Teacher's 'stress' win could prompt a rush

Published on Thursday 29 December 2005 00:05

TEACHERS' leaders have warned of an explosion in the amount of money paid out in compensation for stress after details of a record settlement to one member of staff were revealed.

Figures released by Scotland's biggest teaching union showed that one of their members received an out-of-court payment of 50,000 in the past year.

Details of the teacher and the council involved have not been revealed, although it is understood that the claim related to excessive workload.

In total, nearly 250,000 was paid out as a result of industrial accidents or attacks against staff in 2004-5, down slightly on the year before.

Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said increasing numbers of their members are having to take time off work due to stress.

He warned that unless more was done to tackle issues such as classroom indiscipline, large class sizes and increasing teacher workloads, more councils would be faced with stress claims.

He said: "Occupational stress is a major problem facing teachers and lecturers. This particular out-of-court settlement is a small but significant victory for the EIS because we believe it will lead to more cases in the future.

"We expect to see an increase in this type of case because teachers are becoming more aware of the fact they can seek compensation in circumstances like this, coupled to the fact that stress is on the increase. Local authorities need to take their responsibilities very seriously."

The Rev Ewan Aitken, education spokesman for local authority umbrella group COSLA, said: "Councils are aware of pressures teachers are under, and they provide things like stress helplines and occupational therapy."

Among the other compensation payments in 2004-5 were 5,500 to a teacher who slipped on a wet floor and 2,000 to a teacher assaulted by a pupil.