Catch up now
Leadership - How employees feel about the head of the organisation, senior management and the organisation's values and principles
Leadership has the biggest influence on how employees feel about the organisation.
Leaders need to create inspiring visions and provide clear direction to positively Impact the My Company factor.
When it comes to Wellbeing, no amount of free fruit or stress busting classes are going to address an imbalance. Employee Wellbeing is a by-product of the leadership and management culture.
If there’s pressure at the top of your organisation, it won’t take long to be felt throughout.
The KFI 'Health Living Club' provides employees with an all-round approach to wellbeing. This includes a healthy eating programme within the restaurant and their occupational health adviser provides advice and support with both health monitoring and nutritional advice. The on site gym provides a comprehensive programme of exercise classes, one to one training and state of the art equipment to encourage a more active workforce. Alternative therapies are also subsidised through the Health Living Club.
KFI has a monthly bonus scheme in place for the majority of people that allows them to earn an additional 20% OTE. Targets are set for each person which are specifically related to performance and quality. Capital bonds are paid over and above the monthly bonus scheme. All of Kwik-Fit's people are engaged in the scheme that allows them to earn bonds each month for achieving performance and quality targets. Bonds accrue over the year and are paid at Christmas. Their employee of the year scheme also ensures people feel rewarded for their efforts. Every month each department identifies their employee of the month. All winners are rewarded with free food in the restaurant, access to the concierge service and gym membership for one month. All winners go through to the four monthly Qualifier Awards and department winners are treated to a day off and lunch with the senior management team. Qualifier winners are also invited to their Employee of the Year ceremony. This is a black tie event held in a 5 star venue and partners are invited. Each department winner gets £1000 and the overall employee of the year is awarded £10,000.
As charity giving is an integral part of of the culture of KFI, they have gradually introduced a number of activities which all help to form their commitment to charities. They include a payroll giving scheme called 'Donate an hour's pay' which encourages staff to sign up and allow a salary deduction of the equivalent of one hour's pay each month, dress down days when they ask staff to donate once a month £1, a 'Countdown to Christmas' weigh in scheme in which employees are sponsored to lose weight (monitored by the Occupational Health Nurse), a number of group events during the course of the year, including Maggies Monster bike and Hike, Caledonian Challenge and fun events such as white water. Each year, employees select a charity of the year. Last year, Rutherglen High School (a local special needs high school) reveived many benefits including a new minibus and a new sensory garden.
Keoghs offer a number of ways for staff to offer ideas and feedback and work hard to encourage a two way information flow. Communication options available include: Internal newsletters (staff are encouraged to send in content), Daily business communications (a daily email issued to all staff covering a variety of topics – often used to promote opportunities for feedback), Surveys (undertaken for a range of topics from where to hold the staff Christmas party to feelings on particular issues going on within the firm), Forums (offers staff the ability to post questions to the Board which can be done anonymously if preferred), Meetings – Business update meetings are held quarterly, staff are encouraged to send in their questions prior to the event and are given the opportunity to ask questions at the meetings themselves. Surveys are then circulated to ask for feedback on the issues raised. Team meetings are also a great opportunity to gain feedback from staff in person.
Keoghs have recently funded heavily in all their Team Leaders attending a Team Leadership Development Programme. This course was designed to run over 4 days over 4 months and consists of the following modules; Leading Teams, Developing High Performing Teams, Coaching and Engaging Teams. Each Team Leader upon completing the four modules is asked to do a work based project to be presented to a Business Unit Director. All Team Leaders and the Team Leaders of the future have attended this course which has been a great success.
Keoghs offer a number of ways for staff to offer ideas and feedback and work hard to encourage a two way information flow. Communication options available include: Internal newsletters (staff are encouraged to send in content), Daily business communications (a daily email issued to all staff covering a variety of topics – often used to promote opportunities for feedback), Surveys (undertaken for a range of topics from where to hold the staff Christmas party to feelings on particular issues going on within the firm), Forums (offers staff the ability to post questions to the Board which can be done anonymously if preferred), Meetings – Business update meetings are held quarterly, staff are encouraged to send in their questions prior to the event and are given the opportunity to ask questions at the meetings themselves. Surveys are then circulated to ask for feedback on the issues raised. Team meetings are also a great opportunity to gain feedback from staff in person.
Each piece of work given to a staff member is formally reviewed by a more Senior Manager, thereby providing very regular feedback. Appraisals are carried out twice yearly for all staff, ensuring that all employees know what is expected of them, and receive feedback on the macro level.
Each piece of work given to a staff member is formally reviewed by a more Senior Manager, thereby providing very regular feedback. Appraisals are carried out twice yearly for all staff, ensuring that all employees know what is expected of them, and receive feedback on the macro level.
Sometimes the simple ideas which have stood the test of time are the best, so the company place great emphasis on their appraisal process. Appraisals take place twice in the year, and focus not only on an assessment of performance and areas for development, but also on engagement and career potential. Technical and soft skills are assessed by reference to 'Career Maps' - freely available documents which lay out the requirements for staff at each of seven levels within each of their professional practice functions. Every appraisal is read by a representative from the HR team, and one from the Training and Development team, so that support can be given on an individual level to the appraiser as well as the appraisee.
The company facilitate 3 packages for all of their staff to take advantage of they are ;- Private medical cover: Healthshield Health Plan that also offers an employee assistance programme and gym membership with a local gym. All of the above have been extremely effective and popular with the team.
Performance related bonuses are offered across some key areas of the business e.g. sales. An annual bonus is given to all members of staff at Christmas as a thank you for their hard work over the festive period. The company allocates money to each department so they can enjoy a meal out together. A small Christmas Eve party is held for all staff providing drinks and nibbles along with a gift for everyone. When an employee has contributed something really worthwhile they will always use the in house publication to print an article about them.
Lunn's has always provided financial support to worldwide disaster appeals. They are also proud of the fact that they have provided stable employment over the past 30 years through which N Ireland and Belfast city centre in particular was considered a hostile place with violence that was reported around the world.
Instant recognition is given for the contribution of any person or group among their 3,500+ employee-partners on an ad hoc basis and usually occurs in the confines of a single department. For example, business unit heads and/or the CEO have been known to send an email to a given business unit to "call-out" the outstanding performance by a person or group.
Emails from the CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee to all employees to keep them up to date with the firm's developments and to ensure that they were the first to hear about any key decisions made by management.
The company have acted on the results of the survey by communicating to management and the board what they do well and what they could do better. This will be followed by 'next steps' and an evaluation.
The Leader is very distinctive in allowing the senior management team to get on with running the business and has a real strength in empowering his senior and other teams to own the strategy and action plans. This has a considerable positive impact on their ability to be agile as a business, enabling them to reach quick decisions in a fast-moving marketplace.
Henderson Wholesale has won many awards for the contributions which are made to charities, through Give-As-You Earn payroll deductions. Last year, employees contributed more than £100k of their pay to charities of their choice and this sum was matched by the company. The company was recently Highly Commended at the National Payroll Giving Awards for the generosity of its employees.
Many employees are paid a bonus for their contribution to the business. This provides a clear and effective link between their performance and the improvement in the business. The company also offers a 'site finders' fee to employees which encourages them to activitely seek opportunities which will benefit the company.
Every staff member is treated with respect and as an individual - so everyone will have different needs as an individual with regard to personal wellbeing. As Greenworks Solutions Ltd are nationally based and most staff only visit the office weekly, the organisation cannot provide extensive on site facilities as most people would be unable to take advantage of them. They have staff members whose families have, or had, ageing family members and Greenworks Solutions have developed flexible working and reduced hours specifically to allow them to spend quality time with their family
Greenworks Solutions encourage work sharing, and part time work to fit individuals.
After the 2011 Best Company survey, Greenworks Solutions presented the conclusions to all staff and explained where they thought the business could learn, but asked for feedback on the areas where they felt the company could improve.
Every staff member is treated with respect and as an individual - so everyone will have different needs as an individual with regard to personal wellbeing. As Greenworks Solutions Ltd are nationally based and most staff only visit the office weekly, the organisation cannot provide extensive on site facilities as most people would be unable to take advantage of them. They have staff members whose families have, or had, ageing family members and Greenworks Solutions have developed flexible working and reduced hours specifically to allow them to spend quality time with their family
Greenworks Solutions encourage work sharing, and part time work to fit individuals.
Fleet Hire have a number of communication channels to encourage open and honest feedback. These include; Stress Management committee, represented by each area of the business and facilitated by an external counsellor. Anonymous suggestions box, reviewed monthly by management. Social Committee. Q &A sessions after each monthly floor presentation.
Monthly company funded stress management discussions, facilitated externally, which includes 'stress free days' utilising stress relieving methods. Company funded external quarterly in work hours health and wellbeing consultations covering diet, blood pressure, cholesterol testing, BMI etc. Company subsidised gym membership.
Monthly company funded stress management discussions, facilitated externally, which includes 'stress free days' utilising stress relieving methods. Company funded external quarterly in work hours health and wellbeing consultations covering diet, blood pressure, cholesterol testing, BMI etc. Company subsidised gym membership.
Eurostaff Group respect employees' life outside of work: time for family, friends and outside interests/hobbies. Managers have the ability to alter working hours and responsibilities to make working life more flexible. The introduction of the early finish at 3pm on a Friday was a result of realising the efforts of employees. Managers spend one on one time with each employee at least once a week either inside or outside the organisation, in which they discuss personal goals and ambitions, and what they can do to help them reach their potential. Managers set clear key performance indicators for every employee, and are quick to reward high achievements with a market leading incentive scheme including trips to Paris and Las Vegas. Managers and Directors all sit on the sales floor, not locked away in an office. An open door policy is not necessary at Eurostaff as there are no doors. Each individual's opinion and feedback is invaluable and considered. Many approaches and processes were heavily influenced by employee's feedback to managers.
They assign each new starter a 'mentor' who coaches each new employee from day one within the organisation. They ensure that the new trainee takes part in each area specific training and on-going development programmes. They have regular contact with the new starter and provide training related support and advice.
Eurostaff Group respect employees' life outside of work: time for family, friends and outside interests/hobbies. Managers have the ability to alter working hours and responsibilities to make working life more flexible. The introduction of the early finish at 3pm on a Friday was a result of realising the efforts of employees. Managers spend one on one time with each employee at least once a week either inside or outside the organisation, in which they discuss personal goals and ambitions, and what they can do to help them reach their potential. Managers set clear key performance indicators for every employee, and are quick to reward high achievements with a market leading incentive scheme including trips to Paris and Las Vegas. Managers and Directors all sit on the sales floor, not locked away in an office. An open door policy is not necessary at Eurostaff as there are no doors. Each individual's opinion and feedback is invaluable and considered. Many approaches and processes were heavily influenced by employee's feedback to managers.
The recruitment industry is highly competitive and can be very challenging at times. As such, it's vital that their employees are appropriately recognised and rewarded for the contribution they make to the success of EMR. While the EMR benefits package is comprehensive, in addition to this they offer on going rewards for meeting and exceeding monthly individual and team targets, as well as on going quarterly and annual rewards for value-based performance. These include bottles of champagne, iPads, extra holiday days, bar tabs, team lunches and the Red Letter rewards scheme outlined above. A generous bounty system is also in place to reward current employees who refer new employees into the business.
Simon Bassett has been the Managing Director of EMR since 2008, shortly after the company was acquired by FiveTen Group. One of the key reasons Simon is admired and respected by EMR staff and fellow FiveTen Group management is his extensive marketing recruitment experience, having worked in almost every role in EMR, from Junior Consultant through to now Managing Director. This positively influences the culture within EMR, reinforcing one of leading by example, visibility and open communication. Simon also focuses on leading by example by continuously developing himself both personally and professionally through an executive coach, and being a key contributor to the UK marketing community. As such, Simon is a member of The Marketing Society and a regular judge at the annual Marketing Week Engagement Awards. He also supports the CIM with career planning and advice to their members and has been a guest lecturer at Henley Business School. Simon is also Vice Chairman of M Squared, the marketing sector group of APSCo - the professional body that represents the interests of recruitment organisations. As part of a commitment to innovation, Simon introduced Marketer's Pulse in 2011, a Twitter feed devoted to the UK professional marketing community which encourages all EMR stakeholders to get involved, including clients, candidates and employees.
Simon Bassett has been the Managing Director of EMR since 2008, shortly after the company was acquired by FiveTen Group. One of the key reasons Simon is admired and respected by EMR staff and fellow FiveTen Group management is his extensive marketing recruitment experience, having worked in almost every role in EMR, from Junior Consultant through to now Managing Director. This positively influences the culture within EMR, reinforcing one of leading by example, visibility and open communication. Simon also focuses on leading by example by continuously developing himself both personally and professionally through an executive coach, and being a key contributor to the UK marketing community. As such, Simon is a member of The Marketing Society and a regular judge at the annual Marketing Week Engagement Awards. He also supports the CIM with career planning and advice to their members and has been a guest lecturer at Henley Business School. Simon is also Vice Chairman of M Squared, the marketing sector group of APSCo - the professional body that represents the interests of recruitment organisations. As part of a commitment to innovation, Simon introduced Marketer's Pulse in 2011, a Twitter feed devoted to the UK professional marketing community which encourages all EMR stakeholders to get involved, including clients, candidates and employees.
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.
