The document discusses a stress management program called Stress Matters that uses a three step process: 1. A workplace stress analysis is conducted to identify stress hazards and risks. 2. Stress management training is provided to employees, using an interactive method called G.I.F.T. that focuses on practical stress reduction techniques. 3. Individual therapy is optionally available to employees seeking private guidance on managing personal stress levels.

1. Turn Stress into Success

2. Turn Stress into Success
Workplace Stress
The Bottom Line
Work related stress is always a symptom of some What is the G.I.F.T. method?
other issue. It does not exist independently and
never appears out of nowhere. It is the effect, not The Stress Matters system utilises a unique
the cause.Trying to eliminate stress is not about methodology called the G.I.F.T. method, this
pampering employees or wasting money. At a bespoke approach draws on best practice from
certain point stress starts to affect employees’ pedagogy, psychotherapy and NLP (Neuro
health, stress then starts to cost you money and Linguistic Programming) techniques to add
productivity. It costs employers in terms of lost depth to the training experience and to ensure
working hours and decreased or substandard participants learn, and retain, stress management
production. In-fact, it costs the entire economy techniques.
money, estimated at €100 million per year in
Ireland. This is why harmful stress is now an
actionable civil wrong.
Stress Matters is a turnkey solution for
managing organisational stress. The analysis “Work related stress is the emotional, cognitive,
element of the system is based on the Health behavioural and physiological reaction to aversive
and Safety Authority and the Health and Safety and noxious aspects of work, work environments
Executive’s “Work Positive” framework. In and work organisations. It is characterised by high
addition to utilising this framework the system levels of arousal and distress and often by feelings of
incorporates tailored training for groups based not coping”
on issues identified during the internal audits.
This training may include areas such as Stress
Management, Assertiveness, Communication
Skills, Time Management, etc. The training is
needs-based and specific to each organisation.
The system also facilitates individual one-on-one
stress management for employees who want to
avail of it.
The Stress Matters Model
1 2 3
Workplace Stress Individual
Stress Management Therapy
Analysis Training (where appropriate)

3. Workplace Stress Analysis
What is this ?
This is the first step in the Stress Matters model.
It is based on the HSA/HSE’s work positive framework and will cover the following areas
Demands Includes issues like workload, work pattern and work environment.
Control How much say a person has in the way they do their work.
Support Includes encouragement and resources provided at all levels
Relationships How is conflict and unacceptable behaviour managed
Role Do people understand their roles and do people have conflicting roles
Change How change is managed and communicated
The analysis will include Identifying the hazards, Deciding who might be harmed and how, Evaluating the risks and deciding what needs
to be done, Recording your findings and Monitoring and reviewing progress
Why bother running a workplace stress risk assessment?
The Legal Case: Preventing Litigation The Business Case: Tackling Stress The Human Case: Corporate Social
Brings Business Benefits Responsibility
The law is clear: “an employer must
take all reasonable steps to protect an Research has shown work-related stress There is now convincing evidence that
employee from risks or hazards to health to have adverse effects for organisations prolonged periods of stress, including
and safety in the course of his employment in terms of: work-related stress, have an adverse effect
that are reasonably foreseeable in all the on health. Research provides strong links
circumstances of the case” »» Employee commitment to work between stress and
»» Staff performance and productivity
The last decade has seen a massive »» Staff turnover and intention to leave »» physical effects such as heart disease,
increase in case-law and judgements from »» Attendance levels back pain, headaches, gastrointestinal
the courts in the area of work place stress. »» Staff recruitment and retention disturbances or various minor
Many of the cases that show us how the »» Customer satisfaction illnesses; and
law deals with these claims are about »» Organisational image and reputation »» psychological effects such as anxiety
workload and resources. »» Potential litigation and depression
Now, more than ever, in light of their It is estimated that these issues cost the Stress can also lead to other behaviours
developing and increasingly sophisticated Irish economy €100million per year. that are harmful to health, such as skipping
attitude to work related stress, the courts meals, drinking too much caffeine or
are more likely to hold that a reasonable It is also worth thinking about the impact alcohol, or smoking. Tackling the causes
and prudent employer will have an that work-related stress could have on of stress before they lead to ill health can
assessment in writing specifically relating your unit or team. For example, losing one prevent this from happening.
to work related stress. Therefore an colleague for an extended period with a
employer who does so and implements it stress-related illness can have a dramatic How long will the analysis take ?
effectively may find the likelihood of being impact on the workload and morale of the
found responsible for work related stress rest of the team. Analysis will be run over a 4 week period.
and consequent claims greatly diminished. This would typically involve one day on
This is the case in Irish courts as they By taking action to tackle the causes of site per week, dependent on the size of
move along the same path as their UK stress in your workplace, you can prevent your organisation.
counterparts in their consideration that or significantly reduce the impact of these
work related stress is an environmental problems on your organisation. Full details and costs are available
risk that can be identified and prevented upon request.
like any other.

4. Stress Management Training
This is the second part of the Stress Why is this training
Matters system.
different?
Following the workplace stress analysis
key training needs will be identified. Stress Training courses are traditionally delivered in
Management training is the core module,however a flat academic manner resulting in a nice day
other issues may be identified so you can also out but poor retention and minimum impact on
access areas like Assertiveness, Communication job performance. The use of the G.I.F.T. method
Skills, Time Management, Change Management, created by Richard ensures that participants can
etc. The list is not exhaustive and the options experience the learning rather than just hear it.
offered are tailored to your organisation’s needs. Research shows that learners retain 80% of what
they experience compared to just 20% of what
they are told. The G.I.F.T. method adds another
What does this dimension to business training. It helps learners
tap into the motivations of the sub-conscious
entail? mind delivering lasting change.
This is a one day interactive course designed to Full details and costs are available upon
highlight the main sources of personal stress and request.
practical ways of dealing with them. It will usually
consist of groups of 10 people at a time. Each
person will take home a G.I.F.T. method CD that
they can play at home to reduce their personal
stress levels.
Individual
What are the
benefits?
Therapy
The third part of the Stress Matters model.
»» Higher productivity
»» Lower Absenteeism Individual Therapy, is an optional service that
»» Increased energy may be of benefit to some individuals within an
»» Increased clarity and focus organisation and can be incorporated as part of
»» Practical ways of self-managing stress your employee assistance programme.
»» Reduced personal stress levels
»» Happier at home and at work This is totally private one-on-one guidance for
»» Feel in control individuals who want to avail of it. It can range
from a short results-focussed intervention so a
At the end of this course the participants will person can exercise greater control over their
be able to: own specific stress response and triggers, to a
full analysis of deeper issues.
»» Understand the difference between good
stress and bad stress
»» Understand how pressure turns to stress
»» Identify the main sources of stress
»» Identify signs and symptoms of stress
»» Understand the stress response
»» Learn how to control personal stress

5. Profile of Richard Burke
Richard Burke
MBA,PIIE,MIITD,MICHP
Richard’s ability to design and deliver the full Stress Matters
model came from his very unique background, experience and
education.
He qualified as an Industrial Engineer in 1992, winning
the national A.P. O’Reilly award for his paper in Industrial
Psychology. He worked in the area of business improvement in
the manufacturing industry for 15 years. His primary remit was
focusing on changing organisational architecture and involving
people in the change process.
Richard was a member of the corporate safety audit team
for the global toy company, Hasbro. Having held management
roles in many multi-national businesses, he earned his Masters
Degree in Business Administration in 2002. He then qualified as
a registered trainer in 2007 with the I.I.T.D.
He has lectured in Waterford Institute of Technology at BSc
level presenting a subject called Organisations of the Future,
which focused on organisational design and change. He has also
been a keynote speaker at the last two National Lean Enterprise
conferences with his papers on how to manage organisational
change and stress.
Richard is a registered and insured analytical hypno-
psychotherapist with the I.C.H.P. and runs a private clinic where
he helps adults and children tackle a huge range of disorders
where psychological forces are involved. He specialises in stress
disorders.
As you can see, Richard has an in-depth knowledge of
organisations and people. His skill-set marries business and
organisational development with psychological understanding
and improvement. This unique insight is the reason that the
Stress Matters system delivers results.

6. Design by PassionForCreative.com Tel: 051 306 148
Turn Stress into Success
www.stressmatters.ie
T: 051 396 776 • M: 086 206 5469
E: info@stressmatters.ie