Workplace Options News: New Web Site Helps EAPs Deliver Better, More Customized Services

Press Releases

New Web Site Helps EAPs Deliver Better, More Customized Services

Workplace Options' Completely Redesigned Site Sets New Standard for Online EAP and Work-life Employee Benefits

Contact:
Christine Hall
chall@capstrat.com
919-882-1998

04 October 2004 – Raleigh, NC – Workplace Options, the leading provider of Work-life programs to corporate America through partnerships with employee assistance (EAP) companies, announced the availability of a new web site that will allow EAPs to deliver a more robust and customized online Work-life and EAP product.

Already considered by many EAPs to be the gold standard for online EAP and Work-life services, the new Workplace Options web site includes the addition of several features, including:

Working Smarter - a full division focused on workplace issues
Learning Center - a collection of interactive assessments and personal goal planners
Relocation Center - a centralized resource for families and individuals on the move
Healthy Living Center - interactive weight management and exercise tools

Although the website will have more content than ever before, the new design creates an enhanced sense of space and improved access to resources. Users are able to easily move from one area to another and "preview" content of other relevant parts of the site using a new Quick Jump feature. All resources, including the thousands of peer-reviewed articles, sound files, resource links and tools, are accessible within a few mouse clicks.

The new design expands customization and private branding options in all areas. EAPs and/or their client companies have the ability to customize and completely private label the site with respect to employer information and alerts, overall look and feel and even individual content items and features.

"We set out to make something good even better", said Alan King, WPO's chief operating officer. "We listened to our partner EAPs and end-users to create a new work-life web product that moves well beyond the traditional definition of such services. Our new site is more than just an online library of useful information. Rather, it is a robust portal for delivering to our users real solutions to real-life problems."

Details of the new site include:

Customization and Private Labeling: In an effort to help EAPs protect and reinforce their brand, Workplace Options designed its site with even greater capability for private labeling; including font size, type and colors. EAPs also have the ability to customize site features - from entire categories (e.g., health and wellness) down to individual content items (an article, a sound file, web resource, and application) or add client specific pages, scrolling alerts or individual items of their own. The site can also be easily customized for individual EAP client companies.

Content: Leading the list of new resources is the Learning Center, which incorporates content from Epotec that WPO recently acquired. At the heart of the Learning Center is a collection of LifePlanssm that help employees manage through issues in their lives with proactive plans and goals. The Learning Center combines innovative technology with first rate information to create an engaging and memorable learning experience.

Included in the redesign is a new assistance module titled "Working Smarter". This section offer articles, resources and other tools that focus on employee and management issues in the workplace including teambuilding, career transition and growth, supervisory issues, diversity, productivity and recognition.

In all, over 1,500 pages of up-to-date, peer-reviewed, best-in-class articles, sound files, resources, training programs, assessments and planners have been added.

Interactive Features: Interactive resources allow users to customize information and solutions to their particular needs and life situations. The new website's "center-based" designs group like resources together in ways that improve access and leverage value. An example is the innovative Relocation Center, which offers a one-stop shop for information and practical assistance on moving your household across town or across the country. You can do everything from researching communities, neighborhoods and schools to hooking-up local utilities.

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 and Dublin support more than 32 million employees in 20,000 organizations, across 170 countries. To learn more, visit www.workplaceoptions.com.