Giving Something Back - The extent to which employees feel their organisation has a positive impact on society
Giving Something Back focuses on the organisation’s social responsibilities. If key factors such as ‘Leadership’ and ‘My Manager’ are performing well, it can influence the improvement of all the other factors, boosting your overall engagement.
Employees are able to upskill on apprenticeship schemes at any grade, with professional memberships linked to internal development schemes and through the Duke of Edinburgh Business Gold Award programme. Individual development plans cover diversifications of career pathways within the company.
VINCI developed a one-stop online resource called ‘Our Wellbeing' to guide staff on staying healthy through Covid-19. It used Mental Health Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day to focus on kindness and compassion. A 100 virtual steps challenge was run in partnership with Mates in Mind, the workplace mental health charity.
In April 2020, VINCI made £10m of funds available worldwide to fight Covid-19, of which £400,000 was allocated to the VINCI UK Foundation. Beneficiaries included a primary school; Awyr Las, the charitable arm for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board; and the Co Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust charity.
Recent staff socials have ranged from a Ukrainian cookery class to scavenger hunts, with some wine and chocolate tasting thrown in. The events were run remotely using funds ring-fenced early in the pandemic. Exercise hasn't been forgotten and a professional yoga instructor and personal trainer run classes online at lunchtime.
Daily stand-up virtual meetings allow teams to discuss the day ahead while enjoying their morning coffee. These 15-20 minute calls also provide the opportunity to start the day with a human connection and the chance to ask colleagues for advice on work issues.
An environmentally preferred purchasing policy encourages employees to be mindful of the way in which they manage their travel, purchase office equipment and stationery and manage their home office. Company offices have been equipped with energy trackers, all waste is recycled and use of recycled and non-toxic products is encouraged.
All apprentices are given support to carry out their duties while the office, as well as time to study. Two of the finance team are being supported through their Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications. A skills matrix identifies engineers' training needs
It wasn't possible to hold the annual bowling night and meal and so socialising went virtual. Beer, gin, wine, cheese and chocolate tasting sessions provided a great opportunity for staff to mix informally with each other. Friday night drinks were enjoyed together at virtual pub nights
VCG has donated six new laptops to a BBC campaign to provide computer equipment for schoolchildren to learn on at home during lockdown. Staff wore yellow and took their teddy to work to raise money for Children in Need. They also joined in Save the Children's virtual ‘Christmas Jumper Day'
As the stress levels rose and employees juggled working from home with home-schooling, mental health awareness training was introduced for managers. This training was tailored to the pressures of the pandemic and helped managers feel supported when talking to employees about their mental health.
The ‘Future Leaders' programme prepares the top 5% of talent to lead the company in future. Spread across 12 months, it includes access to time with senior leaders and inspirational speakers and training on topics such as how an agency makes money, the art of persuasion and perfect pitching.
The agency has been striving to cut its carbon footprint since 2006 and new KPIs will increase the reduction in CO2 emissions from transport. Other environmental measures range from an annual ‘Green Week' to a rolling programme of technology upgrades to ensure the most energy-efficient systems are in use.
During the pandemic, managers were given the opportunity to extend their skills. The trust's Over the Rainbow Recovery Curriculum prompted staff to consider their own wellbeing as well as developing their professional practice. All leaders obtained a mental health first aid qualification during the first wave of the coronavirus.
The trust introduced a new Vantage Plus benefits package after seeking staff feedback at the start of the pandemic. It includes a range of free wellbeing tools, such as counselling, menopause support and health checks, plus additional benefits such as dental plans for longer-serving staff.
The schools consistently support their local areas through charitable and community initiatives. One pupil led a fundraising campaign that collected £60,000 for the funerals of Covid-19 victims. Other pupils supported local residents during the pandemic with gifts and letters and helped churches to supply food parcels.
To mark Ultima's 30th anniversary in business in 2020, the company hosted a virtual get-together and sent every employee a bottle of Champagne celebrate. At Christmas everyone received a hamper and got together for an escape room challenge.
Ultima has put a huge focus on mindfulness, hosting drop-in sessions with an industry-leading practitioner. Each session has taught managers and employees how to live in the present, turn negative situations into positive ones, and how to cope with stress.
When its charity partner, Alexander Devine Children's Hospice, had to close to visitors, Ultima donated 30 tablet devices for its care team to use during home visits. The company also supports its local food bank, ReadiFood, with monthly donations and employees raised funds with a sponsored 100km challenge and a 5km Santa Dash.
UK Flooring incorporates its values – customer, family, professional and driven – into all stages of its recruitment and training process. The company values were reviewed and re-established in 2019 and staff members who best demonstrate the values are recognised with annual awards.
The company's Wellbeing programme covers mental, emotional, financial and physical health. The senior management team is focused on looking after its people and will continue to be flexible about home working in future. UK Flooring has launched a step challenge for staff members and is setting up a book club.
UK Flooring sponsors Burbage Rugby Club and Barwell FC, based nearby on the outskirts of Leicester. The company donated £6,000 to local food banks in the run-up to Christmas 2020 after hearing that more people were turning to them for help. Branches used the funds to give out festive hampers.
Every second Wednesday, staff have the afternoon off to work on personal development projects alone or in groups. They show off their projects in a regular video series and monthly newsletter. Each employee also has £300 to spend on courses and resources on the online learning platform Learnably, launched in December 2020.
One of the lessons of lockdown was that the more people communicated outside their day job, the more productive collaborations they had on important projects. Mediatonic recognised its teams had different rhythms and stopped organising fun events such as quizzes and tea breaks in favour of empowering groups to host events of their own design.
Mediatonic is a founding partner for Safe in Our World's new campaign, #LevelUpMentalHealth, which seeks to unite the gaming industry to support both players and developers who may be struggling silently with their mental health. The company has also set aside money to support two charities fighting racial inequality in the UK.
The Grand Recognition Incentive Scheme rewards those exceptional effort with Grands which can be exchanged for 35 different treats including cinema tickets, champagne, afternoon tea and dinner. Every six months those earning 50 Grands are entered into a draw to win an all-expenses paid two night break, normally abroad.
The Grand has introduced an apprenticeship programme across the business and has also launched a range of other development schemes including a Management Academy and a Food and Beverage Academy. More than 50 staff have moved into new roles or been promoted each year for the last four years.
The hotel's Green & Grand philosophy is driven by the hotel's Think Green team. Eco friendly initiatives include sustainably sourced coffee beans and using recycled products from bed throws made from old bottles to balcony furniture made from ice cream and milk cartons diverted from landfill sites.
To encourage teamwork and create an understanding of what TDS does, new employees are introduced to the executives and key members of staff. Employees are trained to do other jobs in their department and encouraged to help out in other departments.
Staff have been sent regular gifts through the year, including a Christmas hamper – the perfect accompaniment for the virtual Christmas party. Other events included quiz and bingo evenings. The wellbeing team supports managers with any mental health issues in their teams and counselling is available through an employee assistance programme.
The TDS Charitable Foundation promotes education in the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords. It has awarded grants of £54,725 to five organisations since January 2020 and £808,1000 in total since 2014. The most recent round of funding took into account the effect of the pandemic on the sector.
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