Desk-bound worker suffered blood clot
An administrator who suffered a life-threatening blood clot from long hours sitting at her desk has received a "substantial" sum in compensation.
Angela Lamberton, 53, of Leicester's West End, will have to take medication for the rest of her life to avoid another potentially fatal clot from developing.
Angela, an administrative assistant for HM Revenue and Customs in Charles Street, Leicester, developed the clot behind her knee after her working routine was changed so she was effectively tied to her desk.
Targets were set and routines changed so staff no longer had to leave their desk to complete work.
Angela had suffered a previous blood clot and, although it was successfully treated and she no longer had to take medication, she was told by doctors to take breaks from her desk every 15 minutes.
The old work routine meant she was naturally taking those breaks to collect work from the printer.
When the new system was put in place she complained to her line manager but was told she must abide by the new rules.
Within weeks she started to suffer pains in her legs. Her GP diagnosed a blood clot and she had to receive emergency treatment to disperse it.
She must now take blood-thinning medication on a daily basis and wear specialist stockings.
She is too frightened to fly in case she develops another clot and when driving must stop every hour to stretch her legs.
She must attend the hospital every four weeks and still suffers from tired and painful legs.
She said: "My whole life has been changed. I'm terrified of flying and, if we drive anywhere, it takes a long time because we have to take so many breaks.
"My legs are sore and what used to be a 20-minute walk to work now takes me over an hour.
"I felt I had no choice but to accept the new working system because my complaints were dismissed.
"Now I will be on medication the rest of my life and the fear that I will develop another blood clot will always be with me."
Angela had to take four months off work. She contacted the Public and Commercial Services Union, which instructed Thompson's solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation.
HM Revenue and Customs admitted liability and settled out of court.
Pete Lockhart, national officer for HMRC at the PCS, said: "It is disgraceful that Angela's complaints were ignored despite her medical history. It is a classic case of management putting targets above their staff's health. It should never have taken the threat of legal action for Angela to be allowed to take a break from her desk."
Peter Magee, from Thompsons Solicitors, added: "Angela must live with the threat of another potentially fatal blood clot for the rest of her life. She argued that the new working system was damaging her health but was ignored. Employers must make sure they take into account their employee's physical ability to undertake a job and must be prepared to make allowances."
An HMRC spokesman said: "We cannot comment on individual cases. However, as an employer of 83,000 staff HMRC takes staff welfare very seriously, ensuring we implement all work place legislation and work closely with trade unions."
15 Comments
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by Raj, Leicester
Thursday, July 16 2009, 2:34PM
“I agree ........ Some of the comments are appalling, unkind and uncalled for.
I have worked in some companies that monitor everything you do so that they can average out your work load by timing every thing you do to make things more efficient. Just from the fear of that you are unheard by the managers as they are under the pressure.
Until you have gone through this you truly do not understand the restrictions you are under.”
by Victoria, Anstey
Thursday, July 16 2009, 1:41PM
“I cannot belivee that the HMRC were so callous to deny her the " breaks" As for her claim that the clot developed after being told that she was tied? to her desk it beggers belief. Im tied to my desk but have regular breaks for a drink, loo, photocopier. Does the HMRC not let their staff go to the loo, have a coffee etc. There is more to this story than is being said and I believe that she has simply jumped on the bandwagon for compensation. I AGREE WITH DONNA THE LADY IN QUESTION COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH MORE TO HELP HERSELF AND HAS TO TAKE SOME OF THE BLAME HERSELF. When are we all going to take responsibility for our own actions”
by Carl, Leicester
Thursday, July 16 2009, 1:13PM
“I guarantee if someone said people in the armed forces shouldn't receive compensation if they get seriously hurt because they knew the risks involved there would be a lynch mob. Whether or not people should claim compensation is one thing but the end of the day they are lawfully allowed to do so and its the system which is to blame not the person claiming.”
by Donna, Syston
Thursday, July 16 2009, 12:40PM
“When flying you are told to move your feet & legs every so often, which can be done sitting down. noticing. Surely this lady would have known about these exercises if she's had the condition before & could have done them at her desk without anyone noticing. Shame on you Angela for claiming compensation when you yourself could have helped the situation.”
by Melody, LEICESTER
Thursday, July 16 2009, 12:25PM
“I am aghast and appauled that there are so many people these days that find they have to write such bitter comments about a lady ,they do not know and do not know the full details of her condition.
I think most are just jealous that someone has received compensation which has been awarded fairly.
I congratulate her for her bravery to carry on with the case against her employer.
In this hard financial climate it is worrying about challenging your employer in fear of losing your job.
I am very lucky that I work for an understanding company as I have had to deal with a life threatening condition for the last 10 years.
Sadly there are more and more jobs these days where you are tied to your desk without regular breaks which is unfair and not good for health for anyone.
I do wish people would stop and think and consider that one day they might be in a similar situation, and to have strangers criticising on top would not help at all.”
by Tru Don, LE1
Thursday, July 16 2009, 11:25AM
“To Sahree, Iain Campbell, Paul and Tim, what are you guys on? this lady could have died but all you guys care about is that she claimed compensation. Sounds rather jealous to me. Be honest now, if it happened to you because of your employer not allowing regular breaks, would you claim compensation?
By the way Pam you are right about those managers!”
by ls, leicester
Thursday, July 16 2009, 11:18AM
“I find it hard to believe that walking to the printer every now and again can stop a blood clot? If this is the case, why not take a trip to the toilet every now and again. Or better still on your hour lunch break have a walk around town!!”
by Michelle, Leicester
Thursday, July 16 2009, 11:13AM
“I fail to understand why people feel that they have a right to belittle, condemn and judge other people. I have had a comparable experience and suffered blood clots, what people (who do not know what they are talking about) fail to realize is that this can be potentially fatal, I am still having ongoing treatment and in a considerable amount of pain every single day, The question is, would you consider suing an airline if you or someone you cared about suffered a blood clot after a long flight, after all it WAS your choice to go on that plane!”
by malcolm, Cornwall
Thursday, July 16 2009, 10:44AM
“If this lady and, presumably, all fo her colleagues were " tied " to their desks then how is it that the Leicester offices of HMRC have the worst reputation for being the slowest and most incompetent of all the UK offices?. Also, will all of her colleagues now make a claim?”
by pam, oadby
Thursday, July 16 2009, 10:42AM
“i'm glad ms lamberton has rec'd some compensation but why should the taxpayer cough up? why don't these fatcat public sector managers put their money where their mouths are and take responsibility by paying out themselves? cos they'd all be skint they're incompetent so often, that's why, even with their fatcat wages which they could never get in the private sector. if you don't believe me, ask anyone who works in the public sector what they think of their managers!”