Stress is now the main cause of long-term sickness absence. Reported cases have soared in the last 4 years. HSE reports that days lost to stress and anxiety cost the UK economy an estimated £3.7 billion each year, and this is on the increase. At the same time, workplace conflict is estimates to cost UK businesses more than £4 billion per year (Source: CEDR).Managing Conflict and Stress at Work 2012 puts an emphasis on addressing the costs and harmful impacts of bitter disputes and unhealthy workplace stress for leaders in organisations, people managers and individuals suffering at the sharp end alike. As such, it aims to equip delegates with ideas and readily applied techniques for reducing the incidence of ill-health, anxiety, reduced performance and grievance that have been conflict or stress-induced or assisted.

Benefits to delegates from attending include:

• Having a clear road-map for minimising, containing and effectively managing unhealthy workplace conflict and stress.
• Understanding how other individuals and organisations have confronted the challenge.
• Being equipped with a series of compelling, simple and low/no cost micro-tools for supporting individuals facing stressful situations, acting to combat conflict ‘in the moment’ and building resilience to cope with uncertainty.
• Knowing how to counteract a 'work harder', presenteeism-focused culture and avoiding being distracted by email and invasive technologies.
• Being better able to maintain your calm when others raise their voices and knowing what measures to take to stop the tide of being brought down by the unreasonable demands of others.
• Being inspired by a variety of innovative approaches to stress management that have been shown to have lasting benefits, considering responses that go beyond the norm and appreciating that the causes of stress are often not as straightforward as might first meet the eye.
• Knowing how to distinguish ‘strong management’ from ‘bullying’ and have a clear plan for dealing with those who cross the line.

Combined with the wealth of guidance materials provided,most delegates should find that their cost for attending is paid back many times over through the people-oriented and cost-saving initiatives that they will feel empowered to implement. The event is suitable for individuals who themselves feel often under stress or in the midst of conflict, senior managers and executives, HR professionals, occupational health specialists, training managers, line managers, coaches, operations managers and more.

Feedback from previous events:

"A very practical day; full of ‘use straight away’ tools. Essential for anyone working in this area." "Many useful alternative ways of looking at everyday problems and finding solutions." "Very relevant information provided. Useful tools...Real life examples...Reflective."