CHRISTMAS LUNCH IN Paris is one of the perks that makes life palatable at this global research consultancy. The Futures Company consultants earn a typical £32,000 a year, and almost a third of the 55 employees make more than £55,000. People say their jobs are good for growth (a top 15 positive score of 86%). The organisation's values include curiosity, intelligence and imagination, and it clearly values new ideas from employees (88%, another top 15 score). There are bonuses for junior staff of between £500 and £3,500 for living these values, and other exceptional achievements are celebrated with the gift of a bottle of champagne and £70. Everyone is treated fairly (78%) with a generous set of benefits for employees at every level. Staff holiday ranges from 25 to 27 days a year (depending on service and incentives), while sabbaticals are available after three years. Maternity benefits include an extra month's pay as a bonus. There is flexibility for any employee to change their working patterns: the financial controller, for example, works for 10 months and has a two-month break in the summer. Most people have share options while the whole staff has free private healthcare including family members, a non-contributory pension scheme and discounted gym membership. Staff can get discounts at shops and facilities near the central London office. Senior employees such as UK managing director Will Galgey truly live the values of the firm (84%). People feel their manager talks openly and honestly with them (87%), offers plenty of support (84%) and is an excellent role model (81%, the ninth highest score for this). Everyone has five days of paid work time available to volunteer each year, and this has included running drama and sports groups for a youth centre in Bermondsey in south London and helping the director of a film project investigating human rights abuses in Nigeria. The firm offers pro bono work to good causes and matches funds raised by staff for charities, and staff say this is not just for the good publicity (82%, the seventh highest score). www.thefuturescompany.com `
