Last year I wrote about a charity asking its staff to stop singing at work because of potential financial implications. This year, however, following on from a deluge of music-related reality TV shows (Bradley Walsh in 'Maestro', anyone?), insurers Admiral are looking to a few 'doh, ray, mes' to motivate their call centre workers.
Admiral has hired Inspire, set up by two vocal coaches, to provide vocal health sessions aimed at motivating staff, team-building and reducing sickness and absenteeism. Forty staff have already formed a choir, meeting once a month over a six-month period, Singing work by Queen, The Blues Brothers and OutKast, they will perform in front of thousands of colleagues at the company's staff general meetings in Cardiff and Swansea
The morale boosting benefits of singing are well known, but Inspire will also participate in inductions for all new Admiral call centre staff, training them to use their voices effectively, and providing tips on avoiding sore throats and managing throat infections.
I could do the cynical journalist bit and decry this for a waste of money during a credit crunch, but I think it's a lovely idea.
