Stress affecting majority of UK workforce

Small businesses need to look at developing the skills of their staff so they are better equipped to deal with pressure, it has been claimed. Mike Petrook, a spokesperson for the Chartered Management Institute, was speaking in response to the publication of a survey conducted by the Samaritans which shows that more than half of the UK workforce are worried that their jobs are taking over their lives.

The Samaritans' study shows that more people than ever are now worried about the adverse impact their jobs are having on their lives. While 44 per cent of those polled last year said they were worried about the effect stress is having on their health, 49 per cent were of a similar opinion this year - a rise of five per cent. More than half have seen their colleagues cry because of the pressure they are under, yet 43 per cent say their bosses are oblivious to the stress that their workers are subjected to. More worryingly, 32 per cent of workers think their bosses deliberately turn a blind eye to the problem of stress.

Another alarming discovery made by the Samaritans is the apparent prevalence of bullying in the workplace. Over 80 per cent of workers claim to have been bullied in their careers and for one in four people it is a daily cause of stress. For one in three people it is such a problem that they have considered quitting their jobs and moving abroad.

In order to counteract this, Professor Gary Cooper of Lancashire University, an expert in the field of workplace stress, advocates the use of reward and praise by managers to motivate their staff rather than criticism and fault-finding. More support should be offered to staff by work colleagues and line managers, he says, and Professor Cooper, like Mr Petrook, also advocates more training so members of staff are better equipped with "coping skills".

Going into more detail on the subject of bullying, Mr Petrook said that small businesses could make improvements in this area if the senior management made it clear that bullying is unacceptable in their place of work, and that they should ensure this message permeates throughout the organisation. This message could then be reinforced through the provision of examples of what this unacceptable behaviour looks like, and details of how bullies are punished. It is also important to emphasise that any claims of bullying are treated confidentially to ensure that people aren't put off coming forward.

By providing this small business advice about strong management structures and training, Mr Petrook hopes that bullying - and stress - can be eradicated from the workplace.

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