Company Backgrounder

For Immediate Release - November 10, 2001

Survey: Employees Stress at Work over Consumer Debt

San Diego, CA - According to the poll of employees conducted by CuraDebt, a national bankruptcy alternative center, 37% of employees reported spending an average of 5.8 working hours, weekly, worrying about personal finances such as consumer debt, family finances, and job security. 78% of employees surveyed reported that education ranging from budgeting to debt reduction strategies would enable them to focus better and improve their performance at work.

The poll was based on a nationwide telephone and internet survey from Oct. 29 to Nov. 12 of 1,150 people selected at random, and has a margin of error of 5 percent.

"It is understandable that employees are preoccupied as a result of the combined pressures from record consumer debt levels, economic uncertainty, and company initiatives to increase productivity while cutting costs," says Danny DeMichele, Marketing Director of CuraDebt.

"I think it would be best if employers provided employees information about various solutions to help with consumer debt and combat economic uncertainty - without focusing on a particular employee in general. That way, there are no privacy issues, but employees are empowered and businesses will benefit by a more productive and committed team."

The following are tips for employers to increase employee productivity:

• Inform employees about the Consumer Information Center, www.pueblo.gsa.gov. The bureau provides free resources on debt consolidation loans, consumer scams, budgeting, the hazards of payday loans, improving credit ratings, and other useful financial information.
• Educate employees on alternatives to their high interest rate credit cards. Interest rates, grace periods, and annual fees can be compared on the websites www.CardWeb.com and www.bankrate.com.
• Partner with a company that will help educate employees, at no cost, on financial matters. CuraDebt provides live teleclasses where employees nationwide can receive group consultation from a Debt Consultant in an anonymous environment. CuraDebt also publishes a free newsletter, Secret Money Tips that contains valuable financial and money management advice. For companies local to Southern California, CuraDebt provides free custom educational group seminars at the work site.

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CuraDebt.com is a center for helping consumers nationwide become debt free without filing bankruptcy. The agency provides both debt management and settlement plans. The agency provides a FREE Debt Freedom plan, FREE Debt Freedom Teleconferences, the FREE newsletter, Secret Money Tips, and other valuable information via phone at 1-877-850-DEBT or on the web site, www.curadebt.com.

Subscribe for FREE and receive tips on money savings, debt reduction, dollar stretching - send a blank email to moneytips@curadebt.com