Learning and Development News

Samaritans Stress Down Day Campaign

By TJ (30-01-2008)
0 Comments Comments
Article Rating:

Poor Best

Email to a friend | Print Version

Learning and Development News - Samaritans Stress Down Day Campaign

Samaritans, the emotional support charity, is bringing seasonal relief to busy workers and raising awareness of the detrimental effects of stress on people’s health.

With over 80% of workers saying they would rather phone in sick with flu or another problem rather than admit they were stressed [i][i] Samaritans’ ambassador Graham Norton is encouraging people to speak out about work pressures and take better care of their emotional health this February.

Graham Norton said: “I did work with a nightmare boss once who everyone hated but the frightening moment now is when you realise ‘Oh my gosh, I am the boss! I am the one they go home and complain about!

“It is very important that there is a service like Samaritans out there, somebody people can turn to when things are really bleak and can’t manage to put things in perspective for themselves. It’s fantastic that no matter what time of day or night it is, there is someone to bounce off and assure you that this stressful time will pass.”

“I have had disasters at work and crazy interviews, but if they are funny we end up keeping them in the show to make people laugh.”

Employees are getting involved in the day by swapping stilettos for slippers, selling detoxing smoothies in the office, sponsoring colleagues to turn emails off for a couple of peaceful hours and creating a chill out zone for people to hire out throughout the day.

Companies involved in the day include Royal Mail, BUPA, Dorset Cereals, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Motorola, Taylor’s of Harrogate, Topshop, First Direct, Lloyd’s of London, Trader Media Group, RBC Dexia, Royal London, Allianz Insurance and WPA.

Other celebrity supporters include Stephen Fry, Trisha Goddard, Supernanny, rugby international Josh Lewsey and John Humphrys.  Find out more at www.stressdownday.org

Why Stress Down Day?

  • The findings of the Samaritans Stressed Out surveys 2006 and 2007 show that a third of UK workers cannot get to sleep at night through anxiety - and three-quarters cannot ‘switch off’ when they leave their office.
  • According to an HSE/Labour Force survey, stress in the workplace is frequently cited as the number one issue affecting employee productivity with the cost to the British economy being estimated at £3.7 billion per year, but added to this figure is the immeasurable amount of personal cost that stress and economic inactivity brings.
  • The European Union (EU) says that work-related stress affects 40 million workers in its member states and costs the EU at least €20 billion a year.


Back to top | Latest news

 

Readers Comment

Comment on this story here >

Be the first to comment on this news story