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Why do we need stress management? Every day in the UK, some 270,000 people take time off work for stress related illness. According to the Office of National Statistics, approximately one on seven adults in Britain has some form of diagnosable mental health problem, the most common being anxiety with depression. The symptoms most frequently reported are fatigue, sleep problems, irritability and worrying…..the classic symptoms of stress. A recent survey of 699 personnel and human resources officers by the Industrial Society indicated that 83% believed that stress was a problem within their organisation. UNUM, a long-term disability insurer, reports a 90% increase in mental and psychological claims over the past 5 years, with one in five claimants suffering such severe anxiety and depression that they are unable to work for at least six months. In 1995 the CBI estimated that sickness absence cost UK business £12 billion, extrapolated using Health and Safety Executive Figures of 50% of all absence from work due to illness being stress related means that stress is costing UK Business £6 billion per year. In a survey of 200 personnel directors conducted at Sedgwicks Human Resource Conference in 1996 66% said that stress was an issue that required special corporate budgeting, but only 2% had stress policies. Moreover 70% did not know the level of stress-related illness in their organisation. Awarding John Walker £175,000 in damages the High Court held that his employer was “in breach of the duty of care owed to (Walker) as his employee in respect of the second mental breakdown which he suffered as a result of stress and anxiety occasioned by his job” “An employer”, said the court “owes a duty to his employees not to cause them psychiatric damage by the volume or character of work that they are required to perform”. The Costs to the Employer Time off work Estimates vary, but time off work due to stress related illness probably costs the average business between £543 and £800 per annum per employee!
Stress is no longer a matter, which can be swept under the carpet; it is costing business and individuals dearly. Stress not only effects individuals’ mental and physical health but also reduces the efficiency with which an organisation operates. Cost to the Individual Increased risk of Illness Stress has been implicated in an increase in general health problems, including:
Increased dependency or behaviour change These addictions may be to simple stimulants such as coffee or chocolate, or towards more serious substances such as alcohol, tobacco or other legal or illegal drugs. Stress may also lead to addictive behaviours such as eating disorders, gambling and domestic violence. In addition there is also the risk of other personality disorders such as feelings of persecution, extreme perfectionism, hypochondria, unrealistic expectations of self and others or a range of phobias. Reduced quality of life Stress may lead to general reductions in all or any of the following- Energy levels, interest, concentration, confidence, decision making ability, self esteem, patience and sex drive. For many people excessive or long-term stress means that their quality of life deteriorates into an “existence”. Living from day to day, looking towards the day when they will feel released from the constraints, which appear to bind them to that existence, but not knowing when or if that day will come. They no longer feel that they have any control over any aspect of their life. They wake up in the morning dreading the day ahead. These symptoms are commonly referred to as clinical depression and it has been estimated that one five adults will suffer from it at some time in their lives. For the lucky this may only last for a relatively short period until the level of stress reduces or they learn to manage their stress levels. For the not so lucky it may become an on-going spiral of events resulting in the need to change jobs, to take early retirement or in the breakdown of family relationships. Even if the effects themselves only last a short time, the consequences will very often last a great deal longer and may have serious repercussions on health, career and family life. A.P.S.’s approach to stress management Broadly stress can come from two main sources:
In addition when we are looking at stress levels we need to take into account the individual’s motivation. No two people are motivated in the same way, often what is seen by one as a motivator can be seen by another as a de-motivator or stress-inducer. A.P.S. puts a strong emphasis on helping individuals recognise and overcome self-limiting beliefs and behaviour. A.P.S. therefore, offers a multi-level approach to tackling the problems of stress in the workplace. • Corporate Consultancy - An in-company consultancy service providing stress assessments (both individual and corporate), together with the design and development of management strategies to reduce stress levels and improve efficiency within the organisation. • Corporate Awareness - specific workshops aimed at managers to promote awareness of stress within the work place. In these seminars we look at the cost and risk to both the individual and the organisation, together with legal implications and strategies to reduce the risk of unacceptable stress levels within their organisation. • Personal Awareness - bespoke workshops aimed at individuals, informing them about the symptoms and risk of stress, together with stress management techniques, so that they can recognise a potential problem and take counter-measures before it becomes acute. • Personal Stress Management and Executive Coaching
- providing personal stress assessments, and personal stress
management/reduction strategies for individuals who are already
suffering from the effects of stress.
The A.P.S. Approach to Stress Management Whether looking at stress from an individual or from a corporate point of view, it is our experience that a broad range of sources are likely to contribute to those stress levels. At A.P.S. we do not believe that there is a “one stop” solution to relieving stress in the work place. Rather, we take a “holistic” approach, looking at the broad range of stressors, evaluating the effects that those stressors are having and making recommendations for cost effective changes. We believe that it is important to effect an integrated solution to workplace stress, based upon the needs of both the organisation and the individual. We strongly advocate that the issue of stress in the workplace should be addressed in an objective and analytical method. We therefore recommend that whenever possible the problem should be approached my means of a Corporate Stress Management Strategy based upon the results of a Corporate Stress Audit. This approach encourages the organisation to provide pro-active, on-going solutions that are based upon actual needs. This contrasts strongly with “one stop” approach of a catch all course which is primarily aimed at relieving some of the symptoms but does little to deal with the causes. Based upon the results of the audit, A.P.S. will then work with the organisation to develop solutions for both the organisation and the individual. Organisational Solutions In developing Organisational Solutions A.P.S. can draw upon twenty years consultancy experience in Corporate and Human Resource Development. In particular; strategic planning, corporate planning, communications, small business development, training needs assessments, corporate training plans and the design/delivery of training programmes. We are able to look at the broad range of organisational problems, management structures, communications, motivation and environmental factors. Our approach is analytical, structured and eclectic. It is designed to develop the greatest potential from the company and individual, without subjecting employees to unnecessary stress. Where appropriate we provide positive interventions to enable individual employees to overcome self-limiting beliefs and behaviours. NB Whilst we strongly advocate approaching the problem of stress within the workplace from the point of view of developing Stress Management Strategies and undertaking Stress Audits, A.P.S. is happy to offer specific training courses or other individual interventions from our wide range of services, where appropriate. Corporate Services
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Stress
Management