What are companies doing with regards to 'Giving Something Back'

December survey results showed that 92% of Camelot employees believe the business operates with integrity and 96% of them feel well led. The executive team sent out care packages to everyone to thank them during this uncertain year, and the chairman personally called anyone who tested positive for Covid-19 to offer support.

Camelot allows employees to claim up to £1,000 off gym memberships and this subsidy now includes online classes. Everyone can access virtual appointments with GPs, counsellors, physiotherapists – and get life, money and wellbeing support. To help working parents and their children, the firm made an additional 15 days' paid leave available.

Departments arrange virtual team meetings on a regular basis and staff have taken part in a range of online social activities. These included coffee mornings, photo competitions and the annual Christmas party which featured various breakout rooms including a quiz, craft workshops, a film and a virtual escape room.

The organisation has three trained mental health first aiders and all employees have access to the meditation and mindfulness Headspace app. Staff are encouraged to speak with their line managers regularly and let them know of any problems working from home.

Managing director Helen Jackson, who took over in 2016, has expanded Bush & Co's services to meet clients' needs.  In a weekly vlog, she joins colleagues listing what they are grateful for, and explains the thinking behind business decisions in a monthly Biscuit Briefing to all staff.

Bush & Co's first response to the pandemic was to emphasise how much the business cared for employees and their families. The firm set up an advice hub and sent “happy post” such as chocolate and sleep masks to people's homes. Managers joined in lunchtime yoga and mindfulness sessions.

Since its launch three years ago more than 1,300 employees have been through the company's Aspire development programme, which won ‘People Development Programme of the Year' at the Learning Awards in February. Over 950 of those participants have been promoted into the role they wanted.

Employees can nominate staff for a monetary award for “brilliant work” through the employee recognition scheme, ‘Just to Say'. The most exceptional examples are recognised at the annual Consumer Live event, which last year involved 18 livestreams, 68 awards, and was broadcast on BT Sport and hosted by Tess Daly and Rylan Clark-Neal.

At the end of 2020, each member of the team received a personal letter, a bag of goodies and an award from the chief executive, Antony Mayfield, to recognise their hard work and say thank you for getting through a hard year.

A “Walk the Mind” team social involved the whole team committing to take time away from their screens, outside if possible, and share photos. They all took their walk at the same time, making them feel connected even though the pandemic kept them apart.

Responding to the Black Lives Matter campaign Bravissimo create digital listening groups to hear personal accounts of discrimination experienced by employees and has launched a Diversity & Inclusion committee to ensure it is more representative in all it does from its marketing and models, product range, recruitment and team diversity.

Christmas hampers were to every employee to thank them for support and efforts over the past year and retail and customer service teams held a range of events from quiz nights to dress-up & exercise classes to keep teams motivated and positive.

The results from staff surveys have been shared with employees and in 2020 the company tackled feedback about hiccups in communication by ensuring that all staff members can raise issues directly with the leadership team.

Before Covid-19 restrictions, staff enjoyed getting together out of work for karting and white-water rafting. Although social events were forced online during 2020, team members have stayed on their toes by competing in fitness events, and relaxed by sharing virtual Friday afternoon drinks.

Managers are given free access to LinkedIn Learning and other platforms to enhance their leadership skills with effective practices and tips passed on during monthly management meetings. Senior managers were given the opportunity to attend a Business Mastery event which focused on studying innovative approaches used by successful industry leaders.

Senior managers made the decision to move to bigger premises to ensure futurecompliance with social distancing at work. With social responsibility high on the agenda, it recently invested £4 million on manufacturing equipment that will cut dependence on overseas products and reduce its carbon footprint.

BCHG launched its Learning Academy in 2020 and despite the pandemic has managed to deliver its training programmes albeit mostly virtually. The organisation has also continued to support staff who are undertaking profession qualifications and apprenticeship programmes, and to enrol employees on courses relevant to their role.

In addition to weekly emails encouraging staff to remain positive during adversity and reminding them they have access to help and support if they need it, BCHG provided resilience training and ran virtual events including a laughtercise session, yoga and Monday night socials to combat loneliness.

An employee forum, Your Say, with representatives from all offices meets regularly to discuss and feed back questions to senior management. Through Yammer, staff are invited to post positive updates, ideas, activities and the way they are handling lockdowns to ensure they keep connected to colleagues.

Wellbeing food and drink boxes were given to staff during the pandemic to raise morale. They also received a luxury Christmas food hamper, delivered to their homes, as well as a £250 bonus for working hard throughout a difficult year.