01 April 2006

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has agreed to pay £138,000 to an ex-employee who claimed his job caused such severe stress and depression that he may never work again. Stephen Mellor, 58, won the out-of-court settlement after claiming that his employer, the then HM Customs & Excise, caused him "mental harm" while he worked as a senior manager at a VAT office in Droitwich, West Midlands.

Mellor began to suffer from stress and depression in 1998 after his management responsibilities were extended to cover three new offices. In 2001, the condition forced him to take four months off work. Though the department knew about his condition, when he returned his workload was increased again, making him responsible for 220 employees instead of 90. The new role required frequent travel between offices and Mellor was taking increasing amounts of anti-depressants, which made him drowsy and unsafe to drive. He requested early retirement but was refused and he was eventually forced to stand down for health reasons, after the department failed to find him another less stressful post.

Supported by the PCS public services union, Mellor brought a compensation claim against the department at Hereford County Court. But the department agreed the settlement  the day before proceedings were due to start.

Adam Wilson, of solicitors Russell Jones & Walker, said the settlement was a reflection of the distress and loss of earnings caused to his client by the department's actions. 

"Despite being open about his illness with his employers they added to the pressure on him and he became increasingly worried about not being able to do his job properly and letting down his colleagues," said Wilson. "During this time Mr Mellor's GP wrote that 'he is not coping with the stresses of his current job [and] if his post can be de-stressed he will be able to work more efficiently and effectively'."

HMRC issued a statement saying it wished to "give as much support as possible to our staff and we review the circumstances leading to claims against the organisation to ensure we learn from them and, where appropriate, change our policies and processes to reflect good employment practice."

Categories:
Public services, Stress/bullying, Enforcement (prosecutions), Mental health, Prosecutions, Enforcement (prosecutions)



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