New Year's Resolution - "to get a new job" says survey

A survey carried out by top UK training company PTP Training & Marketing shows that over half the 300 managers questioned (54%) have made work related New Year's resolutions to improve their working lives.

These include plans by 30% of respondents to 'be promoted', 'get a pay rise' or 'get another job' in 2006 while 50% of them will be putting the focus on 'getting a better work/life balance' and on 'improving their health' and 'reducing stress levels'. Ironically although there were plans made by a number of respondents to walk or cycle to work and to go to a gym after work - the Friday lunchtime drink in the pub was one area respondents refuse to give up in the name of good health! Other resolutions included 'retirement', 'increasing sales', 'improving performance' and 'being more organised at work'.

The survey also reveals that over a third (34%) of workers admit to slowing down in the festive month and being less productive in December than in other months of the year. And of those who are less productive, just under two thirds (64%) say their work level drops by up to 20% while one in five say it drops by up to 40% and frighteningly one in ten claim it is down by up to 80%!

One of the interruptions of the festive month is the Christmas party and for the majority of UK managers this is still an event to look forward to. Although only 13% describe their company's Christmas party as 'fantastic', 58% say it is 'good or very good'. This compares to 19% who class the festive bun-fight it as 'okay' and the remaining 10% who describe it anywhere between 'not good' and 'the pits'.

It seems the way to make the event more appealing for most of the respondents is by 'choosing a more exciting venue' (21%), 'not having to work the following day' (20%), 'providing transport' (20%) or 'having a free bar' (17%). Interestingly, only 8% of the sample believed the Christmas party could be enhanced by inviting partners! Other responses for ways to improve the office celebrations include 'being 20 years younger', 'not holding it on a Monday' and to 'introduce a team bonding exercise prior to the party'!

PTP has a Leicester head office and 50 training venues across the UK. For more information on PTP call 0845 6603860 or log on to www.ptp.co.uk

20th December 2005