January’s Over: Employees Weigh in on New Year’s Resolutions
Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) February 03, 2014 -- It happens every year. On December 31, people make promises to themselves. Promises to lose weight. Promises to quit smoking. Promises that they will start to keep on January 1. As the year goes on, however, those promises are often broken. According to a new poll commissioned by Workplace Options, an employee effectiveness company, workers believe that employer support helps people keep their New Year’s resolutions.
Of the poll respondents who made resolutions for 2014, 27 percent aimed to lose weight, 25 percent hoped to exercise more, and 6 percent wanted to quit smoking. More than half (55 percent) of all respondents indicated that if an employer provided free access to weight loss coaching, tobacco cessation programs, an onsite gym and other resources to employees, people would be more likely to stick with their goals.
“From a lack of time to a lack of support, there are many reasons why people struggle to keep resolutions,” said Dean Debnam, chief executive officer of Workplace Options. “Companies can help employees by launching wellness initiatives and promoting them throughout the year. Giving staff access to resources can sometimes be the difference between a lifetime change and one that ends on January 2.”
Poll results also indicated:
• Nearly half (49 percent) of respondents said that company-provided access to weight loss coaching would help people be successful.
• 43 percent thought employees would benefit from tobacco-cessation programs.
• Almost 6 out of 10 (59 percent) indicated that an onsite gym would be helpful in keeping resolutions.
• Of those who have not kept their 2014 resolution, 4 out of 10 (39 percent) said that they prefer to make changes throughout the year.
“Employers should remember that providing access to wellness programs benefits the company just as much as it benefits the employee,” added Debnam. “Healthier employees miss less work and are more productive when they are at work. That affects the bottom line, in addition to creating a positive company culture.”
The national survey was conducted by the North Carolina firm of Public Policy Polling, January 23-26, 2014. The survey polled 693 working Americans and has a margin of error of +/- 3.7%. View complete poll results here.
About Workplace Options
Workplace Options helps employees balance their work, family and personal life in order to make their lives healthier, easier and more productive. The company’s world-class employee support and work-life services provide information, resources, referrals and consultation on a variety of issues ranging from dependent care, legal and financial issues to stress management and wellness.
Drawing from an international network of credentialed providers and professionals, Workplace Options is the world’s largest integrated employee support services and work-life provider. Service centers in Raleigh, N.C., London, Toronto, Dublin, Singapore, Panama, and Tokyo support more than 42 million employees in over 32,000 organizations, across more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit http://www.workplaceoptions.com.
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Alexis Hourselt, Workplace Options, http://www.workplaceoptions.com, 1-800-699-8011 Ext: 71724, [email protected]
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