Bosses may be key to employees’ health

Most of us are great at sticking to our health-related New Year's resolutions in the first few weeks of the year, but what happens when February rolls around?

If you're anything like the majority of us, chances are you're starting to fall off the bandwagon.

However, a new poll by Workplace Options found there is one person in the office who workers believe can help keep them working on their New Year's resolutions to get healthier - their boss.

More than half (55%) of the 693 working Americans polled indicated if an employer provided free access to weight loss coaching, tobacco cessation programmes, an onsite gym and other resources to employees, people would be more likely to stick with their goals.

Of the poll respondents who made resolutions for 2014, 27% aimed to lose weight, 25% hoped to exercise more, and 6% wanted to quit smoking.

"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," Dean Debnam, chief executive officer of Workplace Options, said.

Results also indicated 49% of respondents said company-provided access to weight loss coaching would help people be successful, while 43% thought employees would benefit from tobacco-cessation programmes.

In addition, almost six out of 10 (59%) indicated an onsite gym would be helpful in keeping with their resolutions.

"Employers should remember that providing access to wellness programs benefits the company just as much as it benefits the employee," Debnam said.

"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."