/social work and education.
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Whatever the cause of your stress in the workplace or the industry you work in, making a claim for work-related stress is something that you should consider seriously. Only by taking action to claim compensation for stress at work can an employer’s action or negligence be highlighted and measures to prevent the same thing from happening to other staff members. Contact us anytime about potentially claiming stress at work compensation/work-related illness compensation.
What is Work-Related Stress?
According to the HSE, work-related stress can be deemed an adverse reaction to someone’s demands or pressures by their work/employer. Therefore, it is important that employers match employees’ skills and knowledge to their role to prevent undue pressure or unfair demands on them. One way they can do this is by following the HSE’s suggestions for proper training, planning, and support for their employees. However, as we are all unique, it is important to note that stress affects different people in different ways and to different levels. Experience and skill are just two things that might have an effect on the stress a person feels. Other factors, including age or disabilities, might also affect how a person deals with pressure at work.
This is why it is important for employers to undertake stress risk assessments for their employees. In such an assessment, possible stress triggers should be noticed and reduced as much as possible in order to protect the employee. If such a risk assessment is not completed, an employer may be liable if an employee claims stress at work. Read on to learn more about stress at work claims and how much compensation for stress at work you could claim for.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Stress at Work?
There are a huge number of stressors in any workplace, but the most common causes tend to be as follows. Often, we are asked questions like ‘do I have a stress at work compensation claim?’ with the following factors:
- Too heavy a workload – Whether a shortage of staff has occurred, and work has been left with too few employees, or whether budget constraints have come into play with the hiring of extra staff, if an employee has too much to do in too little time, over time, this can have a debilitating effect on the stress levels of the employee.
- Not enough work. – In contrast, the lack of workload can also cause stress to an employee. Those with little to do than watch the clock tick down to the end of the working day can become demotivated or depressed. Lack of workload can also lead to worry that their job may not be there long term, and they may be at risk of being made redundant.
- Lack of training or experience – As mentioned before, an employee’s skills and experience should be matched with the expected role. Not doing so, or not providing the relevant training that the employee needs to be able to do the job properly can lead to heavy stress. This can also be true where staff are promoted to positions that require further training and that training is not given, such as those promoted to management who have no experience in managing others.
More causes of stress
- Bullying and harassment at work – whether by peers or management, bullying at work can be quite a serious situation. Feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and depression can result as a consequence.
- Not enough support – Without any guidance or support from peers or management, an employee may feel that they have been left ‘in the deep end’ without the support they need to do their job properly or deal with things if something has gone wrong. This can lead to feelings of isolation, which again, can be a trigger for work-related stress.
- Being micro-managed – Those persons expected to work within a highly regimented workforce, including the police, the army etc., can suffer from stress caused by the lack of freedom to think or act for themselves. This can also occur in some office environments where management tries to control every detail of a person’s role.
- Physical Stressors – Working in conditions that are uncomfortable, such as being too hot, too cold, too damp or otherwise uncomfortable can not only lead to issues with physical health but can also cause stress.
- Poor corporate culture – If a workplace has become somewhere that regularly plays ‘the blame game’ or is highly pressurised due to intense competition, this can lead to work-related stress.
These are the most common workplace stress claims seen, but there are, of course, others. Should you have suffered undue stress at work for any reason, why not call to see if you could make a stress at work claim?
Mental Health and Work-Related Stress Compensation Claims
It can be very complicated to differentiate between mental illness caused by other factors, and that which is caused by work-related stress and this is why one stress at work claim amount differs from another, even if they seem similar. This is because some symptoms can be very similar to other psychological issues. Depression, for example, can cause many of the same symptoms as stress, but it is by no means the same. Since every case can have its own set of unique circumstances, and depression can be caused by work-related stress itself, you can see why this requires the assistance of people who understand all the differences and links between the different types of stress, and other mental illnesses.
Assessing the claim
It is therefore essential that a medical professional is able to evaluate each and every case of possible work-related stress on its own merits, to ascertain whether the stress has been caused by work, or whether it is due to other factors outside of the workplace, such as relationship issues, or a loss in the family. Once you learn about the root cause, it’s possible to consider claiming stress at work compensation.
If the medical professional diagnoses that the stress has been caused by work, then the impact on the victim’s life can be measured and a compensation proposal can be put forward for review. We are in the position to arrange for a solicitor to sort out a medical appointment for you to see an independent professional who will be able to talk to you and come to a conclusion on whether your stress is work-related or not. We can also help give you some idea of a work-related stress compensation calculator, which should give a guideline amount of how much you can claim.
Employer’s Legal Requirements and Responsibilities
There are stringent rules that require employers to ensure a certain duty of care to their employees, and they need to abide by these, but it can be a little complicated when it comes to stress. The HSE has offered guidance to employers on spotting and dealing with stress risks and including stress on any risk assessments where necessary.
The guidance issued by the HSE can be beneficial in pinpointing causes of stress that your employer should be aware of. And this can also suggest situations which may result in stress at work claims. So, these include:
- Change – Organisational changes in the workplace should be managed properly so that they do not cause undue stress to employees.
- Role – The role that the person has should be fully understood, and it needs to be ensured that the role is not conflicted.
- Relationships – Promotion of a good working relationship with peers and managers as well as conflict avoidance and the right ways of dealing with behaviour that is unacceptable are important to reduce stress
- Support – Peers, management and the organisation itself should be supportive and encouraging.
- Control – The member of staff should have enough control over how they do their work.
- Demands – Working patterns, workload and the working environment, should be optimised to avoid stress.
How Work-Related Stress Affects Different Employees
Work-related stress can affect people differently, depending on the person they are, the type of pressure they are under, or their position. For example, a person in a busy office with too heavy a load of paperwork might be suffering from stress, which may cause them to feel tearful, overwhelmed and anxious. However, a person who has served in the armed forces may have been witness to a traumatic event that led them to suffer stress leading to feelings of helplessness and depression.
We at Accident Claims know only too well how different situations, industries, and people make up stress at work cases, and we are well-equipped to deal with any number or type of stress at work cases. Some of the more common types of stress at work cases are covered in the paragraphs below, but if yours isn’t, do get in contact, and we will happily listen to your story and talk to you about if your case for stress at work compensation is valid. We can also answer your questions about work-related illness compensation.
Stress at Work and the Armed Forces
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is common for those who have served in the armed forces or are still serving now. Making a claim for compensation in this regard can require you to apply to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for bullying at work compensation. This is something we are well able to assist you with. We know how much stress you are likely to have been under, and therefore we aim to make the process of making armed forces stress at work claims as simple for you as possible. So, as you wonder “how much compensation for stress at work”, note that this includes working for the armed forces.
Stress at Work and the Emergency Services
Whether you work in the emergency services as a police officer, paramedic, or as a fire officer, you are likely to suffer stress due to the things you have to experience as part of your job. If signs of stress are not spotted however or are not acted upon with the right support from your line managers or employer, then you may well have a claim for stress at work as an emergency services worker.
While you might be under the impression that the government should compensate you accordingly, such as the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme does for those in the military, this is not the case and you are classed as a civilian, expected to make claims against your employer as any other type of worker would. This does not mean it has to be difficult, though. Accident Claims are on hand to offer support and provide you with an experienced solicitor who will make the process of claiming stress at work compensation as simple as possible.
Stress at Work and Self Employed or Contract Workers
Self-employed or contract workers can also suffer from stress at work. No matter what type of job they do, the same stressors might be put upon them as is the way for fully employed people. In the latter 1990s, the government made changes to the law by introducing the IR35 laws. These were meant to change tax legislation by viewing contract or freelance workers in the same way as those fully employed when it comes to taxation.
This view, however, also meant that those long-term contract or freelance workers who have worked for a specific company for some time should also be treated in the same way as a standard employee when it comes to the situation when a contract worker or freelancer wishes to claim for work related stress. Get in touch if you have any questions regarding stress at work claims.
What to Do If You Have Suffered from Stress at Work And Want to Claim Bullying at Work Compensation
If you are in the awful position of having suffered work related stress, there are certain steps you can take to help yourself, whether you are looking to claim for stress at work compensation or not. The first is to self-assess to see whether your stress could be caused by work. This self-assessment tool may help you to do this. Once you have done so, it is important to document your stress timeline. Try to remember when it was that the symptoms started to occur, and any triggers that might have set them off at that particular time. Also document when/whether you have spoken to your employer or manager about the situation and any action that they have taken, if indeed they have taken any action.
It is also vital that you see someone to talk about your symptoms and get professional help. Seeing your GP for a referral to a counsellor or seeking private help can be vital in your recovery. As part of this, it is a good idea to examine the effects of stress on your life. Consider the impact it has had on your relationships, social life, enjoyment of day-to-day activities, and any physical impact, such as sleep, appetite, etc. It may be useful to note these down as they may form the basis of an impact statement of sorts.
Recording the impact
As well as noting down the effects that the stress has had on you physically and mentally, it is essential that you record any losses in terms of monetary losses, such as loss of earnings, or even extra bills such as medical bills, travel costs to medical appointments etc. You may have had to cancel a holiday due to the stress you have been under in some cases. If this is the case, this may form part of your stress at work claims.
Finally, it is a good idea to get good solid advice from a legal perspective. Here at Accident Claims, we are able to offer no-obligation advice that you can rely on. Our fully trained legal experts will be able to advise on your case and provide a solicitor that can fight your case so that you are in receipt of the maximum bullying at work compensation possible for your stress.
Do I Have a Stress at Work or Bullying at Work Compensation Claim?
When it comes to proving a stress at work compensation case, it is essential that you understand that you not only have to prove that the stress was caused by work, but that it has had an effect on you.
It must be shown that you have psychological injuries/illness that has been medically recognised. You must also prove that your work had an obvious risk of being the cause of such an illness/injury and that your employer should have known or did know about this risk and that you were exposed to it. When the foreseeable risk exists, you need to prove that your employer did not act accordingly to reduce such as risk and breached their duty of care.
Tips for claiming compensation for stress and anxiety in the UK
As with any personal injury claim, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible to support your case. Gathering the right evidence could strengthen your case and make the process smoother for you. Some examples of evidence for work-related stress claims could include:
- CCTV footage of any inciting incidents
- Photographs
- Witness statements, if applicable
- Medical reports, such as from your GP
We also recommend hiring a solicitor to help you with your claim. A solicitor will have in-depth knowledge of the claims process and can help you every step of the way. Often, claims do not need to proceed to court, but if yours does for any reason, a solicitor can also represent you there, and help negotiate your compensation.
To find out more about claiming compensation for stress caused by work, get in touch with our advisors at any time.
What Can Compensation for Stress at Work Claims Include?
When you’re looking at the different compensation types that stress at work typically pays out, you’ll notice several different types. Firstly, you will likely receive a general damages payout for the pain/suffering you’ve experienced, but you can also request for financial losses to be paid too.
Special damages for workplace stress claims and claims for bullying at work compensation
If you do need to claim for expenses, losses or costs caused by your workplace personal injury, you’ll need to file a special damages claim. What you can claim for will depend on how you’ve been affected. Importantly, you shouldn’t see special damages as a fine or a penalty because you are not allowed to benefit from your claim. The purpose of special damages is to put you back in the position you were in before you suffered from stress at work.
Special damages – What could they include?
What you could claim includes:
- Lost income. A large part of your special damages claim might be for any earnings you’ve lost. This could be the case where the stress made you so ill you couldn’t work or when you were visiting your GP for treatment.
- Medical costs. You will, of course, get most of your treatment free on the NHS. However, prescription costs and fees for non-NHS services might build up. If that’s the case, you could claim these back too.
- Travel expenses. Visiting your GP or other services to help with your stress levels could cost money. Therefore, you could claim back any fuel, parking or public transport costs.
- Future loss of earnings. In more serious cases, the stress you suffered at work might cause long-term problems. If these mean you are not likely to work at the same level in the future and lose income as a result, future lost earnings could also be claimed.
To see how much stress at work compensation or bullying at work compensation could be claimed for in your case, please get in touch.
What’s the average payout for stress at work – 2022 examples
If you’re wondering what’s the average payout for stress at work, 2022 examples of guideline payouts can be seen in the table below.
When you claim compensation for stress and anxiety in the UK, you could receive a compensation payout which takes into account the suffering and pain you’ve experienced psychologically.
Compensation Calculator
For claims made in England and Wales, the Judicial College Guidelines may be used to assess the value of your pain and suffering. The JCG is a publication that could help guide lawyers when assessing the value of your compensation. The guidelines are only a rough estimate, however. The figures you see in the table come from the 2022 release of the guidelines.
| Injury | Severity | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric Damage | Severe | Between £54,830 and £115,730 | There will be serious issues with life, work and education. Relationships will also be affected and the prognosis for recovery will be poor. |
| Psychiatric Damage | Moderately Severe | Between £19,070 and £54,830 | Similar issues to the above but the recovery may be more likely. |
| Psychiatric Damage | Moderate | Between £5,860 and £19,070 | Issues such as the above but improvement will be seen before trial date and future improvement is likely. |
| Psychiatric Damage | Less Severe | Between £1,540 and £5,860 | Things considered include: the extent to which sleep and activities were affected and how long for. |
| PTSD | Severe | Between £59,860 and £100,670 | The claimant will be affected for the rest of their life, preventing them from working or functioning close to pre-trauma level. All aspects of life are negatively affected in a serious way. |
| PTSD | Moderately Severe | Between £23,150 and £59,860 | Similar to the above but recovery is more likely, given professional help. |
| PTSD | Moderate | Between £8,180 and £23,150 | Recovery will have mostly been made already. Further issues will not be disabling. |
| PTSD | Less Severe | Between £3,950 and £8,180 | Within 1-2 years, a full recovery will have been made. Any lasting symptoms will be minor. |
| Mental Anguish | – | £4,670 | Fear of death, reductions of life expectancy |
Assessing your claim
If you would like guidance on how much compensation for stress and anxiety UK claimants could receive, we could better assess your case over the phone. We could speak to you in-depth about the compensation you could claim. We could assess whether you have suffered financially because of your condition too. If you have, for example, you’ve lost out on income, we could include this within your claim. Additionally, we could provide information on claiming compensation for stress caused by work.
How to Start A Workplace Stress Compensation Claim
It may be simpler than you thought to being stressed in the workplace claim with us. All you’ll be required to do initially is call, and our experts will speak to you about what you’ve experienced, asking relevant questions to ascertain the nature/validity of a No Win No Fee claim. We will then provide you with an experienced professional solicitor that handles this type of case so that you can get started almost immediately on your claim. At any point during the call, you’ll be able to query any information you don’t understand and ask any pertinent questions. We will be glad to answer them.
No Win No Fee Stress at Work Claims
Taking legal action for stress at work can be stressful in itself, especially when most people think you will have to foot heavy legal bills for doing so. However, the fact is, you would not have to as most stress at work claims are done on a No Win No Fee arrangement. This entails that the solicitor will take as payment a percentage of your awarded compensation, and better yet, should you not receive a payout, there will be no legal fees for you to pay in this regard.
If you should have questions about whether the No Win No Fee stress at work claims arrangement will apply to you (in most cases, it does) then feel free to call our team who will explain the basis behind this type of claim.
Why Choose Accident Claims for Your Stress at Work Claim Or bullying at work compensation claim?
Choosing someone to help you with stress at work claims can be tricky. You want someone who is well-versed in the letter of the law when it comes to this kind of claim. Plus, someone who understands stress, and the associated symptoms. The ideal choice would be someone who can offer a sympathetic ear. Plus, actionable advice. Here at Accident Claims, we aim to offer the full package. Not only do we have decades of experience in the field. We also offer compassion, sympathy and a good old-fashioned common-sense approach to what can be a very emotive subject matter.
We will not only talk you through, without using legal jargon every single step along the compensation journey. Accident Claims UK will also provide experienced solicitors who have handled cases just like yours before. They can help offer the best chance of getting the maximum compensation payout possible for your circumstances. It is best you contact us rather than look at a stress at work compensation calculator online. Such a tool would not take into account your specific circumstances.
Bullied At Work – How To Sue For Emotional Distress In The UK
You may be considering suing for emotional distress caused by bullying at work and want more information.
Here at Accident Claims UK, our knowledgeable advisors would be happy to give you some more guidance on whether you could sue for emotional distress from being bullied at work due to a protected characteristic.
If you are concerned about suing an employer for being bullied at work, we will explain the protection that you could have. We’ll also explain further about the compensation claims process, and we could answer any other questions you might have too.
All this advice and support is free and comes with no obligation to use our services. There are several ways you can get in touch with us:
- Call our helpline on 0800 073 8801
- Use the live chat feature on this page
- Contact us by completing this form, and we’ll respond as soon as possible
We want to help you get the compensation you deserve. Why not get in touch with us today?
Useful Links For Bullying at work compensation
Mind – Mental Health Assistance
Mind is an organisation that is set up to assist with mental health issues. With a wealth of advice on different mental health conditions, along with links to find urgent assistance should you need it, you might find the site useful.
Employee help – Stress at work
The HSE has produced a huge amount of information about stress at work, including this page on spotting signs of stress and harassment at work and what to do about it as an employee. You may find this page of interest should you need advice on how to talk to an employer about suffering from stress in the workplace.
The NHS has produced guidance on how to cope with stress, and what to do as a short-term measure to feel better, as well as giving advice on long-term care. This may be useful if you are looking into ways to cope with your stress at work affecting home life, whether it is caused by work or by something entirely different.
Other Guides You Can Read
- Car Accident Claims
- Accidents At Work Claims
- How To Claim If Dismissed Whilst Off With Stress At Work
- Back Injury At Work Claims Guide
- I Stepped On A Nail At Work – Could I Claim Compensation?
- Your Legal Rights After An Accident At Work
- Unsafe Working Practices Caused My Accident – Could I Claim?
- Unloading A Delivery Lorry Or Van Accident Claim
- Top Tips On How To Claim For Slips And Trips At Work
- Slips And Trips In A Kitchen Compensation Claims
- How To Claim For Pallet Truck Accidents
- Get help making a funfair accident claim by reading our article on claiming personal injury compensation after being injured in a funfair.
