Managing Stress in the Workplace

Course Description
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) report that stress related absence continues to increase and for non manual workers it remains as the number one reason for long term absence. For manual workers, stress related absence ranks as the fourth top reason for long term absence. The CIPD also reports that workload, management style and organisational change are the main causes of stress related absences.

As a manager, you have a legal duty of care to ensure that your employees are not harmed by work-related stress and have a duty to assess the risk arising from the hazard of works, including stress. Failure to do so can lead to claims of breach of contract and personal injury claims. In light of the increased number of stress related tribunal claims and the increase in publicity, it is prudent that organisations take action early to reduce and manage stress within their organisation.

One fundamental step to managing and reducing stress is through training. All managers need to be aware of their own legal responsibilities in preventing and reducing stress and the practical methods for dealing with short and long term cases. Incorrect management of stress or failure to take action when necessary can ultimately lead to potentially costly tribunal claims and negative PR for your organisation.

This is a practical course that will give your managers the legal awareness and practical tools for dealing with their legal responsibilities.

Course ContentAll bespoke courses can be tailored to business and individual needs and typically the content of the course will cover the following topics:

• Causes of work related stress and the impact of these on the workplace.
• Understanding how pressures outside of work can have an impact within the workplace.
• Legal considerations for managing short and long term stress, including the Disability Discrimination Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Understanding what your duty of care is towards your employee.
• The risks of failing to manage stress within the workplace.
• The Health and Safety Executive's Stress Management Standards explained.
• How to develop a company wide stress risk assessment and how this can be used to develop a specific stress risk assessment for a particular stress case within your team.
• Practical guidance on dealing with stress related absence within your team.
• The importance of developing a Stress at Work policy and understanding how to implement one.

Who is it For?
Managers who have either direct people mangement responsibilities or those who are indirectly responsible for individuals in a Project Management environment where they become responsible for team members across the business.

It is also important for those whose role involves Health and Safety and/or being responsible for implementing company policy.