Free online training to help combat workplace bullying

• Wednesday, 15 March 2006

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SkillSoft, the global online learning provider, is making free courses available to help employees tackle bullying, harassment and aggression at work.

Because of the web-based nature of the course delivery, managers and employees can access the three online SkillSoft courses at work or at home by visiting http://www.skillsoft.com/bullying. The courses are full courses rather than demos, representing over eight hours of training, and will be assessible until the end of July 2006.

“The issue of bullying at work is a serious matter and the extent of harassment in the workplace appears to be widespread” says Kevin Young, Managing Director of SkillSoft, “Even worse, new research emerges constantly which suggests that the problem is escalating. This situation has to be addressed, not only to help employees who are at the receiving end of such destructive behaviour, but for the sake of UK productivity, which is adversely affected as a result.”

Kay Baldwin-Evans, Head of Research at SkillSoft adds:

“As one of the biggest e-learning providers, we have a wide portfolio of courses which help address the main people challenges faced by UK organisations. We are offering a selection that tackles the issue of bullying and workplace hostility on our website as a small step towards dealing with this problem.”

Ends - Further information from Louise Jaggs, TextOnTap on +44 (0)1242 257770 or email louise@textontap.com

Notes to editors - free courses as follows:

1. Harassment at Work – This course tackles the issue of bullying and harassment in the workplace. From jokes to violence, you will explore the range of behaviour that can be described as harassment, and understand the nature of the problem. You will explore the way that harassment is now defined, and the forms of harassment that are most common, and identify ways of dealing with and preventing harassment, including understanding the legislation. Nobody quite knows the extent of harassment in the workplace, but figures which suggest that 73 per cent of workers have experienced bullying, and 45 per cent have experienced sexual harassment, show how big the problem is. Is it happening in your workplace now? Do you want to know how to stop it?

2. Working with Aggressive People - Aggressive people are arguably the most difficult type of people to work with. Hostile-aggressives openly antagonise people; passive-aggressives work behind the scenes with hidden agendas. This course details the characteristics of the six most common types of aggressive people and provides effective ways you can cope with their behaviours.

3. Difficult People in the Workplace – If you have to deal with difficult people at work on a regular basis this course will guide you in your journey to coping effectively with them. You'll learn step-by-step methods and processes to help you identify difficult people and learn how to deal and communicate with them.

About SkillSoft – www.skillsoft.com – NASDAQ: SKIL
SkillSoft is a major provider of comprehensive e-learning content and technology products for business and IT professionals within global enterprises. SkillSoft’s multi-modal learning solutions support and enhance the speed and effectiveness of both formal and informal processes and integrate SkillSoft's in-depth content resources, learning management platform, virtual meeting and virtual classroom technology and support services.

Content offerings include SkillSoft’s business, IT desktop and compliance courseware collections and BusinessPro, ITPro, OfficeEssentials, FinancePro, EngineeringPro, GovEssentials, ExecSummaries andd ExecBlueprints collections from Books24x7. SkillSoft’s complimentary technologies include SkillPort, the company’s learning management system with its powerful Search-and-Learn technology and premium add-on modules, and SkillSoft Dialogue virtual meeting and virtual classroom technology; a solution that allows customers to create and deliver effective blended learning programmes using custom content and off-the-shelf learning resources.

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