IT IS ALWAYS nice to get a birthday card and it's even better when it comes from the boss. Such gestures are the key to a happy and contented workforce at energy services contractor Production Services Network and help to explain a healthy staff retention rate. Keeping people sweet starts early and new recruits are sent a small gift, while promotions are marked by a letter thanking employees for their efforts. It's no wonder that staff respect their bosses and say chief executive Robert Keiller is an inspiration (82%), ranking fourth for running the company along sound moral principles (88%). He also achieves a top 10 ranking for people having a great deal of faith in him (87%). Employees have confidence in the leadership skills of the senior management team (79%) and believe that senior managers truly live the values of the organisation (75%). The company's primary business is providing support for customers who operate oil and gas facilities whether that be platforms, pipelines or terminals. Work-life balance is good with core hours of 10am to 4pm and the possibility of fitting your hours into nine days rather than 10 (thereby picking up an extra 20-plus days off a year). There are few signs of pressure at work affecting performance (a 73% score, ranking 21st) or harming concentration (74%, 24th). Nor are there complaints of people being exhausted when they get home (57%, the 10th best score) or of their health suffering because of work (80%). Initiatives at the company include flexible working, a travel insurance scheme, a voluntary healthcare cash plan and a tax-buster travel scheme. Graduates are recruited and developed across both technical and business support disciplines and there is a visible career path. Few staff would chose to leave tomorrow if they had another job offer (77%). Morale is also boosted by subsidised social and sporting events such as touch rugby, visits to spas and pools, a spring ghost walk, a learn-to-make sushi experience, golf coaching and theatre and movie trips. psnworld.com
