Mental Health and the Law

Stress is also covered by health and safety legislation, as stress can put people at increased risk of developing a health condition, or of an existing health condition worsening. Employers have a legal duty to prevent stress and must consider it in their workplace risk assessments.

Stress can be a factor in personal injury claims against an employer, where an employee might be able to show work related stress caused a disability, worsened it or otherwise made them unwell.

Mental health is health... do you have risk assessments?

People in management and leadership roles have specific responsibilities in the prevention of stress in the workplace:

CEOs

HR Managers

Line Managers

The Health and Safety Executive issues guidance on Management Standards for Work Related Stress