Employers ‘could face discrimination claims’ for failing to take depression seriously

Posted 09/12/2010

Business owners have been warned that they could fall foul of employment law if they fail to take depression among their employees seriously.

A survey carried out by online therapy service Mentaline.com discovered that 39 per cent of employers struggle to see mental health problems as a real issue, while 52 per cent said they do not think depression is a good enough reason to take time off.

Furthermore, 68 per cent of bosses reported that they would be more inclined to be sympathetic towards a member of staff with a physical ailment than one with a mental illness.

Jesper Buch, founder of Mentaline.com, said the findings are shocking and warned companies that they could be leaving themselves wide open to discrimination claims from workers under the Disability Discrimination Act.

“Unfortunately, mental health is still a very taboo subject in many people’s eyes, but that needs to stop,” he added.

According to Direct Gov, anyone whose mental illness has a substantial, adverse and long-term effect on their ability to carry out their day-to-day activities is likely to be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act.