Whitemountai Quarries has introduced an employee counselling service — to offer advice on dealing with the credit crunch.

With the cost of living soaring, Whitemountain Quarries said it has taken steps to improve all aspects of employee welfare and working conditions.

An ‘Employee Assistance Programme' will entitle each member of staff and their families to use its free counselling service.

Whitemountain Quarries is the quarry materials division of Lagan, one of Ireland's most successful construction-related groups of companies and is a leading provider of quarry materials.

Whitemountain Quarries said it had joined forces with employee assistance specialists, Carecall Solutions to offer 24hour access to the service.

Commenting on the introduction of the service, Sinead McGlone, the company’s human resources manager, said: "This new relationship with Carecall is part of a number of initiatives we are implementing to support our staff members within the workplace.”