Date: 20 November 2007
Source: Personnel Today
Managers throughout the UK are spending five and a half days a month preparing for, travelling to, attending or writing up notes for meetings that are considered by many to be a waste of time.
The research, conducted by Adobe, shows that meetings now comprise of a quarter of the working week, yet respondents consider that they are only attentive for just over half (56%) of a two hour meeting, meaning that in total, UK managers spend 10 days of the year sat distracted in meetings, ultimately costing UK businesses £7.5bn a year.
The most distracting things in meetings were cited as irrelevant content (69%) and meeting length (65%).
With fewer than half of managers admitting they had no formal training on meeting effectiveness, results indicate that many do not put enough thought into meeting content or who the meeting is relevant to.
Further results show that more than half of managers (56%) think they spend too much time in meetings, while two thirds of office workers think that the time they spend in meetings could be more productive.
Solutions to make better use of time include making the most of new technology by using webinars to communicate, as well as creating a strong agenda and sticking to it.
Date: 19 November 2007
Source: Personnel Today
The TUC has called on businesses to act, based on research conducted the University of Manchester. The study revealed that in the last six months one in 10 workers were bullied, while one in four have been victims in the last five years.
The research, which coincided with National Ban Bullying day yesterday has been highlighted by the TUC.
By producing new anti-bullying guides it hopes to help union safety representatives work with employers to create a new workplace culture where bullying, intimidation and harassment eradicated.
Brendan Barber TUC general secretary said: “People on the receiving end of cutting remarks or verbal outbursts from the workplace bully are the ones paying a heavy price for employers’ failure to deal with the problem.
The stress and anxiety felt by the victims can make them physically ill, lose all their self-confidence and mean that they dread coming into work.”
But it’s not just employees who are suffering. Companies will feel the effects too if they don’t tackle the problem.
“Staff being bullied are likely to take more time off because the harassment is making them ill and the low morale they suffer as a result almost always affects their ability to do their job, making them much less productive,” Barber added.
Date: 7 November 2007
Source: People Management
Employers need to identify and tackle stress in the workplace before it has a negative impact on their business.
The statistics come on National Stress Awareness day, organised by the International Stress Management Association who’s mission is to highlight the coping strategies and sources available to those who want to reduce the harmful effects of stress in their lives.
Vanessa Sallows, underwriting and benefits director for Legal & General’s Group Protection business said: “Work is very important to many people but this may lead to people becoming too absorbed in their daily routine and this can lead to increased pressure and stress.
If this situation is prolonged this may take its toll on a worker’s physical and mental wellbeing and result in a range of health problems such as heart disease, back pain and gastrointestinal problems.”
The research, which questioned 2,000 people and is part of an ongoing study of Britain’s health worries also highlighted that one in five believed that they worked too many extra hours.
Other results showed that almost one in four full-time British workers never take a break during work and 7% do not even take a holiday.
The National Stress Awareness day website includes tips on how to avoid or get rid of stress. Its suggestions include, among others, smiling, exercising, achieving a good work-life balance and seeking professional help.
