Workers shy away from standing up for their rights in the workplace

Workers are embarrassed about making negligence claims in the workplace, according to a new survey.

Workers are embarrassed about making negligence claims in the workplace, according to a new survey.
Although 120,000 injuries were reported in the workplace last year, a quarter of people surveyed said they would not make a claim if they were seriously injured using faulty or unsuitable equipment in the workplace.
Muiris Lyons, president of not-for-profit campaign organisation the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), said: ”Many of us may have suffered  an injury through no fault of our own at work but in the workplace there seems to be a real reluctance to make a claim in cases of negligence.
”Most employees will have built up a rapport with their employer over a period of time and if a case of negligence occurs in the workplace, some individuals could feel embarrassed or think that there may be a stigma attached if they are seen making a claim against their employer.
”Some may fear that if they make a claim, their career may be put at risk or that they might be looked upon as a trouble maker.”
The research, commissioned by APIL and undertaken by Opinion Matters, was carried out among 1,151 adults living in the UK.
”There seems to be a perception that those making personal injury negligence claims are taking advantage of an unfortunate situation,” said Lyons.
”And yet the reality is that the negative stigma attached to individuals making a claim if they’re injured in the workplace is an unfair one.
”People are right to make a claim if they are injured through an employer’s negligence – it’s an employer’s duty to keep employees safe in the workplace.  Employees should therefore be able to feel empowered to stand up for their rights when it comes to cases of negligence at work.”

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