Fighting stress

Arla Foods’ Group management has approved a new personnel policy aimed at preventing and handling stress in the workplace.

The move follows an internal survey which shows that 26% of Arla Foods’ employees experience stress “frequently” or “very frequently”. Although the figures probably do not differ from comparable companies, it’s agreed that there are too many cases of stress.

“There are simply too many of our employees who feel under stress,” said Managing Director Åke Modig. “This is why we’ve decided to put stress prevention measures on the agenda.”

Managers across Arla Foods are currently receiving a leaflet that sets out Arla Foods’ policy on stress. The guidelines include: Arla Foods’ managers are responsible for preventing and handling stress Arla Foods’ actively and sympathetically supports employees suffering from stress National and local policies and action plans against stress will be drawn up.

One of the leaflet’s key pieces of advice to managers is to develop a management style that is characterised by precise and unequivocal feedback.

“Stress often occurs when the employee doesn’t know whether he/she is meeting the requirements of the workplace,” says psychologist Henrik Møller Andersen, Project Manager, Group HR.

According to Henrik Møller Andersen, managers should be a good role model for their team and ensure that all employees are fully aware of what’s expected of them.