What are companies doing with regards to 'My Company'

The council takes a proactive approach to services such as counselling and physio before staff are off sick therefore balance costs with less occupational health referrals and reducing sickness absence costs. Health and wellbeing is a permanent agenda point on Staff Matters therefore always remains a key priority to the organisation and Chief Executive who chairs the group.

After a recent restructure all Heads of Service and Directors attended an away day/ team building day. The primary aims of this away day was for managers to build as a team, open up communications channels and establish a basis of trust. The event started with a team building activity that involved four seperate teams to achieve a common goal of building a physical bridge. This was followed by a presentation by the Chief Executive on Chorley's challenges and an exercise to identify expected behaviours in line with these challenges and Chorley's values of ‘Forward Thinking', ‘Respect', ‘Professional', ‘Pride' and ‘One Team, One Council'. The event finished with a 360 exercise where every manager and their service area were scored on each of the values.

CSW maintains good employee relations by briefing, listening and responding to views within the team. It continuously improves internal communications and has both the capacity and capability to allow its employees to be involved in delivery developments. It actively encourages feedback and rewards successful suggestions. As a result, any change is managed positively by planning and systematically executing a plan of action and is able from within to continuously question and discontinue practice which is no longer effective.

CSW maintains good employee relations by briefing, listening and responding to views within the team. It continuously improves internal communications and has both the capacity and capability to allow its employees to be involved in delivery developments. It actively encourages feedback and rewards successful suggestions. As a result, any change is managed positively by planning and systematically executing a plan of action and is able from within to continuously question and discontinue practice which is no longer effective.

The company issue certificates at awards ceremonies for the completion of both internal and external professional development. Teams are taken for meals in recognition of outstanding performance. Hospitality is provided to all staff on the occasion of significant achievement. All staff are thanked publicly in all staff briefings in recognition of successful outcomes and hard work. Letters of recognition are sent to individual employees and to whole teams when there is high performance. The company hold Termly Star Awards according to various categories nominated by staff and students. Professional standards payments are available to teachers who meet the criteria.

The organisation have run work discussion groups with a consultant psychotherapist who meets managers so that they can talk outside of line management structures about work problems. The aim is to encourage collaborative working, shared values and the sharing of experience and best practice. 3 development programmes are run: one for senior leaders, one for middle managers and one for aspiring leaders. A leadership survey is carried out annually between middle and senior managers.

Staff and students have provided osteopathy to participants in the London Marathon. The organisation has been involved in fundraising to support prostate cancer. Fundraising activities also contribute to the funds for the BSO charity. These efforts have been recognised with awards from the South London Press, CAM magazine, Borough of Southwark and shortlisted for the Prince of Wales Integrated Health Foundation special judges' prize. They were also shortlisted for the Charity Times Charity of the Year award in 2010.

Staff and students have provided osteopathy to participants in the London Marathon. The organisation has been involved in fundraising to support prostate cancer. Fundraising activities also contribute to the funds for the BSO charity. These efforts have been recognised with awards from the South London Press, CAM magazine, Borough of Southwark and shortlisted for the Prince of Wales Integrated Health Foundation special judges' prize. They were also shortlisted for the Charity Times Charity of the Year award in 2010.

British Red Cross recognises performance annually through National Awards and every 10 years employees earn 4 weeks extra additional annual leave. The Distinguished, Outstanding, Devoted and Queen's Badges of Honour are awarded by the board, through the National Awards Panel, to volunteers and staff to recognise achievements that warrant special appreciation. The Dunant is a form of recognition for teams within the British Red Cross to recognise the one off achievements of teams who have gone over and above the call of duty.

British Red Cross matches funds raised by their employees for charity with no set upper limit. They protect their local community by; Providing community based first aid projects educating people in life-saving skills, enabling them to respond to emergencies in their communities and providing first aid cover at public events and Working with the schools and community education department to develop children and young people's confidence, ability and willingness to help those in need, to be more resilient and support the principle of everyone getting the help they need in crisis. They have networks across the UK, and work with area youth managers and territory youth managers in their local delivery.

Brent Housing Partnership nominates employees for awards, employee of the year certification and staff achievement awards. Gift vouchers are given to employees and the company have been Investor in People since 2005. The company hold a publicity group meeting where a representative from each team attends and gives team updates.

Brent Housing Partnership nominates employees for awards, employee of the year certification and staff achievement awards. Gift vouchers are given to employees and the company have been Investor in People since 2005. The company hold a publicity group meeting where a representative from each team attends and gives team updates.

Brandon provide mandatory training for all operational staff including food safety, COSHH, first aid and fire safety induction for all new starters. They sponsor front line staff to achieve their NVQ certificates and support this with their highly rated in house assessment centre. On completing their awards, staff are invited to a celebratory awards lunch and receive a cash bonus. All staff are able to apply for annual bursaries to support academic studies related to their work. They also support and fund managers to achieve relevant professional and academic qualifications.

Brandon provide mandatory training for all operational staff including food safety, COSHH, first aid and fire safety induction for all new starters. They sponsor front line staff to achieve their NVQ certificates and support this with their highly rated in house assessment centre. On completing their awards, staff are invited to a celebratory awards lunch and receive a cash bonus. All staff are able to apply for annual bursaries to support academic studies related to their work. They also support and fund managers to achieve relevant professional and academic qualifications.

Employees benefit from an annual event called "Healthy Living Day" which incorporates information and advice on all the areas listed above as well as financial health. They have exhibitors, stalls, demonstrations and sessions providing information on various aspects of health, wellbeing and financial matters and the College recently offered staff the opportunity to take part in a healthy heart study programme in conjunction with the local health authority. The College also encourage employees to exercise. Staff are able to access free gym facilities at the sports campus, free lunchtime exercise classes, such as Zumba are also available.

The College operates an open door policy and all staff have the right to request an individual meeting with the Principal, any member of the Executive Team, own Curriculum Manager, any cross-College Support Manager or other senior members of staff. This policy gives individual staff members the opportunity to raise and discuss any issues of concern relating to his/her post or the College in general. The Principal has a very down to earth personality and always has a very visual presence around the College. He is often seen around the College chatting to staff and students and has also on one occasion been seen serving up chips in the canteen!

Announcements in staff newsletters are made when staff successfully achieve something, i.e. obtaining a professional qualification. Letters from the CEO are sent to staff recognising their service, level of contribution to the service. There are ISIS Awards 'Inspiring Staff in Service' awarded to individuals and teams recognising their contribution to the organisation.

The leader of the organisation is passionate about what the organisation does, the service being delivered and the staff who deliver it. He operates an open door policy and is happy to spend time with members of staff, valuing their input into making the organisation run. He will walk around offices talking to staff, ensuring he stays in touch with the 'front line'. He ensures issues are dealt with effectively and promptly and throughout the year ensures he visits schemes to see as many staff as possible during the year.

There are many social events for employees to attend such as the FIL annual dinner dance and the RIAS Christmas parties. They also see the importance of team building and hold events more than five times a year. For example, Fortis UK held a senior management conference at the end of February. Over eighty managers from all the UK businesses attended the two day event. Under the banner "Together we're stronger", the managers were put into cross business groups who attended a series of business specific presentations and insurance market presentations. There were also workshop sessions designed to generate ideas, build teamwork and develop networking opportunities.

Managers are supported by a variety of resources which are available on intranets and other electronic media and wide range of internal courses. They are able to receive support towards external management qualifications such as MBAs, CII/CIB and ILM qualifications. To further their development managers also have the opportunity to be considered for roles outside of the UK.