Research, conducted by Fox & Partners, the employment law specialists. found that the rise in disability discrimination claims has been eight times faster than the growth in all claims. The firm analysed figures from the Ministry of Justice which also showed that the total number of claims at Employment Tribunals increased by 4.3% to 178,990 in the last year, up from 171,630 in 2017. Mind, the mental health charity, described the tribunal figures as “shocking”. Ivor Adair, Partner at Fox & Partners, comments: “Discrimination claims related to stress and mental illness are fast becoming a new area of friction between employees and employers.” “Employers need to ensure they handle the pressures facing their employees in the correct way. Improved training amongst managers in dealing with mental illness can help them reduce the likelihood of claims by increasing awareness and helping them create ways to ameliorate them.” There are many kinds of humanitarian agencies and many kinds of humanitarian work. Each particular context creates a particular set of sources of stress, and the risks to individual staff and the resources they use can vary, as well. Yet a broad range of research suggests that staff in all of these situations face common challenges. Studies have documented a PTSD prevalence of 25% among search and rescue personnel responding to events such as earthquakes, airplane crashes, and bomb explosions, and a prevalence of 21% among firefighters (compared to 4% for the general population). Approximately 30% of international staff of five humanitarian aid and development agencies surveyed after their return from their assignments reported significant symptoms of PTSD. Among war journalists, a lifetime prevalence of over 28% for PTSD, 21% for major depression, and 14% for substance abuse has been reported, rates far higher than those for non-war journalists. There are now many charitable and industry led campaigns designed to raise awareness of mental health issues. Employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to any employee experiencing a disability under the Equality Act 2010, which can include a mental health problem if it has a substantial, adverse, and long-term effect on normal day-to-day activities. However, in order to benefit from the protection of the Act, employees have to disclose their disabilities. If you’re business is looking for support in this area please get in touch with us today.
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