Firms offered 'Blue Monday' help

Blue Monday falls on the first day of the last full week of January

A special course is being run to help businesses cope with unhappy workers on the "most depressing day of the year".

Experts calculate that 'Blue Monday' will fall on January 21 - the first work day in the last week of January.

A team of counsellors from Kirkcaldy in Fife will advise managers of medium-sized businesses on how to spot the symptoms of depression and stress.

Triggers for Blue Monday include the weather and the arrival of the Christmas credit card bill.

The formula was calculated from research carried out by psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall.

'Real life'

The half-day course is being held at the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce on Friday 18 January, the last working day before Blue Monday.

It is aimed at companies with up to 250 employees.

Jeni McCabe from HR consultancy Simple Corporate Resource Solutions said: "Problems can arise with the festivities being over, 'real life' resuming, foul weather, first credit card bills of the year coming through our doors and so on.

"But in reality these symptoms cause year-round headaches for employers. Our event will help delegates prevent and treat these common workplace ailments.

"There's no doubt that a happy workforce is a productive workforce."

Fife-based InterActions, which provides counselling services to companies, will share with delegates the secrets of what to look out for.

Organisers have said that spotting signs of anxiety and depression can reduce absenteeism.