An Accident?…Where’s Compensation?

Tripping over umbrellas and tearing trousers:

The House of Commons paid £95 to an employee who tripped on an umbrella and £90 to another who ripped their trousers as part of more than £40,000 handed out in compensation over five years.

Between January 2008 and January 2013 employees have received a total of £44,609.49 in compensation, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.
"Personal injury compensation" for "slips, trips and falls" accounts for £42,550 and the rest relates to property damage.
This property damage includes £435.50 for five "ripped suit jackets" and £688.80 for an incident in March 2012 when a "security road blocker rose up under the rear of a car while waiting for the preceding vehicle to exit through gates".
An employee who incurred "damage to glasses due to a problem with door" was awarded £240 and £90 as handed out for "trousers ripped whilst connecting IT equipment under the table".
In 2009 an employee was paid £95 tripping on a colleague's umbrella but the House of Commons declined to give any more details of injury claims because the low number of staff involved may make it easy to identify them.
A similar Freedom of Information Request to the House of Lords showed that no claims for compensation had been made for the same time frame.
Matthew Sinclair, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "It is deeply depressing that the compensation culture has even found its way into the House of Commons.
"It's frankly ludicrous that taxpayers are footing the bill for when someone snags their clothing in Parliament.
"MPs should be doing their utmost to combat this culture of frivolous claims, not allowing it to flourish in their own back yard.'
The House of Commons declined said they employed 2,047 staff including IT staff who serve both Houses.
A spokesperson added: "The House of Commons, like the Civil Service, self-insures for employers' and public liability.
"The exemption from holding employers' liability insurance comes from the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.
"Directors General and Heads of Department have authority to decide on property damage claims with a value up to £250.
"All personal injury claims and property damage claims for £250 and upwards are managed centrally."