Two social workers win damages for stress

Two former social services employees have won over £100,000
in damages from Cumbria Council for the work-related stress they
experienced which lead to them losing their jobs.

Newcastle county court awarded former day service officers Janet
Melling and Jean Chadwick £51,414 and £60,348
respectively.

The pair had worked for the council’s Furness and Cartmell
day service units, which were dispersed into several sites, before
working at its Grange unit. They complained about increased
workloads and staff shortages before being absent from work with
stress-related illnesses.