Scrap January office blues and get in the pink!

At home, itís health-kicks and motivation all round, but what about at work? Research released today suggests that UK offices are more in sickness than in health.

Office Angels, the UKís leading secretarial recruitment consultancy, spoke to over 1,000 employees about how they were feeling after their first few days back at work. Looking at key areas of financial, psychological, emotional and physical wellbeing, it seems that far from being rested and re-motivated after the Christmas break, 76% of workers are suffering from the January office blues.

The ëepidemicí has prompted Office Angels to coin the phrase, Sick Office Syndrome (SOS). Working with Gladeana McMahon, expert Life Coach, Office Angels hopes to cure SOS and make the rest of January healthier, happier and more productive for UK workers.

Psychological Wellbeing
74% admit to downing tools on the dot of 5pm with 68% coming clean to daydreaming and/or procrastination. As a result, productivity levels in these first few days are significantly down. 36% also admit to feeling anxious about being back at work.

Gladeana prescribes, ìWhile itís important for your work-life balance that you maintain a healthy approach to your working hours, it is also important to switch your perspective from holiday mode to work mode. The more you invest in a situation the more satisfying it is, so banish those blues with a fresh new perspective tomorrow - think about what you can achieve in 2007.î

Emotional Health
Low morale is affecting three out of four (71%) UK employees as the tinsel is taken down and the social season is brought to an abrupt end.

Gladeana prescribes, ìWe invest so much time socialising with our colleagues in December it feels quite formal in the office when it all stops in January. So re-instate a bit of team bonding. Try a doughnut whip-round or a 15 minute tea break and gossip.î

Wealth Health
Nine out of 10 (92%) employees say January is their poorest month of the year. Home-made lunches are on the cards for 59% of workers and only 17% say they have treats to look forward to this month.

Gladeana prescribes, ìPlan something for pay day or next month - it will work psychological wonders. Having a goal to work towards, however small, gives meaning to work and a reason to feel enthusiastic and motivated.î

Physical Health
61% of workers say they feel unfit or overweight after the holiday excesses. A further quarter (24%) are already feeling miserable due to failed resolutions.

Gladeana prescribes, ìFitness doesnít have to involve expensive gyms. Why not start a sports club at work? Itís easy and cheap to arrange, great for team bonding and socialising and youíll start to feel fitter.î

Turning over an environmental leaf
Itís not all blue this January though ñ 48% of workers plan to turn over an environmental leaf and go greener this year. Of those, 100% plan to recycle paper ñ with 81% starting with Christmas cards. 52% also plan to start using glasses rather than plastic cups when getting a drink of water and 36% say they are going to try to conserve energy and be more environmentally friendly.

David Clubb, Managing Director of Office Angels, comments, ìWe all feel a bit flat in January but itís actually a really exciting time of year. Itís a clean slate, with new exciting projects to look forward to and a great time to think about what personal goals you want to achieve in the year ahead.î