Tight pockets, tight fists - downturn in profits, upturn in bullying

Impact Consulting Business Psychologists will host a professional forum on how organisations can manage workplace bullying on 14th January 2010 at the British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference.

Prior to the recession, costs of workplace bullying to society were estimated at £13.75 billion in 2007. Current economic pressures are creating previously unseen levels of anxiety within organisations, resulting in highly stressful working environments and encouraging increased negative behaviour. In turn, this invites excessive managerial control, risking the creation of a downward spiral of negativity within the workplace.

Impact Consulting Business Psychologists conduct research into the effectiveness of interventions and support client organisations with best practice approaches. They will be hosting a professional forum on how organisations can manage the problem through using Occupational Psychology.

The event will be used to discuss how organisations can tackle the climate of fear and address the issue of destructive, costly and negative behaviour head on. Strategies to reverse the ‘downward spiral’ of stress and negative behaviour are paramount to create a positive environment for developing sustainable approaches to performance management.

Shelly Rubinstein, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Managing Director of Impact Consulting said: "Over the past year we have been working increasingly on issues of negative behaviour in the workplace, often resulting from recessionary impacts and associated stress. Our unique position has allowed us to integrate theory with practice in devising a strategy in handling the problem."

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION prior to the conference please CONTACT: The Media Centre on Tel: 0116 2529904 or email mediacentre@bps.org.uk