Some Sydney workers are developing their own antidote to stress – the lazy Friday arvo.

Some Sydney workers are developing their own antidote to stress – the lazy Friday arvo.

It is a new trend developing mostly among office workers – especially those in the insurance, banking and finance industries.

After about 3pm they down tools and walk off the job to the nearest watering hole to have a few drinks and a long chat with their office comrades, according to Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.

Sydney’s business community has embraced the Lazy Fridays movement, with offices across the city calling it quits by mid afternoon.

For S2i Communications founder Wayne Tregaskis, Lazy Fridays have long had prominence within his business. He sees these cherished afternoons - usually with a few bottles of Italian pinot grigio flowing - as the perfect way of rewarding his hard-working staff and fostering corporate intimacy.

“It's not some kind of contrived thing to build staff relations, that’s a fringe benefit, but just because it’s an enjoyable thing to do in a small-knit team,” he said.

“Perhaps not surprisingly our staff longevity, in an industry that is not renowned for it, is very high.”

Mr Tregaskis has had just two staff turnovers in a decade.

Sydney Chamber of Commerce spokesman Chris Taylor said the trend was working wonders for staff morale.

“With workplace flexibility on the rise, businesses are finding more social options to balance the working life,” Mr Taylor said

“There is a growing trend of people leaving a bit earlier on a Friday but they are staying and working later on a Tuesday.”

Work ‘N’Care is not sure how the idea might go down in your workplace, but you don’t know unless you give it a try. You could get a few colleagues on side and discuss it with management.

You may be surprised by what management thinks. If they want a happier, less stressed and more productive workforce, they might just support the idea.