Ben Doherty

Ben Doherty, head of employment law at Lindsays, said that companies risk lawsuits if they fail to support staff wellbeing.

He warned that employers should ensure employees have the proper equipment and do not feel isolated or over-stretched.

“I am aware of a lot of [corporate] clients who are not being as pro-active as others,” he said.

“Clients who are not doing anything different for people working in different environments. They are assuming what worked on March 15 works on August 15. It is not good enough.”

Mr Doherty said that with the situation likely to continue for another year, firms had to ensure staff were coping.

He added that staff who have developed depression or anxiety and have had to take sick leave could take legal action. He warned, however, that such cases were difficult to bring.