§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in developing management standards on policies(a) to tackle bullying and (b) to improve relationships in the workplace. [116822]
§ Alan JohnsonAs a part of its priority programme on work-related stress, the Health and Safety Executive is currently working with organisations from the public and private sector to develop and pilot standards of good management practice designed to act as a yardstick to organisations in measuring their success in tackling work-related stress. One of these Standards, the Relationship Management Standard, will address the issue of bullying.
During June 2003 the draft standards and supporting tools and guidance will be placed on the Health and Safety Executive's website to encourage all sizes and types of companies to try out this innovative approach and take action. Any feedback they provide will be incorporated when the system is formally developed for launch next year. The Draft standards can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/stress.