Following 10 years of running stress management workshops, AstraZeneca set up the CALM programme in 1996 with the aim of promoting well-being and balanced living for their 10,000 UK employees. The programme is designed to encourage thought on life management – to help people recognise signs of stress and to provide routes of support. It includes:

■ Advice and help for employees to try to achieve a sensible balance between home and work.

■ Advice and education on a range of topics, such as caring for aged relatives and dealing with childhood difficulties.

■ Confidential counselling service on any personal problems relating to bereavement, marital matters, drug and alcohol dependency, etc.

■ Short courses providing a ‘personal MOT’ encouraging employees to assess their health and life-style and to give advice on ‘fine-tuning’.

■ Workshops on coping with pressure, including ‘Believing in yourself’ and ‘Understanding other people’ and ‘Pressure Management’. A special series of one-to-one workshops for 150 top executives was initiated in 2001 for them to talk through their professional life and relationships with staff with several sessions over a 12-month period.

■ A website, leaflets and a small library loan service.

In 1999, members of the CALM team saw 9% of employees, an increase of 1.5% over 1998. The cost of CALM has been more than re-coupled by lower illness and a sustained reduction in absence from psychological conditions.