County-based employment law expert Paul Bennett said today he had seen an increase in inquiries looking for guidance on the most appropriate way to address stress levels among workers adding that ill-health was “something of a minefield” for bosses.

And he warned that firms could be liable if they did not act when aware an employee had difficult personal issues by ignoring the possible impact it could have on their work.

“Employers do need to understand the implications of managing employees who may have stress in their life outside work,” he warned. “They must give employees with stressful lives “appropriate” levels of work.

“I have noticed that stress cases have significantly increased in the last ten years and it is becoming more of an issue for employers.

“As an employer you are not liable for causing stress outside of the workplace but your reaction to it, once you are aware of it, is very much an area in which you must take responsibility.

“You cannot ignore the impact it could have on a worker’s ability to carry out their job and to deal with the pressures of the workplace.”

Mr Bennett added that ill-health and dealing with sickness could often create multiple issues for employers to consider and the legislation often left them facing a delicate balancing act to get it right.

“It can seem like employers are negotiating a bit of a tightrope at times.

Obtaining a medical report often helps employers and often clarifies wider, underlying issues and situations where employees fail to follow medical advice or heed the warning signs in their personal life.

It’s easy for a stressed employee to blame the employer as this shifts responsibility onto someone else but a medical report often highlights this issue and helps manage the employee more effectively and reduces the chances of a Tribunal or Court claim.

“It is important for employers to take the stress risk into consideration as we have seen such issues escalating in recent years and in all tiers of a workforce. Those from the shop floor right to director level are now more than ever prepared to say they feel stressed and that they would like and can expect support from their employer.”