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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.
A staff forum network, known as ‘Gateway Together’, exists to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Designed to promote a constantly evolving positive and inclusive culture, it has led to a number of events initiatives including Eid celebrations, Pride, Men’s Health, Black History Month, and International Women’s Week.
Gateway’s office refurbishment included a new recycling system, as well as other initiatives that focused on a commitment to mitigating its impact on the environment. These include LED lighting, the use of hybrid vehicles and electric charging points, as well as a ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme and a bike loan initiative.
Collaboration and inclusion activities consist of weekly team briefings internally, as well as a number of external team bonding activities. These include taking part in virtual ‘escape rooms’, as well as the establishment of a ‘Birthday Month Club’ to encourage celebration across different teams.
YASA likes to reward good service with bespoke gifts aligned to staff members' hobbies and passions. One worker with a passion for the sport of cycling got to meet an Olympic cyclist, thanks to an experience gift to mark his 10-year anniversary with the company.
YASA has introduced a training management system for all staff, with sessions on key topics such as working effectively remotely and longer courses on specific subjects, including corporate social responsibility. The company also sponsors qualifications and provides study leave to allow staff to prepare for exams.
Staff are given three days off a year to volunteer in the local community. This includes anything from helping to dredge canals to supporting worm farms or lending a hand at food banks. The company offers work experience to school pupils.
Senior management led a series of engagement campaigns after the coronavirus emerged. These included a video series called Desert Island Lockdown, with chairperson Justine Markovitz in the finale. She also took part in 73 “Meet Justine” Skype sessions for all staff.
A graduate recruitment app is being developed to help Withers reach a wider pool of diverse candidates. The app will also help the firm meet the need to recruit differently, which became apparent during the pandemic. Social media is playing an increasing role in the search for talent.
The Withers World Tour set staff the challenge of walking the equivalent of the distance between all the firm's offices, a total of 23,000 miles. They exceeded the miles target and raised more than £30,000 for charity, including the Mental Health Foundation.
Training Tuesdays introduce new skills and competencies from effective pitching and storytelling to cybersecurity, improving presentation and how to focus in a world of distraction. In the past year, WAA Chosen has brought in an external coach to run a two-day workshop with the senior team to develop a new one-to-one process.
Wellness Wednesdays at the end of each month focus on mind or body, health and lifestyle. All staff have 24/7 support from an employee assistance programme offering a confidential service. Everyone had a call once a week during the pandemic to check how they were doing, and if anyone needed any extra help
The team set a fundraising target of walking, running, cycling or rowing 2,000 miles – about 43 miles each – to raise £2,000 for laptops and digital equipment for children to use while homeschooling. The amount was match-funded by the company's charity foundation. Colleagues also donated unneeded devices to local schools.
Volume values the voice of its people. Regular polls are carried out to check what team members think of new developments and managers make sure they get back to people through team posts and group emails as well as individual communication.
When lockdowns began to be a feature of life in the past year, Volume sent out wellbeing boxes packed with healthy snacks and treats, tips and a positive message. Yoga and high-intensity fitness classes continued online and mindfulness and motivational training was provided for the whole workforce.
Volume shared its expertise with its local authority, Wokingham Borough Council, to produce an augmented reality app which educates users about the history of the local area. The company has a strong commitment to the environment, recycling equipment and donating laptops to charities and families who needed them for homeschooling.
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.
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.
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