Stress

It is recognised that a certain amount of stress is good for everyone. However, when that stress becomes excessive then it can be very counter-productive. Examples of symptoms could include:

• Illness;
• Depression;
• Emotional problems;
• Insomnia;
• Loss of appetite;
• Irritability.

If you are suffering from work related stress then there are things that you can do and things that your employer is legally obliged to do to try and alleviate the causes of that stress. These include:

• Meetings to establish and explores the causes of the stress;
• Investigate any work based issues raised;
• Obtain medical reports from your G.P. (this requires your written consent) or from an Occupational Health Doctor (or similar);
• Review your role and the job practices/procedures to see if they can be reasonably amended to alter some of the problems (these amendments could be short or long term).

Stress may lead to absence related problems, which in themselves could lead to dismissal. Failure by your employer to carry out their obligations could render that dismissal unfair. See the Dismissal page for more details of this.

If you want specific advice about your particular circumstances please follow the 'Ask the Experts' link, complete the form and submit it to us. We will respond to you within 2 working days. If your enquiry is more urgent than that, please ring us on the number above.