Stress Management

The negative effects of stress are fast becoming one of the most critical factors affecting the well-being of employees in the workplace today. Many UK businesses are seeking inexpensive and convenient ways of combating this occupational hazard. Stress is widely recognised as one of the most common causes of absence from work.

Several research studies and surveys have been commissioned in the United Kingdom with reference to the issue of workplace stress. It has been concluded that the majority of UK businesses have a significant problem on their hands and unless they take steps to address it, it will begin to impact on their overall performance. Stress has become one of the most important health issues facing organisations today. Businesses are operating in an increasingly harsh and competitive environment. Many are living with very small margins and tight cash flows. Investors, suppliers and customers are taking an increasing interest in companies' health and safety performance. Companies' health policies should also incorporate measures for managing workplace stress.

Our Stress workshop is designed to help identify the stress factors in your life, and give coping skills for helping to deal with it. Whilst we have mentioned stress in the workplace, this workshop is suitable for anyone who wants help to identify the things that stress them, and how to cope.

The Workshop is 4hrs at a cost of £30.00 per person - for further details call Denise: 0770 445 1656 or Mena: 0787 907 1290

(If you are suffering from stress or anxiety and would not want to participate in a workshop, we can of course work with you individually at our usual session rate)

Facts and Figures on effects of stress

• An article in the Sunday Times has reported that stress related problems can reduce business profits by up to 10%. Current estimates suggest that UK employers lose £20 billion from missed deadlines, sick pay and poor performance

• The International Labour Organisation estimates that the cost of stress amounts to over 10% of Britain's Gross National Product.

• Research commissioned by the International Stress Management Association UK and Royal & Sun Alliance revealed that 53% of people are suffering from stress at work and one in four workers saying they needed time off as a result. The research also revealed that over half of those questioned feel that stress is damaging their health, reducing their job satisfaction (65%) and lowering their productivity (41%). One in five people suffering from stress consult professional help and the situation is likely to get worse with two out of three people expecting stress levels to remain unchanged or even deteriorate.

• The Government Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reported that about 5 million workers describe their job as 'very stressful' and around half a million say they experience work-related stress at levels that they believe make them ill.

• According to a survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on absence and labour turnover, stress has become a primary reason for absence from work. Overall, the CBI survey found that employees across all sectors were absent for an average of 7.1 days per annum at a cost of £476 per employee for sick leave. This cost British businesses £10.2 billion per annum with an estimated 200 million days lost through sickness absence.

• 14% of all workers say stress caused them to quit or change jobs in the previous two years (survey by the Institute of Management / UMIST on the Quality of Working Life, 1998). Experiencing stress at work is more likely to have a negative effect on commitment to an employer. For the entire adult working population over 4 million workers have experienced a decrease in commitment to their employers as a result of stress.

• A survey has found that more than four out of five workers believe the work
place has become more stressful over the last five years.

Stress can have detrimental effects on an organisation in the following ways:

• Increased complaints from clients and reduced customer service.
• Staff being less committed to an employer.
• Accidents occurring at a higher rate .
• Staff turnover rates increasing.
• Absenteeism increasing due to stress related illness.
• Performance and productivity reduced.
• Compensation claims increasing to cover stress related illness

If work-related stress is not dealt with appropriately, it can, eventually, lead to a range of illnesses and conditions including:
• Heart disease
• High / low blood pressure
• Mental disorders
• Headaches and migraines
• Disturbed sleep patterns

• Allergies
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Ulcers
• Migraine
• Loss of concentration
• Viral infections