Filed under: Business
Charles Phillips was known to have been the leader in Oracles battle with SAP. He was the co-president when he spearheaded numerous acquisition projects to beat SAP in the fight for applications development and sales. He consecutively acquired PeopleSoft (2005), Siebel (2006), Hyperion (2007), and Sun (2009). This is on top of 50 more closed deals and partnerships with other companies. Now, his journey with a new enterprise is starting—being Infor’s new CEO. The board of the middleware provider named him as the CEO last December 1, 2010.
This comes at an ideal time for Infor because there have been plans for an IPO since the administration of Jim Schaper. The company’s back office is set but revitalization of their systems and strategies are still in the works. Charles Phillips is a known strategist and industry experts know that he will bring his wide set of skills in the refurbishing of Infor. Phillips has worked with companies that were leaders in the creation and distribution of ERP, CRM, and PLM apps which is perfect for the situation with Infor. Coordination with Microsoft and impeding acquisitions of companies like Lawson are being laid down so changes are amidst.
There are about 7,000 employees under Infor and there has been optimistic vibes with Charles Phillips’ arrival. There is a large amount of trust on his skills mainly because his past projects with Oracle and Morgan Stanley have been very successful; even boosting Oracle to earn $26 billion during the last fiscal year 2010.
July 14, 2011
Implementing Business Ethics
“The ethics of a business are whatever the top-dog says they are.”
- Bryce’s Law
INTRODUCTION
We hear a lot these days about the deterioration of ethics in business, e.g., graft, corruption, cheating, favoritism, skimming money, etc. This has resulted in a public relations nightmare for business. If consumers do not trust a company, its a matter of time before it goes out of business. This is supported by recent studies that give evidence there is a correlation between business performance and ethical practices (see the Institute of Business Ethics).
Basically, the Institute’s study suggests there are long-term benefits associated with enacting an ethics programs. Such studies and recent corporate snafus (e.g., Enron) are impetus for companies coming to grips with ethics in the workplace.
There are essentially two considerations for devising an ethics program in business; first, knowing what your ethics are, and, second; implementing them in a consistent manner.
INTERPRETING ETHICS
There is little point in my telling you what is ethically right or wrong. You already have an interpretation of this. But let us understand what influences our interpretation of ethics; our interpersonal relations with others, such as our family, friends, neighbors, fellow workers, as well as the media. Ethics is learned more than it is taught. It is based on observations of the conduct of others, people we like and respect as opposed to those we do not. It is then up to each of us to interpret these perceptions from which we will base our conduct and behavior. The point is, we act on our perceptions, however accurate or inaccurate they may be. Another influential factor are our own human frailties of competitiveness, love, greed and ambition. But then again, this goes back to interpersonal relations.
Let us recognize that ethical behavior is interpreted differently from person to person. What one person may consider right or wrong may be different for the next person. The objective in business is to implement a uniform form of behavior thereby instilling consumer confidence in a company overall.
IMPLEMENTATION
Writing a corporate code of conduct is in vogue today as a means of articulating the ethics of a business. Such codes are proudly displayed on web sites and in corporate brochures more for public relations than anything else. True, they are useful for disciplining an employee for an infraction of the rules, but I do not see them as an effective way of implementing an ethics program. Understand this, regardless of what the code of conduct states, the ethics of a business are whatever the top-dog says they are. Too often I have seen companies say one thing, then act another, e.g., Enron.
Printed codes of conduct are nice, but we have to recognize that it is one thing to enact legislation, quite another to enforce it. As stated earlier, ethical behavior is based on observations. Regardless of what a code of conduct says in print, ethical behavior is based on the relationship of superior and subordinate worker relationships. If a subordinate observes an indiscretion by his superior, in all likelihood it will be emulated by the subordinate. This phenomenon occurs top-down in the whole corporate chain of command. If it breaks down anywhere in the corporate hierarchy, it will become visible to the subordinate layers and potentially create a “trickle-down” effect. This means the boss has to be a role model for ethical behavior; they must “walk-the-walk” as well as “talk-the-talk.” If they do not, it will not go unobserved by their subordinates. Managers, therefore, should avoid the “do as I say, not do as I do” phenomenon. They must lead by example. Anything less is sheer hypocrisy and will inevitably lead to changes in behavior.
It is simply not sufficient to issue platitudes as to what is and what isn’t ethical behavior. The manager must follow-up and assure ethical behavior is implemented accordingly. In other words, we shouldn’t just “desire” truth and honesty, we must “demand” it. If one person gets away with an indiscretion, others will surely follow. As such, when writing out a code of conduct, be sure to stipulate the penalties for its violation.
The success of a business ethics program is ultimately measured by how well it becomes ingrained in the corporate culture. As we have discussed in the past, corporate culture pertains to the identity and personality of the enterprise. All companies have a culture; a way they behave and operate. They may be organized and disciplined or chaotic and unstructured. Either way, this is the culture which the enterprise has elected to adopt. What is important is that in order for an employee to function and succeed, they must be able to recognize, accept and adapt to the culture. If they do not, they will be rejected (people will not work with them).
The intuitive manager understands the corporate culture and how to manipulate it. Changing the Corporate Culture involves influencing the three elements of the culture: its Customs, Philosophy and Society. This is not a simple task. It must be remembered that culture is learned. As such, it can be taught and enforced. For example, a code of conduct is useful for teaching, as is a system of rewards and penalties. Designating people to act as watchdogs of the culture can also be useful, but be careful not to create a climate of paranoia. Ultimately, as a manager, you want to create a culture that promotes the ethical behavior you desire.
CONCLUSION
We now live in strange socioeconomic times. 40-50 years ago we normally had one parent staying home to raise the kids. Now it is commonplace to find families where both the husband and wife are working and paying less attention to their children, thereby relegating their parenting duties to teachers and coaches. In other words, the family unit, which is the basic building block for learning ethical behavior, is becoming severely hampered.
In business today we have a “fast-track” competitive mentality which does not encourage a spirit of teamwork but, rather, more rugged individualism. Nor does it promote employee loyalty. Further, we now live in a society that encourages people to go into debt, thereby causing financial tensions.
Bottom-line, ethics is about people and trust. Consequently, we should be sharpening our people skills as opposed to avoiding it. We don’t need more maxims of how we should conduct our lives; we need to lead by example. As such, we need more role-models and heroes than we do paperwork.
Let me close with one last thought on how ethics impacts business; there is probably nothing worse in business than being caught in a lie, particularly by a customer. Any trust that there may have been before disintegrates immediately and business is lost. In this day and age, there is something refreshingly honorable about a person where their word is their bond. Ethics just makes good business sense.
Tim Bryce is the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has 30 years of experience in the field. He is available for training and consulting on an international basis.
July 6, 2011
The workplace is always a buzz, full of people and lots of work to be done within the day. There are safety posters pinned up in every corner of the room, but how many people take this seriously? How many of them have actually read these safety posters? How many of them follow the proper ways and policies in the workplace?
You may ask anyone what their responsibilities are in cases of emergencies; what they should do and or any precautionary measures that they know off; would they be able to answer? The truth is, some employees working for any organization are not aware of their rights and duties at work. Paper work, manual handling, machinery problems, etc.; all of these require knowledge of what’s to be done in the workplace and how to execute the tasks safely. (more…)
June 4, 2011
Falkirk Wheel Turns For Health And Safety In The Uk Construction Industry
The Health and Safety Executive of the UK (HSE) have recently launched a campaign to highlight the tragic effects that slips, trips and falls in the workplace can have on individuals and companies alike. The campaign which has been labeled the Shattered Lives Campaign has recently been highlighted and supported by the people at British Waterways Scotland as they have dedicated the turning of the Falkirk wheel to the cause.
The Falkirk wheel which connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the union Canal is one of Scotland’s top tourist attractions. The wheel was made famous as the world’s first ever rotating boat lift is currently undergoing it’s annual maintenance and is this year paying special attention to health and safety regulations.
David Lamont of British Waterways Scotland stated that:
“The safety of our staff, contractors and visitors is of paramount importance so we’re delighted to work with HSE and support the Shattered Lives campaign. Each of the two gondolas weighs 300 tonnes and the structure itself features around 15,000 bolts all hand tightened. Altogether, the stresses on the structure and the central spine are immense so it is vitally important that we maintain The Falkirk Wheel to a very high standard and ensure the health and safety of our workforce whilst they carry out this important work.”
In Scotland alone, over 4000 people were injured due to slips, trips and falls in the work place and 5 people died during 2009. When looking at the health and safety at work statistics for the whole of the UK in 2009, we see that a frightening 40 people lost their lives because of slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Other than the tragic loss of life, accidents in the workplace cost the UK about £800M a year. All this highlights the absolute importance of adhering to health and safety policy and ensuring that the correctwork shoes etc. are worn at all times in your chosen industry. If you’re a woman, then you need to think about your health and safety and maybe wear the correct ladies work shoes instead of those high heels you love so much which might not be as safe and effective.
Those who wish to get involved and benefit from these campaigns can visit the Shattered Lives Website and learn more about the campaign, as well as download guides on how to implement health and safety regulations in your UK office.
The state of health and safety in construction and other industries of the UK is a huge concern and everyone should do their part in supporting the Shattered lives campaign. Share this health and safety in the workplace article with your friends and make them aware of the shocking statistics which could occur closer to home than you might think.
June 4, 2011
Who Needs a Health and Safety Consultant?
Workplaces, which can cover factories, shops and offices but also schools, hospitals, hotels and places of entertainment, are subject to wide-ranging government regulations to maintain adequate health, safety and welfare standards. A health and safety consultant can assess how your workplace measures up against the regulations.
There is more to meeting the regulations than you might think at first. Health, for example, covers such aspects of working conditions as ventilation, temperature, working in hot or cold environments, lighting, cleanliness, room dimensions and workstations.
Safety looks at all potential workplace hazards, including the proper maintenance of the place of work and all equipment used within it, the state of the floors and routes for pedestrian traffic, doors and windows, and any dangerous substances or machinery that your workers might come into contact with.
Welfare addresses such issues as the standard of sanitation and washing areas, provision of drinking water, accommodation for clothing and facilities for changing, and places to rest and eat meals at work.
It’s important to realise too that the government regulations aim to ensure that workplaces meet the health, safety and welfare requirements of the entire workforce, including any disabled people.
Once appointed, a health and safety consultant will commence with a full health and safety audit of your workplace. This audit will assess how well you comply with the relevant health and safety regulations, reviewing your health and safety policies, arrangements and management system, and looking at a wide range of safety issues.
The next step is likely to be a health and safety inspection. Here, the health and safety consultant will inspect your whole premises extensively, provide an overview of your health and safety status, and offer advice on how to comply with the regulations if this is falling short in any area. You should also expect your consultant to provide a full written report of findings and recommendations.
You could of course handle all these functions internally. But this would mean taking up some or all of the time of one or more employees, ensuring that these people person was properly trained, and devoting management time to this issue.
The alternative is to outsource your health and safety management to a reputable firm. This would avoid your organisation having to maintain a full-time internal health and safety resource. You would also have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your company’s health and safety is not compromised due to lack of expertise.
Again, health and safety consultants from a high quality firm will be fully trained, highly qualified and certified to national safety standards. They will stay abreast of all legislative changes and amendments, ensuring that your workplace always complies with the latest regulations. The result: your staff can focus on their main job functions, while your health and safety management is in excellent hands.
Related Workplace Health And Safety Articles
June 3, 2011
Working With An Office Computer Armoire
For your convenience as well as functionality, you can choose a small office computer armoire to store your home complete office equipments. Such office computer armoire could perfectly fill in the limited space in your home to make the room looks perfect and stylish with its beautiful design as well as its color and shades. In fact, the overall look of an office computer armoire is definitely gorgeous especially when you pick the matching color to the theme of the particular room where you place the armoire. A highly taste of aesthetic in choosing your office armoire will absolutely cause any of your visitors to admire your house furniture arrangement. They would also probably be amazed once they knew that inside such beautiful, luxurious armoire lies a complete working station of yours. What you have to do is simply open both doors and there you can find all the essential things you need to support your work. Those will include computer and its peripherals; writing desk, printer, scanner and sometime speakers for those who love to listen to some music while working, hanging file folders, locking drawers, and many more. All in all, an office computer armoire can house every single thing you need to do your work yet it only requires a small or little space. What an amazing thing!
Since most of computer armoires are quite expensive in their price, only certain people who can afford to purchase such product. If you insist on having such office computer armoire but you only have limited budget, you can safe your money first until you have enough money to buy it. Or you can choose to purchase used computer armoire or ones with discount price. You can start your quest to look for your dream office computer armoire online as well as comparing their prices for your potential cheapest office computer armoire you could afford to purchase. With the vast range of options you would probably find computer desk armoire on your search. Such armoire could also be one of your choices due to its reasonable price. You should also consider determining the color and shades you would like to buy besides the design, material and size to fit in the available room at your house as well as matching it with the certain theme of your home.
With your dream office computer armoire you could freely arrange and personalized your computer and work station yourself. Where to put this and that is absolutely depends on your decision. So, start your day with a gorgeous home office computer armoire and finish your job happily.
When purchasing computer workstation furniture for your home or office, there are a number of things you will want to take into consideration. You need to have furniture that will not only provide adequate work space for yourself or others, but you also need to make sure that there is adequate storage space for all of the computers and computer peripherals that you need to use. This can take some planning when purchasing computer workstation furniture.
June 3, 2011
Used Office Desk – Helping You Save Money
Office furniture could be a basic necessity located inside the business atmosphere whether an organization is new or an existing company is expanding. The need for office desks may be a demand for any business that hopes to provide a professional atmosphere for his or her clients and potential investors. The problem is that for a company that’s simply beginning, they usually don’t have a lot of spare cash that they’ll budget towards the expenses associated to new office desks.
As for a corporation that is expanding their business they do not like to invest an excessive amount of cash into the new growth till they begin to see a return on their expansion pursuit. For the business that’s strapped for money and would really like to avoid the high prices related to new office desks there’s an chance that’s available with a used office desk.
Giving them the greatest chance to purchase quality merchandise at incredibly low costs is the business that checks into the financial opportunities connected to investing in a used office desk. Used office furniture stores usually take in vast amounts of furniture from various corporations as an alternate to getting rid of them and select the best pieces to sell to you. Consequently, you’ll be buying the prime quality office desks that would are your initial choice at the new stores and still get the exceptional savings opportunities. This way your business can still project the upscale professional environment without breaking your business budget.
In addition to the additional benefit of savings you acquire with a used office desk, frequently there are great deals of choices available with the top used furniture distributors. One trait of office desks which pleases many businesses is located in relation to wood office desks.
Wood office desks are frequently a show of strength and professionalism because the warm wood grains daringly stand out in any office atmosphere. For the person who is looking for added savings on wood office desks, avoid the higher costs of solid wood workplace desks and look into the opportunities available with particle wood office desks with a veneer finish. It provides you with the same look of solid wood while avoiding the higher price.
As cash strapped company, do not feel that your office furniture choices are restricted to the low price new items at furniture stores. You’ve got the chance to purchase a piece which runs thousands of bucks in the showroom at a fraction of the price and is in nice condition with the purchase of a used office desk.
May 30, 2011
Where to Find the One Way Car Hire
One way car rental is available through out the world. It is a relatively recent development within the industry, previously to hire a car and drop it off in an alternative location came with an expensive premium. If you are on holiday you can hire a one way hire car for no extra cost. If you are travelling with a lot of luggage one way car hire can be a very easy and convenient way of reaching your destination, especially if you are staying for a long time.
Many people enjoy building their own holiday today rather than relaying on a package deal. It is often a lot cheaper to find the exact accommodation you want and then book your flights and car hire separately. Quite often you can make very big savings through one airport and leaving the country from another. Hiring a one way car to make this journey is convenient easy and cost effective. When hiring a car you will save money by not having to use an airport taxi transfer or taxis during your stay. You can also explore the region at your own pace and visit some of the more obscure destinations and secluded areas where other tourists will find it hard to reach.
Why not take a mini road trip adventure and plan a route to explore during your stay. A good example for doing this type of trip comes when people are trying to visit Barcelona. Often fights are costly and unavailable direct to Barcelona many people are fly into Gerona or Zaragoza both are over 100 kilometers away; this is the perfect opportunity to hire a car and explore the surrounding area.
Between Gerona and Barcelona you can visit the many beautiful beach towns and villages which are dotted along the twisting coastal road there are fabulous views and you will see some of Spain missed by most travelers and do it all at your own pace.
Sometimes if the car hire company used is relatively small a premium is added to the price of the rental because they must pick up the car from where you have left it. Larger companies just specify that you drop it back to their local branch near to where you are leaving the vehicle this eliminates having to pay any extra costs. Make sure you shop carefully when you book your one way car hire.
We have spent a lot of time researching on the internet for the very best car hire prices. We believe to keep ahead of the competition and the best method of getting the cheapest prices is to use a comparison search engine. Car hire prices fluctuate regularly, by using a comparison engine you will be able to compare prices form over 25 companies at the same time bringing you the very best deals for that particular time. It also saves you trawling through many companies entering your details every time. Simply enter your requirements once and the search engine will do the hard work.
Especially when booking a one way hire car it is best to enquire and book as far in advance of your trip as possible. This will mean you receive the very best prices and ensure that there will be a vehicle available for you. Once you have obtained several quotes you should then have a look at the finer details of the package. Often prices look very similar but finer points of the hire package will be different; look out for companies offering comprehensive insurance without an excess’ or reduced rates on particular vehicles.
Don’t be forced to fly to and from the same airport and pay for expensive flights hiring a one way car can show you a part of Spain you would have otherwise been missing. Explore where ever you want to go it will bring your holiday a new sense of freedom and leave you with some life long memories of a great trip abroad.
One Way Car Hire . One search to compare the best car hire companies online. With so many interesting places to discover a Car Hire Spain is the recommended and most cost effective transport option.
May 28, 2011
Human resource planning is prerequisite while planning for a business
Leading a crowd during a major disagreement is a challenge and any organisation faces a time when it becomes challenging to handle and tackle its employees. Human resource planning is completed within the particular department. Nowadays human resource activities are largely outsourced. In nations like Australia there are many human resource management firms or hr consulting companies that make resource management easier. The best possible hr consulting companies involve the best professionals. The professionals are actually experienced managerial cadres or people with a degree related to human resources. As practical experience matter a lot, the companies offer an amalgamation of seasoned professionals and the new comers.
There are many ways of communication and human resource planning is indeed an essential one. Nowadays social media is even used to reach the best professionals; only bringing together the best professionals is not at all end of the road. It is necessary to offer them the right tip and guidance to keep motivated. The human resources are necessary for tailoring the overall functioning of a corporation. In case of any crisis or requirement of urgent communication, the human resource departments play the vital role.
In case of organizing meetings or while arranging the press release, the human resource professionals make the ideas. Besides all office activities are arranged by the human resource planning departments. The best human resource companies offer web portals. The bookings and suggestions can be accepted online. The services can be booked online or even by punching in the toll free numbers. Workforce strategy making is essential to ensure proper functioning of the organizations. Australian professionals get ample of opportunities and often they hop jobs. It is only effective motivational factor that can keep the professionals within a single organisation for long.
The best human resource planning companies manage personal administration is an enhanced way. Manpower management matter a lot and to have proper manpower management it is really necessary to involve best of the hr consulting services. The best hr consulting services come up with organisation specific solutions and models. An innovative view of workplace management is only accessible with involvement of best of the professionals. Reaching the organizational goals become easier and hassle free when the best hr consulting services are involved. But, who is the best and who offer unique solution again is a matter of confusion. The best human resource management and personal management can be only done when the background of the employees are thoroughly known.
There are many online resources which help while the hunt for the Australian human resource planning companies is on. It is always prudent to remain informed and self research is indispensable. There are online discussion forums which helps us to remain a leap ahead of the others who are also eyeing for the human resource consultants. Human resources are considered to be the prime force that creates any organizational backbone. In the multicultural nation of Australia it is really prerequisite to have a strong human resource policy while establishing a company. By reading the articles it is possible to have better insight regarding the policies and process that the consultants follow.
HBA is a specialist workplace relations consultancy based in Canberra, human resources, workplace investigations service, human resources planning, employee relations, employment frameworks.
May 26, 2011
Stress and Its Prevention in the Workplace
There are clearly ‘bottom-line’ reasons why you should seriously consider the well-being of your employees, because satisfied and committed employees offer superior customer/client service and are the engine of success; however, there are there legal reasons. There are positive and negative sides of health and safety at work to be considered. On the negative side is the threat of legal action if the law is violated, and the fear that disgruntled employees will use this legislation to tarnish the image of the organization. However, there’s also a very positive side to dealing with health and safety issues head-on: if adequate policies and procedures are put in place then there is a much reduced risk of legislation, and policies/procedures take the steam out of any employee’s claim that they were put at unnecessary risk in the workplace.
In order to ensure that you comply with health and safety legislation, it is vital that all staff are educated and made aware of what is required of them – these matters do not belong only to the Health and Safety Manager!
Stress in the Workplace
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines stress as,
“An adverse reaction a person has to excessive pressure or other types of demands placed upon them.’
The HSE states that employers have a responsibility to help reduce stress which may arise in their employees as a result of their work. That is, employers have a legal duty of care to ensure that their employees are not harmed by work-related stress.
One of the major reasons why stress policies and procedures are not effective, according to HSE is,
“If the project group making the decisions do not understand stress and the issues involved”.
What are the Legal Duties?
Organisations must adhere to statutory regulation concerning health and safety in the workplace; and line managers are required to understand these requirements, especially in relation to stress and unacceptable working practices. Therefore, it is essential to have clearly formulated Health and Safety policies, as well as effective plans for their implementation.
UK employers have a statutory duty to assess the risk of workplace stress to their employees. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publish guidelines for organisations to implement, but putting these elements into practice can be difficult. (We provide summaries of HSE documents on our website, Psychology4biz.com.)
The first step is to undertake a risk assessment, which sets out the foreseen hazards. In addition to appointing competent people to implement the health and safety measures identified by the risk assessment, it is vital that clear information and training is provided to employees.
But What in Practice Must I do?
The objective of stress management is not to eliminate stress, but rather to control its damaging aspects. After all, a certain amount of stress is both inevitable and, even, desirable – in HSE terms, this is defined as normal work-related pressure. Damaging pressure (i.e., stress) consists of working conditions (e.g., high work load) that employees feel they are unable to control. Some employees can handle very high work loads because they feel in control of their work and, therefore, are not ‘stress-out’; rather, they are rather ‘highly motivated’. The central role of psychological control is fundamental subjective, and once again it depends, to a large extent, on the well-being of the individual. Low well-being leads to feels of being out of control at work levels that are much lower than individuals with high well-being.
Wellbeing and Resilence
Management have a statutory responsibility for supporting their employee in a manner that promotes resilience when work load increases. However, employees also need to know how they should handle stress – they need to be given the tools to recognize the sources of stress and how to avoid its negative consequences. Once again, it comes down to education and knowledge. All too often work pressure comes ‘out of the blue’ (which adds to people feeling they are out of control), but usually, although not always, this is because there has been inadequate planning.
Providing employees with knowledge about the causes and effects of stress is vital. When combined with good working conditions, employees are then be required to manage the degree of pressure they can tolerate and to ask for additional support when they feel their workload is exceeding their ability to cope. It’s not just about management ‘making it easy’ for employees; in the eyes of the HSE, employees too have to take responsibility, but they can only do this after they have been educated about the work-related pressure and stress.
Human Resources, Stress and Organizational Success
Research shows that, unfortunately in the UK, Human Resources is still not seen as a force for strategetic change within organizations – although, more enlighthened organsiations are starting to recognize this reality. For example, there is an impressive array of organizational-level outcomes that HR Directors strongly influence, including: delivering customer satisfaction, attraction and retention of the best talent, reduced absenteeism and organisational citizenship.
The Occupational Health, or Health and Safety, office or manager may be responsible for meeting statutory HSE guidelines on stress, but they will not normally be also responsible for customer/client service, etc. However, an integrated approach is needed to ensure that all the organisational goals are met by properly managing employees. Such research goes to underscore the fundamental importance placed on well-being in achieving a wide range of organizational goals.
Tackling Stress Before it’s too Late: How to Stop the Horse Bolting
According to Personal Today, most employers focus on helping employees who have suffered stress-related ill health to return to work rather than tackling its causes in the first place. A sobering thought is that, each year, nearly 13 million working days are lost to stress-related ill health, at a cost estimated by the Health and Safety Executive to be nearly 10 billon every year. This is a terrible waste of resources, and usually a very ineffective way to deal with workplace stress.
The fact is that much of this stress-related illness could be avoided. For example, the Employment Review suggests that earlyinterventions designed to prevent stress-related illness can be as simple as providing information leaflets.
Some form of counselling is typically provided to employees returning to work after a stress-related absence. The reliance on techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is backed by evidence of clinical effectiveness. One 2006 study by the London School of Economics claimed a £750 course of CBT was both cheaper and more effective than drug-based solutions.
Today, there are available very cost-effective online CBT programs that nip in the bud early signs of stress, and can be used to treat more advanced cases. These programs are starting to revolutionalise the CBT field for the following reasons. It can take many months before the first session with a face-to-face CBT therapist. During this time, the employee may have been off sick for many months, resulting in lost productivity. The longer the employee is off work the less chance there is that they will return to work, which incurs further costs in terms of subsequent recruitment. There’s also the real risk that the employee will commence a legal action against their employer. Even if this action is unjustified, considerable organisational resources, in terms of time and money, will need to be devoted to defend the claim.
Wellbeing is the key to so many organisational outcomes and personal health and happiness. Therefore, dealing with stress in the workplace is not only about the need for employers to meet their statutory responsibilities, but it is also about making high-performing, successful organisations that are sustainable and where talented people want to work and where they thrive.
For these reasons, we established Psychology4biz.com to help organisations apply psychology to maximise the their potential of their people for superior organisational success.
Dr Philip Corr is Professor of Psychology at Swansea University, UK, and is an international authority on emotion, motivation, personality and psychopathology.
Dr Giles Burch is Senior Lecturer in business psychology at Auckland University, NZ, and an expert on the application of psychology to the workplace.
May 25, 2011
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