My Manager - How employees feel about and communicate with their direct manager
The quality of direct line management really impacts engagement, after all the latest stats suggest that 7 out of 10 people leave their manager and not their organisation.
Great managers should be selling the direction and vision of the organisation, helping others see how their role impacts the bigger picture, ultimately influencing the factor My Company. Good Managers recognise the importance of growing and developing their people, which means the My Manager factor also has a significant impact on the factor Personal Growth.
When it comes to My Team, great managers build great teams, but world class managers also focus on connecting teams throughout the organisation. Managers can heavily influence the Wellbeing factor by helping to positively restore a work/life balance, managing employee workload and recognising that employees have a life outside of work


The Golder Trust for Orphans was formed to provide support to children and families in Africa who have been orphaned by the AIDS pandemic. The Trust is funded by Golder staff worldwide and provides financial support to Non-Governmental Organisations caring for and counselling families and dependents of people living with HIV/AIDS. To date, their efforts have supported over 1000 children in Africa.
The company conduct an 'Annual Career Development Review'. Within this review personal development and training needs are assessed and a plan for the employee's forthcoming year is put together between themselves and their line manager. The company allows a standard of 10 days training per year, per employee.


As part of the firm's core values, the firm awards one staff member per year with "A great client service award". All those nominated are recognised at a drinks evening where their achievements are listed. Last year's winner won a weekend away for two at a luxury spa hotel. In addition, they have a prominent space on our internal intranet "Foxnet" where great efforts by staff (for both internal and external clients) are recognised.
As part of the firm's core values, the firm awards one staff member per year with "A great client service award". All those nominated are recognised at a drinks evening where their achievements are listed. Last year's winner won a weekend away for two at a luxury spa hotel. In addition, they have a prominent space on our internal intranet "Foxnet" where great efforts by staff (for both internal and external clients) are recognised.


A particularly memorable and enjoyable social event that they recently held, was the Foolproof 10th Birthday Party. This was a really exciting time, where everyone, including ex-staff, was invited to spend the evening at Caistor Hall Hotel in Norfolk to celebrate with food, drink and accommodation expensed by the company. This was a memorable evening, where past, current and future successes were celebrated. This was also an opportunity for Management to announce the exciting news of the acquisition of their Singapore office!
Foolproof is led by the Managing Director, Leslie Fountain. What is distinctive about her approach to management is how she applies her own and the company's values through all levels of the company. Leslie demonstrates how she expects people to work and behave by leading by example. Leslie is continuously on the office floor and sits within the open plan office, to support a true open door culture. Leslie takes opportunities to add her own touches to individuals' work and engages in creative discussions to broaden the employees' views on projects. In summary, Leslie's management style encourages Foolproofers to adapt a more open and creative approach to work as demonstrated by her.


At Corven they offer a comprehensive bonus package to all of their employees across all career bands/grades. It consists of a number of different elements measured against individual and company performance. One of the elements of their bonus package that they believe is unique, compared to other similar sized organisations, is the eligibility of anyone within the organisation to receive a sales bonus for their contributions to gaining new business. Sales bonuses are not linked to status or career levels but based on individual contributions towards winning new business for Corven and can greatly enhance individual remuneration packages.
At Corven they offer a comprehensive bonus package to all of their employees across all career bands/grades. It consists of a number of different elements measured against individual and company performance. One of the elements of their bonus package that they believe is unique, compared to other similar sized organisations, is the eligibility of anyone within the organisation to receive a sales bonus for their contributions to gaining new business. Sales bonuses are not linked to status or career levels but based on individual contributions towards winning new business for Corven and can greatly enhance individual remuneration packages.


At the end of every quarter all employees attend a company presentation given by the CEO in which the CEO goes over the last quarter's results, the company's direction going forward, and any other interesting company news. At the end of the presentation, awards are given out for two categories: Customer First and Team Player. Nominees for the Customer First award demonstrate commitment to supreme service, quality delivery, solution innovation and creative problem solving that has a measurable positive impact on customers. ControlCircle Team Player Award nominees are consistently supportive, creative and always finding ways to add value to their colleagues and the company, ensuring that both ControlCircle and their customers reap the many benefits of them all moving in the same direction to deliver a common set of goals and objectives. Employees are encouraged to nominate team members from across the business for both awards and winners are chosen by the number of nominations. Winners receive up to £100 to spend on an experience day of their choice.
The senior management team work closely with managers to ensure that they are aware of targets and objectives and have the resources at their disposal to achieve the required end result. Clients often acknowledge a job well done. This client communication is shared throughout the Company.


CBG Consultants have all the standard good practice processes in place to gather feedback face to face, with regular formal meetings, presentations and informal conversation etc. They believe their open door policy and no blame culture provides the right environment to encourage honesty and transparency. The company also have a dedicated feedback
e-mail address which gives staff the opportunity to provide feedback in an anonymous way. This year CBG have also undergone their Investors in People re-assessment and they are delighted to have achieved BRONZE status.
CBG Consultants have all the standard good practice processes in place to gather feedback face to face, with regular formal meetings, presentations and informal conversation etc. They believe their open door policy and no blame culture provides the right environment to encourage honesty and transparency. The company also have a dedicated feedback
e-mail address which gives staff the opportunity to provide feedback in an anonymous way. This year CBG have also undergone their Investors in People re-assessment and they are delighted to have achieved BRONZE status.


Christmas Party – it will always be top of the list. It is the event that all the staff look forward to.. We are City based and well aware of the fall in the number of companies holding Christmas parties over recent years. The MD of the company is proud to buck this trend, feeling that a party to show their appreciation, showcase success and say thank you for your efforts is not a luxury but a must. Year on year it is the most talked about event in the office with excitement building up weeks in advance. The company pays for food, drink and a DJ so all can let their hair down. In keeping with the family ethos of the company partners are also invited to come along and enjoy the festive cheer. Inevitably the budding singers who work for us provided some of the entertainment on the night which is always a highlight.
Within their organisation Career Legal have several awards which are designed to reward success, diligence, team and personal effort and going above and beyond. All employees are eligible for nomination and are designed not just for the fee earners but also those in support positions. The rewards themselves come in various forms and usually are something the winner has requested which has led to a variety of gifts including a sofa as the winner had just moved house, a golf buggy someone had always wanted and a spa day because it was a treat. Career Legal feel that the option to choose the reward makes it more personal ensuring the gift is extra special as it is something the recipient truly wants and will enjoy all the more.


Within their learning and development programme, Business Stream put a strong focus on developing leadership skills and nurturing the talent and potential of their existing staff. Over the past three years, 58 people have been on the Talent Stream training programme and this year they introduced an eLearning portal to give even more staff access to development programmes. Business Stream also introduced a two-year management trainee programme called the Business Stream apprentice. The apprentice gives four individuals the opportunity to rotate across all the functions in their business, gaining insight into how Business Stream works from every angle. They also receive training and development, mentoring from senior management and coaching throughout.
Within their learning and development programme, Business Stream put a strong focus on developing leadership skills and nurturing the talent and potential of their existing staff. Over the past three years, 58 people have been on the Talent Stream training programme and this year they introduced an eLearning portal to give even more staff access to development programmes. Business Stream also introduced a two-year management trainee programme called the Business Stream apprentice. The apprentice gives four individuals the opportunity to rotate across all the functions in their business, gaining insight into how Business Stream works from every angle. They also receive training and development, mentoring from senior management and coaching throughout.

British Gas' people enjoy regular opportunities to air their views on subjects important to them. Working as a team to address the issues raised is essential to maintain good workplace relations. To create a culture of ongoing feedback, the company not only coach their managers but also have more formal feedback processes in place. Their annual engagement survey gathers feedback from right across the organisation. The survey has developed over the years and now really focuses on those factors they know drive their people's engagement.
British Gas' people enjoy regular opportunities to air their views on subjects important to them. Working as a team to address the issues raised is essential to maintain good workplace relations. To create a culture of ongoing feedback, the company not only coach their managers but also have more formal feedback processes in place. Their annual engagement survey gathers feedback from right across the organisation. The survey has developed over the years and now really focuses on those factors they know drive their people's engagement.
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