What are companies doing with regards to 'My Manager'

Managers receive leadership and supervisory skills training, coaching and mentoring. There is also a buddy system for new employees to give them additional support. Those wishing to undertake external qualifications, such as the MBA or MA receive pay and support. Managers are encouraged to mix with their teams, for example by having lunch with employees to develop better relationships.

Hays unique culture and environment utilises the strength of teams as a way of delivering excellence in recruitment and customer service to their clients, temporary workers and applicants. All teams are encouraged to meet together weekly to cascade messages, share issues and build knowledge. Managers are encouraged to manage teams as well as individuals and to ensure team events occur on a regular basis in order to strengthen the bond; this often includes a social element as well as business focussed activity. Office based incentives promote the strength of the team and awards enable the team to celebrate together both in a social context and on sports and experience events for example a paintballing day. Management conferences seek to encourage team building across specialist business functions and areas. These events often feature team events and utilise teams to solve problems and generate ideas and discussion.

Futures Housing have a strategy and various policies and procedures to support their commitment to the environment. They monitor energy usage and waste and have recycling points at all offices and sites. They have also have introduced video and telephone conferencing to reduce car travel and promote car sharing, cycling to work, providing secure bicycle bins and shower facilities. They do a great deal for their communities including holding yearly community events and providing financial support to local sports teams and music groups. They raise money for a wide variety of charities throughout the year, including Comic Relief, Wear it Pink Day for Breast Cancer and Children in Need and annually board directors match monies raised by team members up to limit.

As a small company eSpares encourage everyone to get involved in the areas of the business that are of interest to them and where they can add value. No one is pigeonholed into a job description and the organisation do their best to accommodate employee requests for flexible working hours and the ability to work from home.

Anyone wishing to take part in relevant further training through recognised formal qualifications are fully funded and supported with paid study leave. The average spend that the company invests in training is £2,500 per employee each year with approximately 200 hours allocated on average per person.

Anyone wishing to take part in relevant further training through recognised formal qualifications are fully funded and supported with paid study leave. The average spend that the company invests in training is £2,500 per employee each year with approximately 200 hours allocated on average per person.

The organisation makes a big effort to put fun into raising money for charity. On the recent Children in Need Event they dressed up for work in outfits from the 60s, 70s and 80s. They also assist with arranging work placements for tenants on their Home2Work Scheme. They have two people in their dedicated energy team who are responsible for all of the organisation's energy management and recycling issues. They have installed energy monitors at headquarters and are investigating energy management systems for main office and all associated offices and buildings. Facilities exist for recycling glass, plastic, cardboard, paper, toner and printer cartridges and batteries. As an organisation they plant a number of trees to help off-set their carbon footprint.

The council was shortlisted for an award for its wellbeing programme by the PPMA in 2009 and won the employee benefits best absence management strategy in 2009. They have held regular wellbeing weeks to promote a range of activities that promote healthy practices in the workplace including nutrition classes, meditation sessions, healthy food in the staff canteen, the launch of a cycle to work scheme and encouraging staff to become more active during the working day. The nutrition sessions are the most popular events with 20 staff attending an 8 week programme looking at healthy eating and exercise. They continue to offer neck and shoulder massages, Tai Chi classes, flu jabs, sports activities and health screenings.

Staff are encouraged to keep fit and healthy. The company pay for gym memberships for all employees who would like to join a local gym, breakfast is provided free of charge and there is fresh fruit twice a week. The work life balance is addressed by changing business opening hours to help employees with their journey to work. They provide employees with the opportunity to work flexible working hours and working from home where possible. They realise how important family is and employee's families are invited to certain social events for example trips to Thorpe Park and Royal Ascot.