The law explained: When is a manager responsible for stress and depression at work?

We don’t expect line managers to be experts in mental health, no more than we expect them to be barristers at law, but we do expect them to manage employee issues and observe changes in behaviour or performance.

An employer has a duty of care to provide a safe and stress-free place of work. There are also disability laws, implied duty of care laws and health and safety implications where an employer fails to observe the welfare of staff.

Above all, if stress/anxiety is caused by something occurring in the workplace, the employer needs to take immediate action and investigate. An employer should not wait for a formal complaint to be submitted before embarking on a workplace investigation.