Hightown Praetorian Housing & Churches Association

Dedicated to caring for the community, Hightown Praetorian & Churches Housing Association still has plenty of love left over for its employees. Jobs are good for personal growth, say staff, who give the firm a 71% positive score for this question. They are happy with the balance between their work and home life (69%) and the pay and benefits they receive (60%), feel managers are supportive (74%), and believe that the company's good deeds are not driven by a desire for the publicity (57%). Operating in Hertfordshire and east Buckinghamshire, Hightown's 547 employees provide a range of housing services for people who cannot afford to buy or rent. Managers are flexible when it comes to office rotas and are happy to help colleagues spend time with their families or meet personal commitments. Survey results show Hightown Praetorian staff do not feel they are spending too much time at work (64%) and that the job doesn't interfere with responsibilities at home (71%). As a result, their health is not suffering (76%). Employees say their manager cares about them as individuals and regularly expresses his or her appreciation for a job well done (both 74% positive), and they believe that managers talk openly and honestly with staff members (76%). Project workers earn on average just over £18,000 a year and salaries are linked to performance. Childcare vouchers are available, as is an employee assistance programme, and the organisation pays a generous 12.3% of salary into a contributory pension scheme. Staff feel they receive fair pay for their responsibilities (59%). They are happy with their pay and benefits (60%) and say the remuneration is reasonable compared with people in equivalent roles in similar organisations (63%). Auctions, fashion shows, boot sales and concerts are staged by Hightown staff to raise money for charity. They even undertook a sleep-out, with colleagues and the public overnighting in a cathedral for one evening to raise money for the homeless. Profit and budgetary concerns are not the only things driving this organisation, say staff (a 65% positive score), and they believe that the association makes a positive difference to the world (73%). Promotion from within the ranks is encouraged and employee retention is high, with close to 50% of staff having worked for Hightown for three years or more. Employees find their work stimulating (70%), say that experience gained in the job will be valuable for their future and are proud to work for the organisation (both 74%).