Seminar on Managing Workplace Stress

Marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Workplace, the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) will conduct a seminar on ‘Managing Workplace Stress’ on 29 April at the EFC Auditorium from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The seminar is aligned with the theme of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for the World Day for Safety and Health at Workplace2016: ‘Workplace Stress: A collective challenge’. 

The ILO’s  report on ‘Workplace Stress: A collective challenge’ (http://www.ilo.org/safework/events/safeday/lang--en/index.htm) presents trends on work-related stress in both developed and developing countries with a view to raising awareness of the magnitude of the problem in the new context of the world of work. It provides an interregional overview of the prevalence and impact of work-related stress, and examines legislation, policies and interventions for its management at international, regional, national and workplace levels. 

Through a Delphi survey it further identifies and assesses future scenarios and contributing factors in this field. The results of this study will also be used in supporting ILO constituents to take action in this field at national and enterprise levels. 

The report notes that ‘focusing on the study of stress in the world of work has increased since the 1990s, particularly on the impact of work-related stress on workers’ health and its management. There has been growing attention on the effects of psychosocial hazards and risks and work-related stress among researchers and policymakers. Occupational safety and health (OSH) practice has expanded beyond its traditional scope to incorporate behavioural medicine, occupational health psychology and social wellbeing, thereby acknowledging people’s need to conduct a socially and economically productive life’. The seminar organised by the EFC will focus on managing/minimising workplace stress and also bring under the spotlight the issues related to work-life balance in organisations. It will bring together a team of professionals drawn from the corporate and the clinical sectors to enlighten the audience on this global issue. 

Dr. Mahesh Rajasuriya, Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, will deliver the main lecture on stress and stress management in the work place. This will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by EFC Human Resource Development Senior Consultant Dr. K.L. Chandrathilake.

The panellists will be Hemas Hospitals Thalawathugoda General Manager Dr. Chamila Ariyananda, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Director General Dr. ChampikaAmarasinghe, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC General Manager Human Resources

Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya, Hayleys Group of Companies General Manager Group Human Resources Jayendra De Silva, Virtusa Ltd. Director Human Resources Chandi Dharmaratne and EFC Director General KanishkaWeerasinghe.

For registration, interested parties may get in touch with Gaya Kariyawasam on2867966-8, or email to [email protected].