A leading Bradford solicitor is urging bosses not to flout the law by "stressing out" their workforce.

Liz Henry, head of the employment law team at West Yorkshire solicitors Last Cawthra Feather, said: "Despite new rules and initiatives to make the workplace a safer and less stressful environment, trade union personal injury cases have risen steeply in the past year.

"One recent case saw two workers awarded more than £200,000 each for stress caused by their jobs.

"Stress has been regarded as a positive motivational force but employers can no longer ignore employees who clearly cannot cope with demands made on them in the workplace and must take compensation claims seriously." She said employers had a legal responsibility to ensure that they took all reasonable steps to provide a safe working environment and prevent any illness caused by the volume or type of work undertaken. Liz Henry, who works in the firm's Shipley office, added: "Employee stress has been increased by continual long hours and a change in the working environment due to feelings of job insecurity.

"It can also arise from personal and domestic circumstances over which the employer can have little or no responsibility."

She said bosses should look out for excessive hours at work, sick absences, erratic behaviour towards colleagues, increased error rates, poor decision-making and a lack of concentration.

She added: "Employers should ensure that they have systems in place making them aware of the pressures on employees and that they have procedures for communication with employees.

"A proactive approach to stress management will result in a more efficient workforce and may avoid costly claims."

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