Stress at work

Harding v The Pub Estate Co Ltd CA SJ 27 May

The claimant was an experienced publican whom the defendant appointed as manager of a public house in a rough area to increase its profitability. The claimant worked hard and extremely long hours. Eighteen months after his appointment the claimant suffered a heart attack which he alleged was caused by the defendant’s negligence by expecting him to work long hours under stress at a public house that was rife with criminal activity His evidence was that he was exhausted and physically frightened in his job. The claimant had to show that the defendant knew that the stress at work was likely to cause injury to his health and found in favour of the claimant.