Counting cost in the workplace
John Walker, a social worker, was the first British employee to prove that working conditions caused his breakdown. The High Court ruled in 1966 that Northumberland County Council failed to reduce his workload and he won £175,000
In 2001, 6,428 companies were forced to pay out on stress-related damages claims, with an average award of £51,000
6.5 million sick days are being taken every year as a result of stress. Nearly 150,000 workers have taken at least a month off
The Confederation of British Industry estimates that stress costs employers £4 billion a year
Workers in large public sector organisations are absent for 12.9 days a year, a third higher than staff absences in the private sector.
(From 'The Times' August 17, 2003)
