Harald KUPFER
Consulting & Human Resources
GERMANY
ABSTRACT
A large part of a person´s life is spent on the job or in a professional setting. One isn´t alone or isolated, but in more or less periodical or constant contact with one´s work environment co-workers, subordinates, employees, superiors, customers, and so on. Each of them contributes his own aims, interests, and values. The different ways of thinking and behaviour create a high potential for conflicts. Troubles at the work are well known, as well as strain caused by stressful work. But nowadays, and that is what is new about it, emotional strain has increased significantly. The number of employees who retire untimely because of psychical stress has doubled in only ten years according to official statistics. On the one hand causal psychical stress could arise because of the actual job, but on the other hand because of stress or psychosocial conflicts with co-workers or superiors, which spreads throughout the workplace.
KEY WORDS: interpersonal relations, conflict, HRM, psychological stress.
