Stress at work is undoubtedly a serious problem. Research released by the Health and Safety Commission last December found that 33 million "sickies" were taken in 2002 - with stress being the most common occupational health reason.

The number of employees who claim to be too stressed to work has almost tripled since 1996, but the Health and Safety Commission's research found little evidence to prove that the workplace had actually become more stressful.

This perhaps supports the view of many employers that stress, like back pain before it, is often given untruthfully by employees as a reason for being unfit.

Stress of course has no outwardly visible symptoms and this makes it more difficult for an employer to check the accuracy of what he is being told.

The difficulty of course is that many employees who claim to be stressed are utterly genuine and an employer ignores such people at his peril. So called "stress claims" tend to be divided between personal injury claims and employment claims and are generally expensive both in terms of legal costs and compensation.

Medical evidence, although expensive, will be worthwhile where the period of absence looks as if it may continue for some time. An appropriate report from a consultant psychiatrist is of assistance in determining the extent to which an employee is stressed and, if appropriate, the likely prognosis for recovery.

An employee who is genuinely sick with stress needs careful monitoring. Those whose reasons are found wanting should have their absences dealt with under the disciplinary procedure in the normal way.

They would also do well to remember that giving a false reason for absence amounts to dishonesty, which in the minds of most employers is inextricably linked with summary dismissal.

Published: 21/10/2003