A SENSE OF camaraderie has helped create a committed and contented workforce at East Northamptonshire Council. Managers list "working together" as the organisation's first value and the council ranks in the top 25 overall for employee Wellbeing and the top 50 for My Team. Employees say they feel a strong sense of family in their team (69%), their colleagues are fun to work with (76%) and people care about each other (77%). Staff are rewarded for good work with thank-you cards and letters, as well as mentions in the staff magazine. After 15 years' service they are given a gift worth £50 and after 25 years a reward worth £110. They care about providing a great service (93%). One of the council's customer services advisers typically earns £17,626. About nine out of 10 employees earn £35,000 or below and six out of 10 take home £25,000 or less. To assuage employees' fears about the economic climate, chief executive David Oliver has brought in "big team meetings" so concerns can be raised and discussed. Any anxiety does not seem to be having much of an effect on health and happiness. Staff are content with the balance between their work and home life (70%, a top five ranking among small organisations), and say their health is not suffering because of the job (72%). Nor are they spending too much time working (61%, the fourth best ranking). www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk