Reflexologists, iridologists and physiotherapists are not the analysts usually associated with Warburg Dillon Read, but a platoon of them was hired in to "destress" the bank's London workforce. Over the three-day event, all but 40 of the bank's staff turned up to get their cholesterol and blood pressure tested, and to take in advice on alternative therapies.
The event was organized by company nurse Elaine Fletcher. "The idea is to remind people to relax," she says. "To give them health education and a feeling of well being. We even managed to raise some money for charity by giving away yo-yos in return for donations to the Kosovo appeal."
There were gyms, hand cream, "friendly" yogurts, alcohol advice and even chocolate-covered brazil nuts.
But being bankers a lot of it ended up as rush, rush, rush. One delegate says: "Of course, most people just made a beeline straight for the cholesterol queue and then had a quick massage." Jack Dyson