‘Traditional’ occupational stress claims

These are cases where the claimant has suffered a distinct psychiatric injury as a result of pressures or stresses experienced in the workplace. ‘Occupational stress’ is a label that reflects the background against which the psychiatric illness has developed: it is not an indication of any particular type of illness.

Any recognised psychiatric illness that has foreseeably developed as a result of stresses encountered in the workplace can, in principle, found an occupational stress claim. If the claimant is simply suffering from occupational stress (ie stress at work), and does not have a recognisable psychiatric injury, they will not have a claim of this kind. See Practice Note: Recognised psychiatric illness.

What constitutes occupational stress?

The Health and Safety Executive uses the term 'stress' and defines it as the 'adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of