iVillage logo
Search iVillage
Home & Garden
Food & Drink
Work & Money
Travel
Beauty & Fashion
Diet & Fitness
Health
Entertainment
Relationships
Pregnancy
Parenting
Horoscopes
Christmas party pulling
How to nab a man this season
Cracking Christmas getaways
Get in the festive spirit
Christmas parties
How to survive the office bash
Work & Money 
  |  Succeeding & Surviving  |  Stress  |  Too stressed to continue
Advertisement
Topics
Succeeding & Surviving
Leadership
Office Politics
Working Environment
Pay Rises and Money
Personal Development
Confidence
Promotion
Productivity & Personal Skills
Stress
Finding a Job
Community
Computers and Internet
Money
Office Culture
Starting a business
Work-Life Balance
Hot stuff
Get the Christmas party started
Visit Grotto Fabulous!
Play celebrity baby match
Is debt affecting you?
5 thrifty savings tips
Avoid identity fraud
Bargain buys!
How frugal are you?
Top tips from Peter Jones
Competitions
Special offers
Newsletters
Sign up for FREE!




 
Promotions
Party central
From party frocks to invites and Christmas cocktails, we've got everything you need to throw a fabulous party

Too stressed to continue

by Work Rights Expert, Rachel Lewis

question
I currently work in a residential home for the elderly. My concern is that we very often work below the required staffing levels, and at times with agency staff new to the environment. I am becoming increasingly stressed in this situation and I'm looking for alternative employment, but would like to know my rights at this time. What rights would I have if I said I was no longer prepared to work under such pressure?
Julie

answer
Hi Julie
You poor thing - it sounds like you are having a hard time. There are certain duties that are owed to an employee by an employer, and one of these is a duty relating to safety. Recent developments have introduced an obligation on employers to monitor the risk of both physical and mental hazards that employees are under at work. An employer should therefore take action to prevent an employee from suffering psychological damage as a result of stress at work.

Another duty owed to an employee is one of trust and confidence. It is arguable that by asking you to work in such a stressful and understaffed environment your employer is in breach of this.

As a starting point, I would suggest that you speak to your manager and tell him/her your concerns and the effect that the stressful situation is having on you. It is possible that some action can be taken to alleviate the pressure.

Live Q&A on Ask The Expert
Employment lawyer Rachel Lewis advises on your work-related issues

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon