Courses on Managing Psychological Stress and Threats

How should you respond when a client breaks down in tears in front of you, or a member of your team gets angry and raises their voice? What should you do when you feel intimidated or threatened at work? In spring 2025, more than 100 UZH employees took part in three courses that tackled these questions. The course series on dealing with difficult and threatening people, which was put together by Human Resources and in-house and external experts and included actors, was offered for the first time.

The courses provided background knowledge and featured practical advice and exercises to help participants overcome communication challenges and respond appropriately to difficult interpersonal situations. Feedback from participants was mostly positive. Subject to demand, the courses will be offered again in two to three years (around 2027 or 2028). 

The Dealing with Difficult and Threatening People course series was organized and coordinated by Human Resources and included the following sessions:

• Communicating with Difficult People – Made Eas(ier): A half-day webinar on strategies to overcome communication challenges (in German)
• Managing Psychological Stress in the Workplace: A one-day course that included practical exercises to address and manage psychological strain (in German)
• Dealing with Physical Harassment or Threats at Work: A one-day course for UZH employees seeking greater confidence. Featuring expert insights (in German)