New guidance on how managers can prevent and reduce stress in the workplace has been released by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Investors in People (IIP).

The research is part of a three-year project to identify how companies can tackle stress at work and sets out a 12-point competency framework including acting with integrity, managing conflict and handling emotions.

"This shows that managing stress at work is part and parcel of good people management," said Ben Willmott, employee relations adviser at the CIPD.

"Employers that invest in training and developing their managers to ensure they exhibit the behaviours that manage stress at work will also reap benefits in terms of reduced conflict and staff turnover, as well as increased motivation and commitment."

Stress and other mental health problems are the second biggest cause of working time lost to sickness absence, costing the UK an estimated £26bn a year.