Occupational psychology can help managers, employees and businesses in these challenging economic times. This is one of the key themes at the Division of Occupational Psychology annual conference from 12 January -14 January at the Stratford-upon-Avon Holiday Inn.
During a forum on ‘The business case for workplace health and well-being (HWB)’
Professor Dame Carol Black (National Director for Health and Work) will discuss ‘An update on progress since publication of ‘Working for a Healthier Tomorrow’ and the Government’s response’
Dr Steve Boorman (led the 2009 NHS workforce health and wellbeing review) will discuss ‘Improving health and well-being in the NHS a year on from the review’
Dame Carol Black said: “Increasing numbers of employers are becoming aware of the benefits that health and well-being can bring to their staff and their businesses. Numerous employers can demonstrate the compatibility of workplace health and wellbeing with high productivity.
They have made a convincing case that the wellbeing of staff can improve sickness levels, staff turnover and profits. By promoting this type of evidence we will encourage more and more employers to see the value of health and wellbeing at work.”
Keynote presentations are:
In “Enhancing Mental Capital and Wellbeing at Work” Chartered Occupational and Health Psychologist Professor Cary Cooper, CBE, (Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, Lancaster University, Management School) examines the cost of stress and mental ill health at work in the UK and ways to combat this.
Professor Cooper said: “The direct cost of stress and mental ill health at work in the UK are estimated at £25.9billion per year. These issues have become a bottom line matter, not just a cosy, ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have if we can afford it’ type of matter.
Recent guidelines such as the government Foresight project on ‘Mental Capital and Well Being’ seek to identify sources of stress and explore the cost-benefits of interventions. I will outline an approach to stress management and wellbeing in the workplace and discuss a successful intervention case study in a large organisation.”
David Ballard (Director, Alexander Ballard Ltd) will discuss the relevance of psychology in helping societies meet the numerous challenges of climate change in ‘Challenges along the journey of change to a sustainable world’.
Mr Ballard explained: “We all struggle with change and this has hampered our reaction to the problems of climate change. Awareness does not automatically lead to change and too often we are treated as experimental dogs who respond only to price or punishment.
Recent research on the organisational and human process of change revealed a multi-levelled route where the dynamics of change pose quite different human challenges at different stages in the journey. I will highlight the contributions psychology can make to helping us meet the challenges of change.”
In ‘The Illusions Under Which We Labour: A Practical Challenge to Organisational Psychology’ Professor Timothy Judge (The University of Notre Dame – Franklin D. Schurz Professor of Management) asks how important is the environment in shaping behaviour.
Timothy said: “From my review of research on the effects of the environment, interventions, and change on individual behaviours I will present an alternative theory of organizational behaviour that challenges much of contemporary management research and practice.”
Sources: British Psychological Society (BPS), AlphaGalileo Foundation.