In a bid to fight the credit crunch, many employers will be considering cutting staffing levels to save on costs. However, expecting the remaining workforce to work longer hours can have serious consequences.
A social worker has been awarded £175,000 in compensation on account of his stressful working conditions.
Between 1995 and 2004, David Walker, 63, worked as a manager of a team caring for people with physical disabilities. The team was understaffed and Mr Walker regularly worked 12 hour days and went into work at the weekends. Even working such long hours, he wasn’t able to keep up with the workload.
Mr Walker found it very difficult to cope with working under such pressure and in 2004 he suffered a heart attack. As a result, he was unable to return to work and subsequently became seriously depressed. He took early retirement at age 60 and made a personal injury claim against his former employer for his loss of earnings and the reduction in his pension as a result of retiring early.
The Hospital Trust admitted that it had negligently exposed Mr Walker to stressful working conditions. However, it did not agree that this was the cause of Mr Walker's heart attack and depression.
However, shortly before the case was due to be heard in court, the Trust offered Mr Walker £175,000 in settlement of his compensation claim.
The Health and Safety Executive publish a lot of useful guidance on stress at work.
A social worker has been awarded £175,000 in compensation on account of his stressful working conditions.
Between 1995 and 2004, David Walker, 63, worked as a manager of a team caring for people with physical disabilities. The team was understaffed and Mr Walker regularly worked 12 hour days and went into work at the weekends. Even working such long hours, he wasn’t able to keep up with the workload.
Mr Walker found it very difficult to cope with working under such pressure and in 2004 he suffered a heart attack. As a result, he was unable to return to work and subsequently became seriously depressed. He took early retirement at age 60 and made a personal injury claim against his former employer for his loss of earnings and the reduction in his pension as a result of retiring early.
The Hospital Trust admitted that it had negligently exposed Mr Walker to stressful working conditions. However, it did not agree that this was the cause of Mr Walker's heart attack and depression.
However, shortly before the case was due to be heard in court, the Trust offered Mr Walker £175,000 in settlement of his compensation claim.
The Health and Safety Executive publish a lot of useful guidance on stress at work.
