Stress down day -- in your slippers

JOIN WITH SAMARITANS FOR STRESS DOWN DAY We're all involved in the "anti-stress" industry. Whether it's a relaxing facial, a muscle-relieving massage or a spa break, relaxation is key and can help guard against or lower stress levels. As part of the Samaritan's Stress Down Day next year, the group is encouraging everyone to wear their slippers to work. Samaritans is looking for companies keen to join them on a Cause Related Marketing (CRM) basis for Stress Down Day. If you feel your products or your organisation fits the theme of reducing stress, calm and relaxation, down-time, perhaps that summertime healthy mind and healthy body balance, then the charity would be happy to hear from you. This will be a fun approach to reducing stress in day to day life with a special emphasis on work-related stress. Funds raised will help Samaritans in its ongoing 24:7 emotional health support work - much of it directed at supporting people whose anxieties and fears are triggered by stress in the first place. The official day -- 1st February -- targets all types of workers and offers PR and branding opportunities. Stress Down Day will this year raise awareness of stress across all work environments - not only in offices - but in factories and also for people who are at home such as working mums or dads who look after the children and the home.

Use the day as an opportunity to obtain employee feedback on stress levels, encourage employee suggestions on reducing stress at work or debate the difference between 'stress' and 'pressure'.

Samaritans ‘owns’ the Stress Down Day concept and this is its second such event - last year’s proved a windfall in marketing and publicity terms for the companies who ‘came on board.’ Samaritans’ Stressed Out Survey was carried out across all regions of the UK by nfpSynergy and received maximum media coverage in National print and radio stations as well as country-wide regional media - and this year’s survey will include the Republic of Ireland as well. A staggering 21 million people read or heard about Samaritans’ survey and Stress Down Day event between December 2006 and February 2007. An impressive 108 radio stations reported the survey and Stress Down Day, which was launched at the London Stock Exchange at an event that 800 Human Resources and Occupational Health professionals were invited to. For 2007’s Stress Down Day, Firefly Tonics held a photo competition with the winning photo appearing on a special “Chill Out” bottle of their drinks, which was sold to accompany the day, with some proceeds going towards Samaritans funds. Taylor’s of Harrogate provided 10,000 tea bags which were handed out at train stations where a Stress Down Day leaflet distribution was carried out - and Harvey Nichols sold Firefly drinks and also offered free relaxing massages to people buying them.

A Samaritans’ survey conducted by Tickbox.net showed that a third of UK workers cannot get to sleep at work at night, though anxiety, and three quarters don’t ‘switch off’ when they leave the office. The research also showed that the most stressed employment sector was those working in the financial sector.

Stress in the workplace is frequently cited as the number one issue affecting staff productivity. A report from consultancy firm Woodrow Wyatt showed that 72% of employees identified stress as their major concern. WorkLife is a training programme developed by Samaritans available to organisations which specifically addresses the issue of stress within the workplace for managers and teams. Hazel Norval, Corporate Relations Manager with Samaritans said: "Stress Down Day provides fantastic business benefits for brands which have a strong association or fit with Stress Down Day. Benefits to previous sponsors and partners have included increased sales, positive publicity, sampling opportunities and being able to demonstrate their CSR. “There’s a buzz about the day already. We’ve linked with Jongleurs for a comedy night on the evening before Stress Down Day in Camden - laughter’s a great way to stress down after all. We’d really welcome more companies to come in with us as partners on a sponsorship level. “ Sponsorship and CRM enquiries should be directed to Hazel Norval at Samaritans on 0208 394 8281or email [email protected]