Staff strip naked to improve morale (England)

[Danee]

Staff strip naked to improve morale


Staff at a design and marketing company in Newcastle spent a day working together naked after being told it would improve their morale.

By Ben Leach
Published: 12:00PM BST 02 Jul 2009


David Taylor, a business psychologist, told workers at design and marketing onebestway, in Newcastle upon Tyne, that a Naked Friday idea would boost their team spirit.

He was called in to help the firm after six staff members were forced into taking redundancies at the start of the credit crunch.
Mr Taylor told them that, by stripping off their clothes, staff could also strip away inhibitions and talk to each other more openly and honestly.

He said: "Inviting an organisation to go naked is the most extreme technique I've used. It may seem weird but it works. It's the ultimate expression of trust in yourself and each other."

Despite some initial reluctance, nearly all the staff took off all their clothes – except for one man, who wore a posing pouch, and one of two female workers, who kept on black underwear.

Sam Jackson, 23, the house manager, was the only woman to go fully naked. She said: "It was brilliant. Now that we've seen each other naked, there are no barriers.

"We weren't put under pressure. If we wanted to come in clothed or in our underwear, we could. But I love my body and wasn't ashamed.

"We're all beautiful, whether we've got big bodies or small ones."

Miss Jackson, who suffers from cerebral palsy, said: "It took a week of David being in the office for us to build up courage. The first few steps were very nerve-racking but, once I got to my desk and got used to it, I felt totally comfortable.

"It was emotional but we found we were much more able to talk to each other honestly – and have been since. The company has improved massively."

The experiment in April was filmed for a one-off TV show, Naked Office, to be screened on July 9 on cable channel Virgin 1.


From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5718984/Staff-strip-naked-to-improve-morale.html

[joeyn]

That sounds pretty cool. Definitely wouldn't happen at my work though.

Joey

[Josiah]

Interesting technique, maybe other workplaces might follow suit.

[Toddo]

Yeah I'd love it if it caught on everywhere. I also saw this story on the news online and in a local newspaper. Great to see positive coverage.

[joeyn]

Says the documentary airs on July 9th. Someone will have to report on it.

Joey

[Doug]

how awesome!!  i'd love to be able to go to work nude  :)  i don't think it'd be done here in the states though no matter how well it works but man it'd be cool.

[TheSilentWithin]

That is pretty awesome Danee.... how do you find this stuff :-)

[joeyn]

That is pretty awesome Danee.... how do you find this stuff :-)

She must be a news junkie!
 

[Danee]

That is pretty awesome Danee.... how do you find this stuff :-)

She must be a news junkie!
 

See post 3 on this thread bois...

http://internationalyn.org/forum/index.php/topic,777.msg6596.html#msg6596

 

[TheSilentWithin]

That is pretty awesome Danee.... how do you find this stuff :-)

She must be a news junkie!
 

See post 3 on this thread bois...

http://internationalyn.org/forum/index.php/topic,777.msg6596.html#msg6596

 

Indeed :-) Now your smiley made me want a cup of coffee    Off to the brewer!  This is my first morning off in forever and I am sooo happy 

[vanesa1017]

HAHAHA I guarantee this would NEVER happen at my work!

[Danee]

HAHAHA I guarantee this would NEVER happen at my work!

Again, denial doesnt suit you!  We know!  We know! Remember the lockerroom thread?  Yes you do...

[vanesa1017]

LOL you all know me too well! 

Actually, I have an interesting story that fits here.  There are 2 summer school English teachers, me and the other teacher, Diane.  She is the head of the English department, has been teaching at the school for over 20 years and is who first told me I should run to school in the morning and shower there as she does that every morning.  Well she always got to school early and showered before the kids got there (and as you know I showered during my planning period). 

Now since I have no planning period because of summer school, we often get to work around the same time and have been showering at the same time in the gang showers of the girls locker room.  It has actually turned into being a time when we discuss lesson plans, students, our runs and every now and then other teachers.

Now it is not the whole staff and it certainly does not involve any of the kids but I guess Diane and I are certainly in the mold of this office.  And yes our morale is incredibly high!   

[rebecca]

I was planning on watching this and am annoyed that I missed it, does anyone know where to watch it online?

[tc1978]

This could have worked at a couple of places that I have worked, but not at my current job.