Psychologists advice to managers on how to help emlpoyees survive the stress of tough times

Psychologists will provided advice to help managers steer their employees through the stress of the global downturn on the 15th January 2009, at the British Psychological Society's Division of Occupational Psychology annual conference in Blackpool.

Recession and redundancies are making it a tough time in the workplace, causing a great deal of stress for both managers and their employees. However, managers who treat their staff as individuals with thoughts and feelings will help them to survive the stress of recession.

This is one of the findings of research conducted by Emma Donaldson-Feilder from Affinity Health at Work and Joanna Yarker and Rachel Lewis from Goldsmiths, University of London who consulted line managers and their staff, HR professionals and stress experts.

Using interviews, focus groups and a questionnaire surveys they identified four key sets of management behaviours associated with the effective prevention and reduction of stress at work.

1. Respectful and responsible: managing emotions and having integrity
2. Managing and communicating existing and future work
3. Reasoning and managing difficult situations
4. Managing the individual within the team

Ms Donaldson-Feilder said: "As Dame Carol Black pointed out in her national review of the health of working age people, line managers have a vital role to play in protecting the health of their staff. A healthy, motivated and productive workforce is cost-effective because less time and money is spent managing sickness absence, conflict and staff turnover.

"Managers who integrate these four key sets of behaviours into their day-to-day routine are likely to find it easier to help their staff cope with stress, which should help boost company performance."

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Colburn, Public Relations officer, British Psychological Society. Tel: 0116 2529904, email Joanna.colburn@bps.org.uk

Notes to editors

4 key sets of behaviours in further detail

* Respectful and responsible involves acting with integrity, the ability to behave calmly and consistently and the ability to be thoughtful when managing and delegating.

* Management and communication of existing and future work entails the monitoring, review and planning of workload; the ability to deal with problems promptly, rationally and responsibly; the ability to listen and consult with the team, providing direction, autonomy and development opportunities to individuals.

* Management of difficult situations requires the ability to deal with conflict fairly and promptly; seek advice when necessary from other managers, HR and Occupational Health; being supportive and taking a responsible approach to incidences of bullying and conflict.

* Management of the individual within the team requires being accessible and available to talk personally; being sociable; and being able to understand the individual's motivation, point of view and life outside work.

The research was funded by the Health and Safety Executive, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Investors in People. Further details are available at the following websites:
* Short guidance leaflets 'Line manager behaviour and stress': http://www.cipd.co.uk/guides
* Full research report: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr633.htm

Ref: PR1554