Employers are being warned to take urgent action after it emerged that two-fifths of employee claims management firms expect to see an increase in claims related to Covid-19 over the course of the coming year.
The waring comes after it also emerged that 70% of the same firms have already seen an upturn in new claims in the first month of the year.
The findings, from research by risk management and insurance brokerage firm Gallagher among 200 claims management companies, 1,000 senior business leaders and 2,000 employees, show that 12% of claims so far have been related to employees who feel overworked or unsupported in their role.
Almost one in ten (9%) were linked to poor working conditions, including a lack of access to PPE.
A similar number (8%) involved cases of alleged discrimination while 4% involved alleged unfair dismissal.
More than half (52%) of business leaders polled for the research admit to being “seriously concerned” about the potential of being sued by staff who believe they contracted coronavirus on their premises.
Reacting to the figures, Eugene Farrell, UK chair of the Employee Assistance Providers Association (EAPA) said that it is a basic requirement for organisations to be aware of the latest advice on keeping workplaces safe to work in, and to avoid making unreasonable demands on their people in terms of going back into workplaces when it is not necessary.
Farrell said: “But the best employers will be the ones who work on creating a positive and genuinely supportive working environment – whether from home or in the workplace. Offering an EAP and actively building up awareness of EAP services is an important part of that culture.
“Litigation in these times is a threat to any employer. But resorting to legal action will always feel far less necessary, or even appropriate, among those staff who know they can raise their issues, that they will be listened to, and that they’re part of an organisation with an interest in and commitment to wellbeing.”