Employers could be liable for a significant compensation award if their refusal to allow a worker to take rest breaks causes personal injury. The EAT has ruled that compensation can be awarded for personal injury suffered as a result of being denied rest breaks as required by the Working Time Regulations, where the denial caused an employee with an underlying medical condition to suffer physical distress and discomfort. This was not prohibited by an earlier Court of Appeal ruling that no injury to feelings award is available for such breaches. On the facts, an award of £750 for a refusal to allow rest breaks over 14 working days was not excessive and, given the low value of the case, could be awarded in the absence of medical evidence. (Grange v Abellio London Ltd)
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