HR brings in crisis training to tackle credit crunch

A hike in crisis training is the result of HR bosses turning to media tactics as a way of dealing with the economic downturn.

Ann Alexander of Alexander Macdonald, a media training consultancy, said: "There is a real paranoia in certain sectors that their firm's failings will be highlighted in the media and they will be tainted by a Northern Rock-style media trial.

"A perception that a company is struggling or has even gone under is a real threat to businesses and management teams know it. We've seen a threefold increase in the number of clients who are requesting crisis management training to protect themselves as best as they can from hostile probings by business journalists."

Macdonald offers the following 10 tips for managing a credit crunch crisis:

1. Don't crawl under a stone hoping the issue will go away. Equally, don't make any hasty defensive comments.

2. Investigate quickly to establish if the story is true. Ensure you know all the facts before responding but remember speed is of the essence.

3.