Fair Deal - How happy employees are with pay and benefits
Fair Deal itself doesn’t directly influence another factor. It’s classified as a hygiene factor. Sure, doubling everybody’s salary would make them happy but it wouldn’t make them feel any better about factors such as leadership and management.
Now although pay is not an engager, it is important that pay and benefits are at the right level as to not disengage employees further.
Evolito runs a fitness challenge where departments compete against each other, with the winners receiving Nike vouchers. Many employees participate, with people walking at the weekend to add to their team's success. The organisation invited a bike doctor onsite and employees were able to bring up to two bikes each for a free service.
The organisation builds employee relationships through a number of social activities such as a weekly football, badminton, biking and walking groups, and an in-office social area with jigsaws, chess, and ping pong. It also has a company pet Tortoise, Donna. Employees share responsibility caring for her at work and taking her home at the weekend.
Employees have the opportunity to win prizes every week during Friday’s ‘Spin the Wheel’. If some employees work late, the organisation will order them food for free. The organisation also sends thank yous to employees’ families. It recently sent flowers to the partners of two employees who had been working late for several weeks.
July 2023 saw the first NYLON Week, with the US team coming over for the summer party and a week of in-person collaboration. There are many smaller team-building initiatives too, likely weekly lunches with pop-up food stalls. And the Pride Employee Resource Group is the company's largest, with LGBTQIA+ members sharing experiences and organising events.
'The Golden Pen' is the company's weekly recognition award – an opportunity for teammates to celebrate each other's work. During the Monday meeting, the 'pen' is awarded by the previous holder, with the CEO giving the winner a shoutout. All winners from the previous four weeks get a voucher prize in the monthly meeting.
'Papier with Purpose' is the company's CSR programme encouraging employees to give back to the local community through paid-for volunteering days, as well as being charitable and mindful of environmental impact. Initiatives include mentoring young people to help them into the creative industries, donating excess stock and giving a proportion of card sales to charity.
Verastar offers paid volunteering days for team bonding which help instil a sense of purpose and camaraderie among employees as well as supporting the wider community. Christmas and Summer socials are another way that the organisation brings its teams together in a festive and joyful atmosphere, reinforcing the bonds and developing the relationships between employees.
To support the ongoing business strategy, Verastar have launched a number of new initiatives, including system investment. The progress is underpinned by the CEO’s communication in his monthly newsletter, VNews, or via a senior leader cascade. It’s important that teams across the business are updated and can support each other with new ways of working.
The organisation operates a bonus scheme, STAR bonus. This scheme rewards colleagues with a quarterly bonus of up to 2.5% of their annual salary based on the achievement of specific objectives. Verastar also ensures that any goals set are stretching so that its employees are continually developing in their roles.
Slack is the agency's heartbeat, with team members interacting on projects and industry developments to 'rate my plate' lunch sharing and parenting support. The office hosts' Crowded House' every Thursday to encourage social catch-ups, winter and summer company parties, and three work showcases a year to inspire and celebrate jobs well done.
Employees benefit from two bonus schemes. 'Made Born Bigger' is a performance-based annual cash bonus set against revenue goals, and 'Made Born Better' offers top-performing employees, voted for by the team, the chance to choose from a prize list including vouchers, new trainers, hotel stays and extra holidays.
Employees get time every week, month and six months to discuss their development. There's a clear progression framework so everyone can see the opportunities available and what they need to do to succeed. All staff have a learning and development budget and access to a learning library. There're also regular events on wellbeing and diversity.
There is weekly internal email communication from the CEO and an internal newsletter which reinforces organisational clarity and purpose. Organisational performance against agreed KPI’s is shared with colleagues so everyone can see how the charity is performing and training is provided where improvements may be required. Staff are encouraged to provide feedback and ideas.
The organisation runs a number of schemes including Employee of the Quarter and Year. These are colleagues nominated by their colleagues. Winners receive vouchers. It also launched 'Because Your Roarsome' where both colleagues and those outside of the organisation can give their thanks to a member of the team for their hard work/support.
An internal CPD accredited 10 week training plan was undertaken by all employees from Team Leaders and above. Areas covered included Building Relationships, Understanding Team Behaviours, Motivation. How to Give and Receive Feedback, Constructive Criticism, Time management and Effective Delegation, Assertiveness and Dealing with Difficult Situations; Communication and Learning Skills, and Coaching.
With a recognition-led culture, as well as benefits and salary, Searchability has a range of incentives to reward its employees for their efforts. This ranges from commission, achievers meals, weekend trips away, legend of the month awards, and its most recent Be Sound award – these are all led by colleagues.
As part of its wellbeing programme, Searchability has a weekly boxercise class which has encouraged new connections between colleagues. It has continued to host First Friday events which brings the whole company together for social interaction. It also recently held a charity day that included fancy dress and a bake sale.
Searchability has recently installed eco-friendly lighting systems in its offices and continues to support recycling initiatives. Additionally, it has removed plastic cups from its offices and continuously supports plastic waste reduction, giving all employees access to glass or refillable bottles to prevent single-use plastic.
The leadership team has developed a people charter. It holds an annual conference where all employees are invited to get together in person. It holds monthly team meetings which reinforce company values, mission, and objectives. These meetings have included the opportunity for employees to get involved in people and company strategies.
In terms of pay increases and rewards associated with performance, it offers a completely transparent promotion scheme to all employees. This enables consultants to fast-track their careers and reach Director-level at their own rate. The scheme is designed to be measurable and fair; employees also have promotion opportunities every six months.
Prime People continues to run its Salary Sacrifice scheme supporting a small orphanage in South Africa. One of its London team leaders has recently run a successful charity golf day to raise money for company charities. More employees have also run/walked 50 or 100k of the Thames Path to raise money.
Medicheck's VIBE team is tasked with arranging social events, from those celebrating Pride Month to exercise challenges and fundraising events. There are also the staple Summer BBQs and Christmas parties. And staff are encouraged into the office on wellbeing day for activities like wellness walks or a massage.
All lower-paid employees got a winter cost-of-living salary increase, with all employees getting a higher-than-usual rise in the spring. Performance-related bonus awards are on offer, and staff get £500 once a candidate they've successfully recommended for a role passes their three-month probation.
A new performance management platform supports staff with their development goals. It includes a feedback function allowing employees to give or request feedback from each other, with ‘Feedback Fridays’ encouraging staff to participate. Colleagues can also nominate each other for monthly awards, using the system to select which value they demonstrated.
Looking for more information on our solutions? Let us know how we can help and the right member of our team will be in touch shortly.
