As of May 12, 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has introduced a free online learning module to help employers get to grips with the risk assessment of work-related stress.
Launched in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May), the initiative builds on HSE Working Minds campaign, which helps companies minimise stress at work and promote mental health.
HSE introduces free online learning modules
Kayleigh Roberts of HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division, said “Preventing work-related stress is not just the right thing to do for your workers—it is also a legal requirement.
“Our new online learning module is designed to help companies, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, better understand their responsibilities and what they must do on a practical level.”
“This is not about ticking boxes. It is about embedding good practices into everyday business operations. By taking a proactive approach, employers can improve productivity, reduce sickness absence, and retain their valued workers.”
“The module provides all the practical templates, tools and resources needed to get started or to review existing practices.”
Areas related to workplace stress:
HSE highlights six fundamental areas that can lead to work-related stress if not managed properly: demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change.
Companies are urged to help the risk assessment process by implementing the 5Rs method from the Working Minds campaign:
- Reach out and have conversations.
- Recognise the signs and causes of stress.
- Respond to risks by agreeing action points.
- Reflect on the actions taken.
- Make it a Routine to check in regularly.
How do I register for the free HSE online modules?
Employers can access downloadable templates, useful resources, and step-by-step guidance by registering for the online learning module.
To learn more about the Working Minds campaign and to get resources, go to the campaign’s website.
Frequently asked questions:
What do I do if I am suffering from stress at work?
The most important thing before any financial claim is to prioritise your own health.
If you are concerned about how you are coping with stress at work, we would encourage you to speak to your GP. They have a wealth of experience and knowledge regarding mental ill-health.
To manage stress at work, seek help from a trusted confidant. Employers are not responsible for diagnosing or treating stress, but they can direct you to internal support programs.
If you’ve been struggling, explain your issues calmly to your employer. Having a record of raised issues can be helpful in making a claim.
If you’ve tried to bring stress to your employer’s attention but still suffer, contact us for a free, confidential assessment.
Do I have a claim?
Elevated levels of stress over a period of time runs the risk of damaging mental health to the extent that medical intervention is required. Employers have a legal obligation to take measures to support both the physical and mental wellbeing of staff.
Common stress at work claims can include:
- Workplace bullying – Physical or verbal abuse, being belittled, excluded, malicious pranks, aggressive and passive-aggressive treatment, etc.
- Harassment at work – Threats, physical, verbal, and sexual assault, attacks on ‘protected’ characteristics, and some of the behaviours listed under workplace bullying.
- Lack of training – Pressure of doing a job and do it well, having been offered insufficient or zero training.
- Excessive workload – Having far too much work for one person to manage. This can affect both and personal life.
- Denial of rights – Such as toilet, coffee or lunch breaks, permission to attend medical appointments, unreasonably required to stay after hours, etc.
- Unfairly applied policies or procedures – Selective enforcement of rules, unreasonable demands, or being singled out to do something when you are unable to do.
- Having mental health issues ignored – When your employer has full disclosure about a mental health condition, yet they do not make satisfactory adjustments to accommodate your needs within the workplace.
Compensation is pursued in the county courts against an employer who has failed in their legal duties to keep their employee mentally safe at work despite being aware that risks were present, causing harm to that employee’s health.
What is the criteria for a stress at work claim?
You must legally prove that you have not only suffered workplace stress, but that the stress meets the clinical criteria for a recognised psychiatric condition. If so, you would be able to claim compensation known as general damages – compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the negligence.
If the symptoms meet the criteria, the court uses guidance called the Judicial Studies Board Guidelines (JCG) as a starting point, which considers the following:
- The injured person’s ability to cope with life and work.
- The effect on the injured person’s relationships with family, friends, and those with whom he or she comes into contact.
- The extent to which treatment would be successful.
- Future vulnerability
- Prognosis
- Whether medical help has been sought
How much is my claim worth?
The section of the Judicial Studies Board Guidelines (JCG) covering psychiatric injury claims has four compensation brackets:
- Severe – The most extreme of cases, where the outlook for someone’s recovery is extremely poor (£54,830.00 – £115,730.00).
- Moderately severe – Symptoms amount to a disability affecting someone’s life in a permanent or long-standing way, preventing a return to comparable employment (£19,070.00 – £54,830.00).
- Moderate – Symptoms have affected daily life, work, and relationships but where medical evidence opines that substantial progress towards recovery will be made by the time of trial. The extent that treatment will assist recovery, alongside future vulnerability to relapse is also assessed (£5,860.00 – £19,070.00).
- Less severe – Usually where the duration of symptoms are less than twelve months, and the extent to which the symptoms have affected someone’s daily activities and sleep is low level (£1,540.00 – £5,860.00).
Most cases of this nature fall within the moderate or moderately severe categories. The court considers similar trialled cases to determine where a case may fall regarding the compensation bracket.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) cases – the court has additional separate guidance from the above.
- Special damages – Can cover out-of-pocket expenses such as lost earnings, travel, medication, and treatment costs, etc.
Claims for both past and anticipated future losses can be made. This list is not exhaustive and is very case-specific.
Why use Oakwood Solicitors Ltd to Support my stress at work claim?
Claims for psychiatric injury arising from work-related stress is a very complex area of law. At Oakwood Solicitors Ltd, we have a dedicated and specialised team to help you.
With the majority of the team having a qualification in mental health (a TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems), we fully appreciate the difficulties those suffering from a mental health condition at work may face, particularly in the case of workplace stress.
Whether it’s an ongoing or a historic issue, we are here to help and will carry out a free initial assessment with no obligation to take a claim forward.
Further information:
HSE provides free online learning to help employers tackle work-related stress.
Mental Health Awareness Week.
Oakwood Solicitors Stress at work claims.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 323 3909 to find out how we can help you.
Laura Astle joined Oakwood Solicitors in April 2025 as a Psychiatric Injury Paralegal. She holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Southampton and graduated with distinction in her MA Law deg…
