New proposal discusses employer liability for workplace-related suicides

A bill in the Chamber of Deputies proposes holding employers civilly liable for employee suicide or attempted suicide if related to work, such as harassment or conditions harmful to mental health.

A new bill under analysis in the Chamber of Deputies foresees the civil liability of employers in cases of employee suicide or attempted suicide if related to work – whether due to harassment or conditions harmful to the mental health of employees. The employer will be held liable even if the event occurs outside the workplace.

Bill 1077/25, authored by Deputy Alex Santana (Republicanos-BA), amends the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) to ensure that the employee's family can seek compensation for damages resulting from suicide as a work-related accident.

Alex Santana observes that suicide is a multidimensional event, resulting from a complex interaction between individual, social, and occupational factors.

"The suicide of a worker causes strong emotional and psychological distress to their family members, which justifies filing a compensation lawsuit," argues Santana. According to him, the change to the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) reinforces the employer's duty to compensate for damages when civil liability is proven.

The bill is being processed in a conclusive manner and will be analyzed by the Labor Committee; and the Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Committee. To become law, the measure needs to be approved by the deputies and senators.

Source: Agência Câmara de Notícias