These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications.
Q: Is stress a disability?
A: Stress certainly is an illness and you should study carefully the guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive to determine how to minimise and deal with it in your workplace.
However it is a disability, giving the sufferer protection under the Disability Discrimination Act, only if it has a significant adverse impact on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day outside work activities, and has lasted or is likely to last for at least twelve months. An employee who claims to be, or clearly is, suffering from stress should be referred for medical examination while you yourself should examine the job and the employee’s interaction with it.
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