The Public sector in a Recession

At 2pm on Friday, November 21, at RCPI No.6 Kildare Street, Professor Cary Cooper, a leading expert in organisational psychology and a professor at Lancaster University, will tell the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) that “In the midst of a recession the public and private sector in Ireland may need more flexible working arrangements and not less.”



Professor Cooper will deliver the 21st Annual James Smiley Lecture at the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, RCPI and will outline the need for great flexibility as a method of avoiding workplace stress.

“In the workplace, pressure is healthy but stress is destructive, while stress always has a negative impact on the health of an employee, it can have an even larger impact on the performance and productivity of the organisation.” said Prof Cooper



In a recession levels of stress and anxiety are likely to increase as resources become scarce. It is important for government to enable genuine flexible working practices and arrangements within the public sector and encourage similar changes within the private sector.



Professor Cooper warned that “we should not confuse ‘flexi-time’ with flexible working. In the public sector there is often the trappings of flexible working, which mask a lack of autonomy, a rigid decision making process and an inability to take action. This can lead to levels of control which do not allow line managers to manage the talent within the organisation.”



Flexible working arrangements recommended by Prof Cooper include;

Regular organisational audits of employee wellbeing
Giving employees more autonomy and control of their job
Work-Life Balance initiatives
Developing managers to be more socially and interpersonally sensitive.
Resilience training
Minimise the long working hours culture
Healthy Lifestyle & wellbeing programmes
Employee Assistance Programmes
According to Prof Cooper “Flexible working also makes economic sense with a return of €3 - €7 for every €1 spent by an organisation on flexible working. This is a great example of how so-called ‘softer’ interventions can have a positive impact on the bottom-line during these difficult times”.



ENDS

As Professor Cooper is traveling from the UK, he will only be available to speak with the media prior to the meeting, from 12 – 2 pm on Friday, November 21, 2008.



All are welcome to attend; admission is free but registration is required please contact the Faculty at fom@rcpi.ie to register



21st James Smiley Lecture - Click here to download



Programme ~ Registration Form



Background Information, Professor Cary Cooper, CBE


Professor Cary Cooper, CBE is Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University. He is recognised as a world-leading expert on stress and is the media's first choice for comment on workplace issues. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, The Royal Society of Arts, The Royal Society of Medicine, The Royal Society of Health and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London. He is also the President of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and the author of over 100 books. Prof Cooper also appears regularly on British radio and television, and co-wrote and presented a five-part Channel 4 documentary series on workplace stress entitled "How to Survive the 9 to 5".

The Faculty of Occupational Medicine is the recognised training body for doctors practising in the specialty of occupational medicine in Ireland. It is a constituent body within the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Its aim is to promote the highest standard of health and wellbeing for those of working age; to advocate that occupational illness and disease be eliminated from workplaces; and, to speak as the authoritive voice for all issues relating to occupational medicine within the country.