Organization of virtual meeting with project partners via MS Teams on 3. 7. 2023. The event's content will be coordination issues, research design, distribution of tasks, and desk research. A project plan will be developed that outlines how the project will be carried out within time and cost constraints. The virtual kick-off meeting is carried out to bring all project partners to a common understanding of the project. Each of the sub-project teams of the partner countries will be assigned tasks to solve.

LINK

Organization of a two-day international workshop, "Stress management in the workplace," in the Czech Republic (České Budějovice). The objective will be to bring together the academic community and business practitioners. The event will combine the presentation of the latest scientific developments in stress management area, interactive discussion, and other forms of interpersonal exchange of experiences. Another part of the workshop will be a comparison of the research, presentation of the research findings, preparation of the planned monograph, and other scientific outputs.

Press release

On November 2nd and 3rd, a two-day workshop was held at the Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, focusing on the issue of stress and stress management in the business environment. The workshop is a part of project "Readiness of small and medium-sized enterprises in V4 for stress management interventions" which is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from tInternational Visegrad Fund. This workshop brought together research teams from Visegrád Group countries, specifically teams from Poland (Wroclaw University of Economics and Business), Slovakia (University of Presov), and Hungary (Budapest University of Technology and Economics), in addition to our faculty.

The workshop attracted not only academics and students but also employment experts, HR specialists, and representatives from the South Bohemian Chamber of Commerce. Discussions during the workshop were intense and open, leading to valuable insights and solutions regarding workplace stress. Participants had the opportunity to share their experiences and find common paths to address the entire issue, benefiting both in theory and practical application for businesses.

In addition to the rich academic debates, the workshop featured a diverse cultural program that allowed participants to network and enjoy shared activities outside the lecture halls. This workshop was a valuable contribution to all involved and reinforced collaboration between universities and industrial partners in the field of workplace stress management.

The developed questionnaire serves as a comprehensive tool designed to analyze and address workplace stress management practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across participating countries. Created collaboratively by the project team, it is available in four language versions—Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, and Polish—ensuring cultural and linguistic relevance for each region. The questionnaire aims to systematically gather insights on:

- Awareness and knowledge of stress management issues within companies.Implementation and effectiveness of stress management strategies.

• Identification and assessment of work-related stressors.
• Evaluation of coping strategies utilized by employees and organizations.
• Exploration of the economic aspects related to workplace stress.

Additionally, the questionnaire incorporates questions regarding the organizational profile, enabling a deeper understanding of the context in which these stress management practices operate.

The tool is designed for use with small and medium-sized enterprises, with a focus on gathering data from a diverse range of industries. This approach ensures that the findings reflect the varied nature of business environments and the specific challenges SMEs face in managing workplace stress.

The questionnaire is structured for electronic distribution and optimized for use via digital platforms, facilitating streamlined data collection and analysis. To ensure a consistent approach across regions, each national team was tasked with translating and disseminating the questionnaire, adapting it to their local context while maintaining alignment with the overall research objectives.

This questionnaire represents a critical component of the project, supporting the development of actionable insights and recommendations for improving stress management practices in SMEs.

The monograph will consist of a description of the current state of the issue, an overview of the research findings, a statistical evaluation of the data, a comparison of the process in V4 states, and recommendations for businesses

The monograph is in English for educational purposes and is intended primarily for academic and pedagogical use, but also for professionals in the field and other interest groups.On the basis of the available budget and the publisher's quotation valid at the time of publication, 160 copies of the 175-page monograph were agreed and paid for. This quantification reflected both the financial possibilities of the project and the expected demand among academic institutions and the professional public. Recommendations for practice have then been developed from the monograph.

Chapters: Nikola Soukupová, Markéta Kocourková, Martin Pech (chap. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8); Jana Klicnarová, Jan Fiala, Tomáš Roskovec (chap. 6, 7); Zuzana Birknerová, Lucia Zbihlejová (chap. 3); Dorota Molek-Winiarska, Jakub Drzewiecki (chap. 4); Ágota Kun, Hajnalka Turóczi, Péter Balogh (chap. 5).

This methodology provides a practical guide for implementing effective stress management strategies in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and organizations. It is tailored to the specific business environments of the Visegrad Four (V4) countries—Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. The content is based on research conducted by the project team and addresses current challenges related to workplace stress.

The methodology includes:

• Stress Audit: Tools and procedures to identify the primary stressors in the workplace.
• Development of a Stress Management Policy: Recommendations for establishing clear goals and procedures, supported by a comprehensive communication strategy.
• Action Plan: Practical steps incorporating organizational and individual interventions, such as training, ergonomic improvements, and employee well-being support.
• Role of Technology: Suggestions for utilizing digital tools to monitor and mitigate stress.
• Stress Management Model: An integrated approach combining organizational and individual measures.

The recommendations address the low awareness and implementation of stress management practices in enterprises. They equip businesses with tools to prevent the negative impacts of stress, such as burnout, turnover, and decreased productivity, while supporting sustainability and competitiveness.

The methodology is available in Czech, Slovak, Polish, and Hungarian.

The product is published exclusively in an online format for easy distribution and efficient dissemination. To download the methodology, click the link below.