May 26, 2015
• Definition: Work related stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work.
• There is a clear distinction between pressure which can be a motivating factor, and stress, which can occur when this pressure becomes excessive.
• In recent years, work‐related stress claims have been one of the fastest growing segments of the workers’ compensation system.
• Employers continue to receive an increasing number of occupationally induced stress claims from their employees.
• This epidemic has caused an upward spiral in insurance costs to investigate, defend and prevent these claims.
• Legal burdens of proof, various types of stress claims and available benefits.
• Assisting employers, risk managers, safety directors and insurance representatives in handling the defense of these claims to reduce or eliminate costs.
• These claims are often difficult to take forward because of the general principle that an employer is entitled to assume that an employee can cope with the normal pressures of work unless the employer is otherwise notified.
2010/2011 Report:
• 211,000 new cases of work related stress, depression or anxiety reported in the previous 12 months;
• 400 000 employees report work related stress at a level they believe is making them ill;
• Each case of work related stress leads to an average of 27 days off work;
• A total of 10.8 million working days were lost to work related stress.