LRD guides and handbook April 2014

Stress and mental health at work - a guide for trade union reps

Chapter 3

Providing a counselling service

[ch 3: page 29]

Providing a counselling service will not of itself excuse an employer from liability for injury caused by workplace stress (Intel Corporation (UK) Limited [2007] IRLR 355 HL). This was reiterated in Dickins v O2 plc [2008] EWCA Civ 1144. Many large employers, as well as some unions, do offer valuable confidential counselling services for stress.