FEELING valued and listened to at work is something most people would put at the top of their list of expectations from their employers.

And making sure staff are happy and productive can have huge benefits for employers.

That’s the thinking behind a scheme at a North Essex optician where they have taken listening to employees to the next level.

Manager of Specsavers in Colchester Kelly Heard explains how the staff have been taking part in yoga sessions at the town centre premises once work has finished for the day and the clients have all gone home.

A professional teacher conducts the classes and Kelly says uptake and the response from colleagues has been hugely positive with the course now on its second intake.

Kelly says the overall idea is to look at well-being in the workplace and to respond to any issues raised by staff.

“A few of our opticians had begun saying they were having discomfort in their necks, which is something that can happen as you are spending a lot of the day looking down in this line of work.

“We are carrying out lots of different tests that involve that, looking down, so it can happen that your neck and shoulders can begin to ache a bit.

“And sometimes that can make you feel a bit down, because it is a constant feeling.

“The directors took this information on board and listened to what was being said and decided to look into getting some yoga session set up,” she adds.

Doctors had advised one of the staff this would be a good way of helping with any strain put on the neck and shoulders by the nature of the work being carried out by the opticians.

“The first session was available for up to eight of us to attend and we have a qualified instructor.

“We gave her, Heidi, feedback about what was and wasn’t helping and it really is working for all those who took up the chance to do it.

“We do it on a Friday night which is a great chance to wind down at the end of the week,” says Kelly.

The yoga sessions, which began a couple of months ago, have been such a success a second course has now begun and the sessions looks set to become a long-term fixture.

“They made sure people who had not done it the first time got to do it the second and then the spaces were filled by anyone who wanted to do it again,” she says.

It has also sparked off an outside interest in some of the staff - including Kelly - in getting more involved in yoga.

“I have started going to my own outside class, on a Tuesday, which I pay for, because I enjoyed it so much and there are others who have done the same.

“We didn’t have to but getting the chance to try it at work, and for us to just be able to stay in the office to do it after work without going anywhere, gave us a real opportunity,” admits Kelly.

And she says the fact the bosses have been pro-active with suggestions and concerns from staff is a major morale-boost.

“Of course it makes a huge difference to know they are listening and they are doing all they can to make sure we are feeling good about what we do.

“They came up with a suggestion that really worked and that is really good for morale.”