Member Article

Daisy staff given the opportunity to address their stress

**Staff at Nelson-based business communications provider, Daisy Communications, might be feeling a little more relaxed this week as they were treated to a range of stress-busting activities. **

The business, one of East Lancashire’s largest employers, held a week’s worth of free activities, including a yoga session, body massages and organised walks. The initiative was created to help staff find coping mechanisms for stress as part of the UK’s International Stress Awareness Week.

In 2018/19, more than half a million workers suffered from work-related stress, anxiety or depression, which accounted for 44 per cent of all the cases of work-related ill health in Britain*.

Lee Bayman, HR Director at Daisy Communications, said: “Reducing stress levels both inside and outside of the workplace is something we’re passionate about to ensure our people are energised and have coping mechanisms to manage stress.

“Our Health and Wellbeing team is continuously looking at ways we can bring our people together or engage with external businesses to help reduce any tension and pressure they feel.

“It was great to see so many people take part in activities and the feedback we’ve received has been positive. I’d like to thank the local businesses that took part for their support and we hope to be able to do something similar again in the future.”

With the help of Barrowford business Salon Twenty Seven, staff were given a chance to receive a ten-minute massage to relieve stress and tension on one of the days.

Maria Midgely, Manager at Salon Twenty Seven, said: “We sent two of our girls to perform either hand and foot massages or head, neck and shoulder massages on Daisy staff. It’s great to have been able to support this great initiative and, hopefully, people enjoyed their taster session and we’ll see them again in the future to help relieve any stress.”

With 9 out of 10 yoga enthusiasts saying the ancient workout relieves stress, local yoga studio, Your Yoga Experience at FX, were also invited to conduct an early morning class before everyone started their working day.

Group walks were also held on lunchtimes through the week, while Blackburn College was invited into the office to discuss the wide variety of adult hobby courses it can offer.

A local sweet supplier will be in the office providing staff an opportunity to grab some goodies to help lower stress levels. Staff will also be provided with green tea sachets to help them reduce their caffeine intake which is a common cause of stress.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andrew Frost .