More workers quit due to stress

MORE workers are leaving their jobs because of job-related stress and psychological hazards in employment are fast replacing the physical hazards, a conference was told yesterday

While many employees have paid attention to psychical injuries, some are unaware hey must also provide protection for their workers from stress, work overload, bullying and trauma.

According to Maurice Quinlan, director of the EAP Institute, which organised yesterday’s conference, many companies do not know they have a legal obligation to protect their employees from this type of harm and of the cost involved if they do not.

For instance, a social worker in Britain was awarded compensation of €200,000 after having left the job with a stress-related illness while a pharmaceutical rep in Ireland received €250,000 in compensation after having sued his employer for work overload.

“Employers must recognise that they have a duty of care to their employees to protect them from stress and work overload,” Mr Quinlan said.

According to Mr Quinlan workers can sue their employers if they do not put measures in place to deal with psychological-related illnesses

“If your employer overloads you with work, you suffer an injury and come back to work and nothing has changed then you can sue your employer.

“The fact that we live in a long-hours culture and stress is an accepted part of employment is not a valid excuse,” he added.