Catherwood LibraryILR School

In a major move to stem the rising tide of work-related stress claims (see WIT for October 22, 2001), the British appeal court ruled yesterday in favor of employer defendants in three separate cases---overturning lower court decisions in favor of the employee plaintiffs. The court established new guidelines in such cases, including ?normal? job pressures, forseeability, and ?willing employee? defenses that form a threshold employees will now have to pass in order to mount successful cases. The National Union of Teachers---which represents the employees in two of the cases---although still entertaining the possibility of an appeal, has voiced a belief that the decisions are, for the most part, fair.