Stress & Mental Health Adjustment Letter Template & Generator

If you need to request workplace adjustments for work-related stress or mental health under employer duty of care, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong stress & mental health adjustment should include, plus a free tool to generate yours.

What this letter needs to cover

• Confirm the impact of stress or mental health on work
• Reference the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 stress risk assessment duty and the Equality Act 2010 reasonable adjustments duty if the condition amounts to a disability
• Set out the specific adjustments requested
• Request a stress risk assessment

Your employer's duty of care around work-related stress

Employers have a legal duty of care to protect employees' health, including mental health — this means genuinely assessing and addressing causes of work-related stress, not simply expecting employees to cope. If your workload, working hours, or workplace relationships are causing significant stress, you're entitled to raise this formally and request adjustments.

What to include before you send it

• A clear, honest description of the stress you're experiencing and its likely causes
• How this is affecting your work and wellbeing
• Specific adjustments you believe would help — reduced workload, changed deadlines, or additional support
• A request for this to be discussed and addressed formally

Why documenting this matters, even informally at first

A written record of raising work-related stress creates an important reference point — if things don't improve and your health is affected further, this letter demonstrates that your employer was made aware and had an opportunity to act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a doctor's diagnosis before raising this?
No — you can raise workplace stress concerns without a formal diagnosis, though medical evidence can strengthen your case if the situation escalates or specific adjustments are needed.

Could stress-related adjustments fall under disability discrimination law?
If stress develops into a diagnosed mental health condition that has a substantial, long-term effect on your daily life, this could meet the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010, bringing additional legal protections.

See our full letter template & generator library for related letters, or use our free checkers for guidance specific to your situation.