A technology firm based in Greater Manchester has experienced a 12% increase in staff productivity since introducing a yoga-based wellbeing programme for employees.
Aspect IT, which recently celebrated its fifteenth year in business, held its first yoga workshop during International Stress Awareness Week on 9th November 2018.
The workshops, which will take place bi-monthly, are part of a wider strategy to promote workplace wellbeing, combat stress and increase staff productivity.
Through Aspect IT’s time tracking software, the firm has measured a 12% increase in productivity across employee timesheets.
The workshops which are led by registered yoga teacher, Joe Peate, from Heather Yoga in Shipley, West Yorkshire, took staff through a sequence of breathing exercises and yoga postures to help tackle tension that can be triggered by stress in the workplace. Joe also gave useful tips and advice on how staff could work to improve their posture and general sitting environment.
Established in 2003 by technology specialists, Peter Dorotiak and Ian Howarth, Aspect IT provides IT services, web design and software development to small and medium sized businesses in the Greater Manchester region.
Co-director, Peter Dorotiak commented:
“There have been many changes to Aspect IT since we celebrated our fifteenth year in business earlier this year. The wellbeing of our staff has always been of upmost importance to us but we’ve really decided to make this a priority this year and introduce some solid plans to help the team combat stress in the workplace.
“A report commissioned by the prime minister in 2017 revealed that poor mental health costs employers up to £42bn a year – this is an incredible figure and we want to be part of the solution to reduce this.
“The first workshop was very well received by staff and we hope they’ll continue to enjoy the workshops that we have scheduled over the next few months.
“We believe that a happy, healthy, looked-after team will feel empowered and eager to perform at their best. After all, most people spend a third of their life in work, so they want to feel fulfilled and have their contribution valued.”
