Call Connection gets a ringing endorsement from its staff. Of all 100 companies on the list, it wins the best results for offering a fair deal to its employees. The Ipswich-based firm gets an impressive 89% positive score for staff being happy with the salary and perks, see table below. Workers, more than four-fifths of whom earn between £15,000 and £25,000, can get subsidised bus travel, subsidised car parking, free gym membership and private medical insurance. Also provided, free of charge, is a HealthSure scheme which offers up to £550 per year for dental and optical treatment and other therapies such as acupuncture, as well as personal accident cover and a confidential 24-hour helpline. New recruits take part in a comprehensive induction programme and their training needs are reassessed six months later. After a year with the firm staff are given a budget to help them on their next step whether it be career progression in the business or outside it. Senior managers operate an open door policy and spend a lot of time in the call centre talking and listening to agents. This investment results in strong relationships between workers and their bosses. Employees say their manager regularly expresses appreciation when they do a good job and talks honestly and openly with them (both 80%), ranking the firm 10th and 26th respectively. This relaxed atmosphere means staff have lots of fun with their colleagues (87%, a top 10 result) and this camaraderie is further strengthened by team outings and functions such as the Christmas party. The company goes to a lot of effort to make the event memorable. At a recent party the venue was turned into an ice cave where food and free drinks were served from bars made completely of ice. During the evening, the annual awards ceremony is held and members of staff vote for their peers in categories such as Best Dressed Female, Want to be Stuck in a Lift With and Mr and Mrs Call Connection. With this sort of atmosphere it's not surprising that few staff have suffered stress-related symptoms in the last 12 months because of their job (79%). The firm raises funds for a local charity, Suffolk Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Service, and donates its call centre and staff for the live Comic Relief and Sport Relief shows where they take donations from the public. Staff think the firm does a good job of helping the community, giving it a top 82% positive score.
