Workplace Options Introduces Managerial Tool Kit; Manager Kit Offers MBA-Level Advice to New and Middle-Management

Business Wire, July 12, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Workplace Options, the largest provider of work-life employee benefits in America, has announced a new resource to support managers in the workplace -- Advantage(TM) Manager Kits. These kits have been designed to help new and middle-managers become comfortable in the areas of Building Teams that Succeed, Change Management, Cultural Inclusion, High Performance Leadership, and Motivating People.

The benefit of making such kits available to management personnel is two-fold. Companies now have the training resources available to managers that they may not normally have the bandwidth or budget to provide, and managers can request information they may not have been exposed to in general management training programs.

Standard kits contain print and electronic resources from major university business programs and leading experts. Upgraded kits also include a year's personal membership to the American Management Association (AMA) which provides unlimited access to a member's only area of the AMA website, AMA Management Update -- a monthly e-newsletter; and access to online AMA seminars.

"The kits were developed because we determined there was a need to provide high- quality management tools that combine both hard copy and online elements in a meaningful way," said Alan King, President of WPO. Mr. King added, "Most of the material included is actually used in top MBA programs across the country."

Workplace Options offers a vast library of specialty kits that employers can make available to their employees to address specific work-life challenges. Child safety, caregiver support, bereavement, and college preparation are just a few of the titles currently available. The manager kits provide a new tool for employers to insure their management personnel experience on-the-job success.

Kits can be purchased by WPO clients and sent directly to managers in their organization.

About Workplace Options

Founded in 1982 and servicing nearly 14 million employees and their families, Workplace Options (WPO) is America's largest provider of work-life services. WPO is recognized for its innovative web delivery capabilities, flexibility and affordable pricing models. The company's Partnership Integration Model(R) offers the most complete and thorough process for successfully integrating EAP and work-life employee benefits available in today's market.