New Year is now a good time to encourage staff to set resolutions which are non-work related because it aids work-life balance, according to executive research firm Armstrong Craven.

HR manager Jane Cox says: “Every year we ask staff to set a personal objective and pay £100 to them when they achieve it. It helps ensure people maintain an interest in their spare time and allows them to get to know each other better as they find out more about each other’s lives outside of work.

“We’ve raised money for charity and it’s provided us with lots of entertainment looking at the photos people bring in. It has created an element of fun – never a bad thing - and contributed to closer team working.”

In 2006 sport and fitness have once again proved the most popular objectives amongst staff in Armstrong Craven’s London and Manchester offices. Out of the 66 taking part, 24 set themselves a sporting challenge, 14 chose home-related projects, and another 14 set themselves the task of learning new skills or improving existing ones.