Opponents of reform of employment law often assert that there is no need to reform it since if employers were only to follow the fair procedures required to improve performance or conduct before dismissing, then all would be well.

I'm not so sure about this, since I fear there may be a causal link between the application of disciplinary and capability procedures and the latest well-publicised concern that stress-related absence is now the leading cause of sickness absence in the UK.

I say this because in my experience of working with voluntary and public sector organisations as an advisor, something like seven out of 10 employees told they will be subject to these procedures become ill with stress and get signed off by their GPs, often for several months.

It's a real worry that procedures designed to protect individuals' rights and interests could in fact be making them ill...