The Chartered Institute for Personnel Development (CIPD) has launched two courses to help human resources (HR) managers cope with challenges in the economic crisis.

Practical Employee Relations provides managers with the tools to handle worker relations and strikes in unionised and non-unionised workplaces.

The second course, Managing Redundancy, offers the legal knowledge and skills to cope with the complex redundancy process effectively.

Andrew Spencer, head of training at the CIPD, said it is important for HR managers to be prepared for the challenges the credit crunch may bring.

"Investing in talent now will equip organisations to ride the current storm and be all the stronger when things improve," he added.

The Employee Relations Survey by the organisation shows a third of managers expect employees to carry out strike action.

Frequent communication between bosses and employees is the key to raising spirits in the current economic crisis, a survey by staffing service company Accountemps shows.

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