Ultrasis Plc Regulatory News (ULT)

18 Mar 2005 08:00

Ultrasis PLC18 March 2005 Ultrasis PLC ("Ultrasis") New client Announcement Largest council in UK opts for Calm Workplace Every one of Birmingham City Council's 55,000 employees will shortly be havingaccess to the latest stress management tool from interactive healthcarespecialist Ultrasis plc. The UK's largest single local authority employer, Birmingham City Council (BCC),has placed an order for Ultrasis' Calm Workplace - Work Related Stress Audit(WRSA) as part of a groundbreaking initiative to help them reduce the incidenceand effects of work related stress across its operations. Work related stress is a growing national problem which is estimated to resultin the loss of 13 million working days each year at an annual cost to theeconomy of £7 billion. Last year the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issuednew stress management standards to guide employers in identifying potentialproblems in a bid to cut down stress related absences. BCC is committed to addressing these issues as a matter of priority andintroducing Calm Workplace - WRSA is seen as an integral part in this endeavour. Using the internet enabled tool with access gained via a system of on-lineregistration, BCC employees will be able to fill in a very user-friendlyquestionnaire through a standard web browser on a PC. The Calm Workplace - WRSA programme then automatically consolidates the datafrom individual employees and uses its sophisticated analysis and reportingcapabilities to identify potential stressors in the workplace environment. Although web-based, the system still allows data to be collected from employeeswho do not have access to a computer - responses on hard copy questionnaires arekeyed in centrally. The way that Calm Workplace - WRSA collects and analysesdata ensures that employee anonymity is protected whilst enabling the managementteam at the Council to identify potential areas of concern which may requireremedial action in the different areas of its operations. The implementation of the new initiative, which has been developed followingconsultation with BCC, will be progressively rolled out by BCC from Aprilonwards. Ultrasis plc's CEO, Graham Lewis commented; "We are delighted to be chosen byBirmingham City Council to help them get a better understanding of potentialfactors which could be causing stress and therefore impeding productivity.Although the impact in financial terms is relatively modest at this stage, thisinitial order from the largest employer organisation of its type in Europe, letalone in the UK, is a significant development for Ultrasis." He added; "It demonstrates that we have a highly effective, value for moneyproduct in an area which is of increasing concern for both public and privatesector employers alike. This positive endorsement bodes well for the long termpotential of our Calm Workplace - WRSA product." Birmingham City Council is the second local authority to have invested inUltrasis products in recent months. Last month, Kent County Council placed anorder for Calm Workplace - The Relief Series, Ultrasis' interactive packageusing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques, to help individuals manageissues such as anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia in a pilot programme forits 25,000 staff. ENDS Enquiries Ultrasis PlcCharlie Martin, Executive Director0207 566 3900 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange