Starting the year with a ... sigh

A top city recruitment firm went one better than a dress-down day to end the week - with a stress-down week to start the year.

Consensus ñ which prides itself on looking after its employees ñ filled the traditionally depressing first week back after the Christmas break with a series of in-office treats designed to relax and amuse.

The first day, Tuesday January 4, saw staff arrive to be greeted by a butler, who served them breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea during the day, as well as running errands for them and generally taking care of their every need. Before they went home they were treated to a cocktail making demonstration ñ and invited to sample the exhibit!

Wednesdayís levity was focused on the two members of staff who had won the previous yearís sales incentive, and then on Thursday a yoga expert came in to teach yoga and meditation techniques to relax and de-stress the team.

At the end of the week, rather than being left to think ëthank goodness the first weekís overí, all the staff were presented with goody bags containing mementos of the week ñ including cocktail shakers and beginnersí guides to yoga - to enable them to continue their own relaxation at home.

A delighted ñ and laid-back ñ member of staff, Matthew Haines, said: ëThis was an inspired idea. No one likes coming back to work after a long couple of weeks partying ñ itís such an anticlimactic way to start the year. But this week has been relaxing and energising at the same time. We all feel rather loved, actually.í