Personal injury compensation for workplace stress?

Personal injury compensation could potentially be sought by employees exposed to excessive stress in the workplace, as one employment expert notes companies that do not adequately protect their staff leave themselves open to litigation.

A report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and partners showed high levels of ongoing strain in a professional environment may be as damaging as a car accident, leading workers to take legal action to compensate for ill health and lost wages.

Ben Willmott, senior public policy adviser at the organisation commented: "[Employers] will suffer from low staff morale and risk higher levels of conflict and accidents in the workplace. In addition, they potentially face costly personal injury claims," Fleetfirectory.co.uk reveals.

The organisation warns many businesses do not understand stress and its potentially damaging effect on both staff and productivity, which might be one reason firms are prone to letting a situation advance so far the victim is forced to seek help from a personal injury solicitor.