Fusion Insurance is to provide free employee stress counselling and online advice for employers as part of all its policies.
It said the decision to provide the 24-hour service followed demand from brokers and a dramatic increase in the number of work-related stress claims faced by medium-sized employers.
Trained counsellors from DAS Legal Expenses will provide the service, said Fusion.
Fusion Insurance managing director Kevin Pallett, said: “Unfortunately as a result of today's ‘blame culture' people suffering from stress are looking for recompense, and in most instances that means claims against their employer.
“This, in turn, has ramifications for insurance advisers and employers' liability (EL) insurers. If steps are not taken to nip the problem in the bud, it may soon mutate into a full-blown crisis.”
But he said the rise in work-related stress provided brokers with an opportunity to demonstrate the value of their service by offering additional solutions to their clients.
“Brokers are in a unique position to provide invaluable advice to help employers fight the rise in stress related EL claims. Only by working together to put in place simple measures to help employees cope with pressure at work can we hope to reduce the cost of claims and premiums. Prevention is certainly far better than cure when it comes to stress.”
