Stress in workplace 'affects performance'

Date: 03/06/2009

Few employers are taking action over workplace stress despite many people claiming it is becoming more of an issue in the office, it is said.

Leading benchmarking organisation Investors in People carried out a study and found that performance could be being damaged by low morale, with nearly four in ten respondents stating they are feeling the pressure of stress more than they did a year ago.

Over 70 per cent of the 2,261 respondents asserted that their managers were not doing anything to oppose this, such as through implementing a reward and recognition programme, with only one-third seeing their bosses making a concerted effort to address this issue.

Simon Jones, chief executive of Investors in People, said of the situation: "The longer the problem is ignored, the more it could impact on productivity at a time when the UK economy needs a boost.

"Our research suggests that management has so far not addressed the current increase in workplace stress."

Michael Howard was behind the launch of Investors in People in 1991 in order to highlight the good people skills of workers and management in institutions across the country.

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