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| Executive stress a boon for island rehab | Executive stress a boon for island rehab |
| (4 days later) | |
| By Katie Hunt Business reporter, BBC News, Osea Island, Essex | By Katie Hunt Business reporter, BBC News, Osea Island, Essex |
| Few taxis will make the journey to Osea, a private island accessible for just four hours a day when the tide is low. | Few taxis will make the journey to Osea, a private island accessible for just four hours a day when the tide is low. |
| Drivers are reluctant to cross the ancient causeway that connects the island to the Essex coast for fear the salt water will rust their engines. | Drivers are reluctant to cross the ancient causeway that connects the island to the Essex coast for fear the salt water will rust their engines. |
| But that's not a problem for most visitors - who fly in by helicopter. | |
| The island is a rehab centre where burnt-out rock stars, high flyers and celebrities seek treatment for mental health problems, addiction and eating disorders. | The island is a rehab centre where burnt-out rock stars, high flyers and celebrities seek treatment for mental health problems, addiction and eating disorders. |
| And the patch of lawn that doubles as the island's helipad is getting busier - The Causeway Retreat says the recession has boosted its business as stressed-out executives follow in Amy Winehouse's footsteps and check in to recharge their batteries. | And the patch of lawn that doubles as the island's helipad is getting busier - The Causeway Retreat says the recession has boosted its business as stressed-out executives follow in Amy Winehouse's footsteps and check in to recharge their batteries. |
| "We've been at max capacity for the past year," says the retreat's general manager Mark Gregory on a tour of the island. | "We've been at max capacity for the past year," says the retreat's general manager Mark Gregory on a tour of the island. |
| "The recession isn't hurting us, I say it with sadness - it's aiding our business." | "The recession isn't hurting us, I say it with sadness - it's aiding our business." |
| 'Tip of iceberg' | 'Tip of iceberg' |
| The Causeway Retreat estimates that it has seen a 60% increase in clients from corporate sector in the past nine months. | The Causeway Retreat estimates that it has seen a 60% increase in clients from corporate sector in the past nine months. |
| You can be a captain of industry but it doesn't mean you have life skills Mark Gregory, The Causeway Retreat | You can be a captain of industry but it doesn't mean you have life skills Mark Gregory, The Causeway Retreat |
| "Clients tell us they are worn out at work but when we get them here, it turns out to be just the tip of the iceberg," says Mr Gregory. | "Clients tell us they are worn out at work but when we get them here, it turns out to be just the tip of the iceberg," says Mr Gregory. |
| "You can be a captain of industry but it doesn't mean you have life skills." | "You can be a captain of industry but it doesn't mean you have life skills." |
| Housed in clapboard cottages and a larger manor house, the rehab centre exudes a laid-back charm on a sunny June morning. | Housed in clapboard cottages and a larger manor house, the rehab centre exudes a laid-back charm on a sunny June morning. |
| The bedrooms are stylishly decorated with four poster beds, flat screen televisions and claw-footed roll-top bathtubs that would not be out of place in a five-star hotel. | The bedrooms are stylishly decorated with four poster beds, flat screen televisions and claw-footed roll-top bathtubs that would not be out of place in a five-star hotel. |
| But the wellington and hiking boots scattered at the door give a more homespun air. Its gym is housed in a row of old stables, and a yoga studio is hidden away in a wooden outhouse. | But the wellington and hiking boots scattered at the door give a more homespun air. Its gym is housed in a row of old stables, and a yoga studio is hidden away in a wooden outhouse. |
| The retreat's one big concession to its celebrity clients is a recording studio that once belonged to Bob Marley, though the retreat won't divulge whether any hits have been made there. | The retreat's one big concession to its celebrity clients is a recording studio that once belonged to Bob Marley, though the retreat won't divulge whether any hits have been made there. |
| 'Wolf pack' | 'Wolf pack' |
| Brendan Quinn, the retreat's chief executive and a former psychiatric nurse, says that its corporate clients come chiefly from the world of investment banking and law, and are predominantly female. | Brendan Quinn, the retreat's chief executive and a former psychiatric nurse, says that its corporate clients come chiefly from the world of investment banking and law, and are predominantly female. |
| The retreat's secluded location makes it popular with celebrities | The retreat's secluded location makes it popular with celebrities |
| "Women might feel more bullied in a corporate environment - they are seen as a soft target by male colleagues," Mr Quinn says. | "Women might feel more bullied in a corporate environment - they are seen as a soft target by male colleagues," Mr Quinn says. |
| Clare (not her real name), a finance director at a financial services firm in the City, spent a month at the retreat in November last year. | Clare (not her real name), a finance director at a financial services firm in the City, spent a month at the retreat in November last year. |
| "It did all come to a head when the financial crisis really hit," the 50-year-old executive says. | "It did all come to a head when the financial crisis really hit," the 50-year-old executive says. |
| "I think that tipped me over the edge. I was working even longer then and drinking a bit more than I should." | "I think that tipped me over the edge. I was working even longer then and drinking a bit more than I should." |
| "It was like being a woman in a wolf pack." | "It was like being a woman in a wolf pack." |
| Her stay at the retreat triggered a complete change in lifestyle. Although she returned to her job briefly, she later quit and moved away from London and now does the accounts for a small firm. | Her stay at the retreat triggered a complete change in lifestyle. Although she returned to her job briefly, she later quit and moved away from London and now does the accounts for a small firm. |
| Like most of the retreat's clients, who must all sign a confidentiality agreement, she is keen to preserve her anonymity and is nervous about speaking to a journalist. | Like most of the retreat's clients, who must all sign a confidentiality agreement, she is keen to preserve her anonymity and is nervous about speaking to a journalist. |
| "I thought it a sign of weakness to tell people. My father was a services man - he said you make your own bed and lie in it." | "I thought it a sign of weakness to tell people. My father was a services man - he said you make your own bed and lie in it." |
| Realistic solution? | Realistic solution? |
| Ben Pimlott, senior policy advisor at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said while rehab might work for senior managers, it is not a realistic solution for the vast majority of us. | Ben Pimlott, senior policy advisor at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said while rehab might work for senior managers, it is not a realistic solution for the vast majority of us. |
| "Line and middle managers are under as much pressure as board level directors," he says. | "Line and middle managers are under as much pressure as board level directors," he says. |
| In the past, the retreat's clients have hailed from the music industry | In the past, the retreat's clients have hailed from the music industry |
| "They are the ones who have to deliver on the objectives set by those above them and make the decisions on redundancies." | "They are the ones who have to deliver on the objectives set by those above them and make the decisions on redundancies." |
| Stress is the biggest cause of long-term absence for non-manual workers, and workplace absence on average costs a company £666 per employee each year. | Stress is the biggest cause of long-term absence for non-manual workers, and workplace absence on average costs a company £666 per employee each year. |
| Companies do take the problem seriously, but they could do more to safeguard employee well-being, Mr Pimlott adds. | Companies do take the problem seriously, but they could do more to safeguard employee well-being, Mr Pimlott adds. |
| "Employers can depend on employees to go the extra mile in a recession, but once things pick up people will vote with their feet," he says. | "Employers can depend on employees to go the extra mile in a recession, but once things pick up people will vote with their feet," he says. |
| Ruth Spellman, chief executive at the Chartered Management Institute, agrees that managers are under increased pressure, with four in 10 British managers not having yet booked any holiday this year. | Ruth Spellman, chief executive at the Chartered Management Institute, agrees that managers are under increased pressure, with four in 10 British managers not having yet booked any holiday this year. |
| "Managers are easy targets when times are tough, they are after all the face of an organisation and so can make easy targets. | "Managers are easy targets when times are tough, they are after all the face of an organisation and so can make easy targets. |
| "So, it is perhaps unsurprising that given the increased pressure managers are under because of the recession that they may be paying the price when it comes to their wellbeing," she adds. | "So, it is perhaps unsurprising that given the increased pressure managers are under because of the recession that they may be paying the price when it comes to their wellbeing," she adds. |
| Expansion plans | Expansion plans |
| To cater for the growing demand from the corporate sector, the retreat is expanding. | To cater for the growing demand from the corporate sector, the retreat is expanding. |
| It plans to increase the number of rooms and cottages available on the island to around 40 from 23. | It plans to increase the number of rooms and cottages available on the island to around 40 from 23. |
| Mr Gregory says the wider availability of private health insurance will make the retreat more accessible, and not just the preserve of celebrities and chief executives. | Mr Gregory says the wider availability of private health insurance will make the retreat more accessible, and not just the preserve of celebrities and chief executives. |
| "Society is more at ease with mental health problems and it's more common for companies to have good private health care insurance. | "Society is more at ease with mental health problems and it's more common for companies to have good private health care insurance. |
| "The attitude among companies is that we pay for it, we may as well use it." | "The attitude among companies is that we pay for it, we may as well use it." |
| But at around £10,000 for a week's stay, no matter how seriously companies take workplace stress, a stint in luxury rehab is likely to remain a genuine option only for a few lucky high flyers. | But at around £10,000 for a week's stay, no matter how seriously companies take workplace stress, a stint in luxury rehab is likely to remain a genuine option only for a few lucky high flyers. |