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LifeCare® Poll: Overwhelming Majority of
Workers Say They Would Benefit from Personal Coaching
The payoffs for employers include reduced health care costs
and absenteeism while boosting well-being, satisfaction and productivity
WESTPORT, Conn., January 18, 2006 – Employers who are seeking
ways to encourage workers and retirees to make healthier lifestyle choices and
wiser quality-of-life decisions, take note: a new poll by life management services
pioneer, LifeCare®, Inc., finds that 83 percent of respondents
say they would benefit from the services of a personal coach in dealing with
these matters. Fifteen percent said they weren't sure, while only two percent
said that they would not benefit. The poll was conducted during the month of
December on LifeCare's private web site and was open to employees and members
of its 1,500 client companies nationwide.
Onsite and telephonic coaching services are becoming increasingly
popular among organizations looking for innovative ways to reduce health care
costs, achieve wellness goals, and boost employee productivity and satisfaction.
The reason? The payoffs are significant. Research published in 2005, for example,
found that health-coaching participants' medical costs were down 10 percent
over three years, thanks to improved lifestyle behaviors; the same costs for
non-participants increased 21 percent. Other studies have found that up to 90
percent of those who received health coaching continued to exercise independently,
even after six months, which translates into healthier, more productive employees
who file fewer health care claims.
“Offering coaching services is a clear and powerful example
to your employees that you're interested in their personal needs and overall
well-being,” said Peter G. Burki, LifeCare co-founder and CEO. “It also shows
them that you're going the extra mile over many other employers' benefit offerings.
In addition to the dollars saved, programs like these pay for themselves many
times over in terms of higher employee loyalty and satisfaction levels and reduced
absenteeism.”
LifeCare provides telephonic coaching to assist its members
with weight management, tobacco cessation and stress management, as well as
senior/retiree wellness. The “high-touch” coaching interventions are delivered
by dedicated, experienced Bachelor's- and Master's-level Health Coaches.
Telephonic Coaching Rings Up Results
Telephonic coaching in particular, notes Burki, is attractive
to employers because it's highly effective. He points to a recent 26-week study
by the University of Kansas' Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management
that shows participants in a phone-based program lost almost as much weight
as participants in a group receiving face-to-face coaching services. Preliminary
data from the study show that participants in the telephone-based program lost
an average of 23 pounds over 12 weeks and 28 pounds over 26 weeks, while participants
in the face-to-face program lost 28 pounds in 12 weeks and 28 pounds in 26 weeks.
Telephonic coaching services are also inexpensive to deliver
and are often more convenient for participants, as there is no travel or drive
time involved in utilizing the services. In addition, telephonic coaching can
offer a greater level of “personalization,” as it's almost always one-on-one,
while face-to-face coaching is sometimes conducted in a group setting.
Personal coaching—either by telephone or face-to-face—helps
employees achieve the kind of results they often cannot on their own by helping
them set realistic goals and educating them about the issues they face and giving
them problem-solving and coping skills. It also helps them stay motivated as
they move through the process of learning and behavior modification—whether
they're dealing with health-related issues, career management decisions or retirement
planning and saving.
Each month, LifeCare posts a poll on its private web site,
asking individuals to share their thoughts and opinions on the latest issues
and work/life trends. Past polls have addressed topics such as family caregiving
challenges, healthy aging, work/life balance, workplace safety, and barriers
to on-the-job productivity.
Notes to Editors
Peter G. Burki is available for interview.
About LifeCare®, Inc.
With 22 years of experience in delivering highly
personalized counseling, education and referral services, LifeCare helps
people manage the day-to-day challenges of their lives and plan for their futures
more effectively. From child care and parenting needs … to elder care and
aging
challenges … to personal health concerns … and far beyond …
we provide high-quality tools and information 24/7 through our professionally
staffed call center and award-winning web site. LifeCare currently serves 1,500
client companies with 4.5 million individuals within health plans, governmental
agencies, unions and corporations. For more information, visit www.lifecare.com.
Media contact: Michael Civiello
LifeCare, Inc.
pr1@lifecare.com
203-291-4170
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