Stress At Work Claims

Updated: November 23, 2025

Reviewed by: Stephen Hussey

Updated: November 23, 2025

Reviewed by: Stephen Hussey

Accident at Work Lawyer

Stephen is an Accident at Work Lawyer from one of our panel law firms, with over 20 years of legal experience behind him.

Stress at work claims

In truth, work-related stress is something no employee should have to endure. However, many do so in silence because they are unaware of their employee rights or they feel uncomfortable doing anything about it. At The Compensation Experts, we work together with personal injury lawyers with specialist knowledge in stress at work claims and compensation law. 

In short, we can help you recover and move on with your life. 

For instance, you may have a pre-existing mental health condition your employer hasn’t made sufficient provision to support. Regardless of your circumstances, you can rely on our friendly advisers. We’ll provide a sympathetic ear together with expert advice on making a stress at work claim. 

What is a stress at work claim? 

A stress at work claim is a type of personal injury claim that can be brought against an employer if an employee has suffered significant stress due to their workplace environment or conditions.  

What are the symptoms of workplace stress? 

Workplace stress can have a significant impact on an individual, and it’s important to note that symptoms will vary from person to person. Symptoms of work-related stress and stress-related illnesses can include the following: 

• Insomnia; 

• Panic attacks; 

• Headaches; 

• Nausea; 

• Hair and weight loss, and; 

• Feeling irrationally irritable or close to tears. 

If you’ve been affected by workplace stress, get in touch with our advisers on 0800 182 2194, who can tell you whether you have a valid stress at work claim.  

What are the causes of stress at work claims? 

Below are some examples of situations that might lead to an employee suffering from workplace stress: 

• Unsafe working conditions  

• Unrealistic deadlines or an excessive workload. 

• An unfair level of scrutiny or monitoring that makes working life difficult. 

• Inadequate training or support . 

• Physical, sexual, or emotional harassment or bullying by colleagues or customers. 

The duty of an employer to protect you 

An employer’s duty to minimise the occurrence of stress at work is covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This law states, in short, that the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure the working environment is safe. 

Other legislation dictates employers need to carry out appropriate risk assessments. In addition, they must make reasonable adjustments to provide for employees who suffer from stress. They must also protect those who have an underlying condition which makes them susceptible to occupational stress. 

An example of a successful work-related stress compensation claim dates back to 2006. Correspondingly, a retail manager working a 90 hour week had his request for an assistant denied. He suffered a stress-related breakdown and was unable to return to work. 

The retail manager’s employer was found to be liable. In essence, they could have reasonably foreseen that working such long hours was unsustainable and would lead to physical and mental health issues. 

Making a stress at work claim 

At The Compensation Experts, we work with personal injury solicitors experienced in successfully obtaining compensation for work-related stress and stress at work claims. We appreciate that deciding to pursue compensation when you are already feeling stressed is not an easy decision to make. 

Our team promises to do all we can to make the process straightforward and pain-free. We’ll select lawyers who will keep you in the know without all the “legalese.” Moreover, we’ll fight on your behalf until your claim gets a resolution. 

Work-related stress may be considered a psychiatric injury but the same principles as a physical injury apply to an application, which is proving that you have suffered an illness or injury and that your employer’s negligence or mistake caused it. 

Contact The Compensation Experts today, and also be sure to ask about how we can help you with our No Win No Fee* service 

*Typically, customers pay 25% including VAT of the compensation amount that is recovered by our third-party law firms, although this is subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be more or less than this. Termination fees may apply if you do not keep to the terms of the agreement.    

Frequently asked questions about stress at work claims 

How do I prove a stress at work claim? 

Stress at work claims, in general are rarely a straightforward process. Psychiatric damage is harder to prove than bodily harm as the injury is not visible in the same way. However, the support of a specialist personal injury solicitor can help you make a stress at work claim.  

To make a successful stress at work claim, you’ll need to demonstrate that your employer failed in their duty to protect you. Gathering as much evidence as possible will help strengthen your case. This might include medical records, occupational health reports and any relevant correspondence with your employer.  

Is there a time limit on making a stress at work claim?  

As with other personal injury claims, there is a time limit on making a stress at work claim of three years from when you suffered a psychiatric injury, but there are some exceptions to this time limit.  

If you’re unsure whether you are within the timeframe for making a claim, get in touch and our team can let you know if you’re eligible to make a stress at work claim.  

What is the average payout for stress at work claims? 

It can be difficult to say exactly how much compensation you will receive for a stress at work claim, as it will depend on a range of factors including the severity of your condition and the impact it has had on your life. However, below are some examples of the compensation you might receive, based on the Judicial College Guidelines – 17th edition:  

For cases involving severe psychiatric damage, where the employee has marked problems in coping with life, education or work, their relationships with others are affected, and their prognosis is very poor, compensation can be between £66,920 and £141,240. 

In less serious cases of psychological injury, where prognosis is better, but the person still struggles significantly with life, relationships or work, compensation might be awarded of between £23,270 and £66,920. This bracket covers cases of work-related stress where there has been a permanent or long-standing disability which prevents the individual from returning to a comparable type of work.  

In cases where the injury level is classed as moderate, where prognosis is good and improvement has been shown, compensation settlements tend to be between £7,150 and £23,270. 

In less severe cases of psychiatric damage, stress claim payouts might be in the range of £1,880 to £7,150.

How Much Could I Claim?

The value of your compensation will depend on your circumstances. We work with our partner law firms to understand typical claims criteria.

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