Infozone: the briefing – 16/07/10

ERRORS CAUSED BY RUDE BEHAVIOUR

Rudeness in the workplace causes staff to make more mistakes, even if they are not on the receiving end of the aggression, a psychologist has warned. Heated discussions with colleagues, arguments and rudeness cause people to lose concentration, according to Rhona Flin, a professor at Aberdeen University. She stressed the problem was widespread, and surveys had shown one in 10 workers witness rudeness daily. Flin said studies had shown being the victim of rudeness can impair cognitive skills, with students who were insulted by a professor performing worse on subsequent memory tasks.

STRESSED OUT BY FINANCIAL DEBT

Employers are being urged to support workers who have money worries in light of new research that revealed stress levels among employees have doubled in four years. Up to 42 million adults suffer finance-related stress, according to Axa's Money Sickness Syndrome report. Bills, debts, a high cost of living and concerns over job security were cited as the main triggers. Higher level managers fared worst - 21% have constant stress due to money worries, compared with just 9% of skilled manual workers, the research based on 2,000 people found.

TRIBUNAL CLAIMS CONTINUE TO SOAR

The number of claims accepted by employment tribunals has increased by 56% to the highest level on record, according to new data. Figures published by the Tribunal Service reveal the number of claims accepted by employment tribunals in 2009-10 increased to 236,100, up from 151,000 the previous year. The number of claims associated with redundancy pay also shot up by 76% from 10,800 in 2008-09 to 19,000. Unfair dismissal claims also increased by 9% to 57,400.