Channel leaders continue cost of living aid for staff
The link between staff support mechanisms and the rising cost of living is strengthening with channel companies continuing to go the extra mile by enhancing existing initiatives and introducing new employee benefits ranging from ongoing pay increases to mental health support.
CHRIS MORRISEY
LILY COMMS
We have introduced measures to help our employees, all of which will be kept in place after the cost-of-living crisis subsides. We conducted a full salary benchmarking exercise to ensure everyone is on a fair wage and continue to offer flexible and hybrid working, which reduces travel costs. We pay for daily transportation for those who need to be office based and must use public transport. We also offer access to free mental health support and discounted gym membership, which has helped to boost staff morale, retention and recruitment.
DARREN GARLAND
PROVU COMMUNICATIONS
For the last two years ProVu has increased wages for all staff at rates significantly higher than we have done in the past, acknowledging the difficulties everyone is facing and supporting them through the cost-of-living crisis. We are flexible with our staff and deal with their needs on an individual basis, sometimes with advance wages to help in certain circumstances. We increased everyone’s holiday allowance by two days, giving staff more flexibility and reducing the need to take unpaid leave.
CHERIE HOWLETT
JOLA
We have given a one-off cost-of-living crisis bonus and access to free financial advice and counselling to all our employees. We also introduced an EMI scheme which has delivered large first payouts to all employees. As each team member contributes to company growth, we don’t want to lose the talent and experience we have built up. We ensure confidential specialist support is available for anyone that needs it. Members of our team have been accepted for mortgages, can complete home improvement projects and go on family holidays, which we are aware is not the case for many. We also support our partners and their customers by introducing pay-monthly as-a-service solutions with no upfront payments.
VISH CHHATRALIA
EXERTIS
We launched an Emergency Support Fund this year where colleagues can make a confidential application for support. We have 30 Mental Health First Aiders across all our sites who are ready to listen and provide signposting to colleagues who require support. We bolstered manager briefing to enhance consistency for 121s with their teams, and further support personal wellbeing. We have four Employee Resource Groups which provide support for those in ethnic, women, disability and LGBTIA+ communities, which are most vulnerable and under pressure. We are a charity partner for Mental Health UK, and our Mental Health First Aiders provide first-point-of-contact care for colleagues if they require it. This support will always be a constant in our ethics. We offer free volunteering days to all employees, giving them the opportunity to raise money and support local communities.
LINDA PATTERSON
TD SYNNEX
Both this year and last, we significantly increased the budget for salary increases and most co-workers were given a further one-off cash payment before Christmas. We’d already moved to a 40 per cent of time in the office policy and to save travel costs, co-workers were given the option to work from home fully during December 2022. We have been making basic cupboard supplies available in discrete locations for anyone who needs them. Mental Health First Aiders are available to everyone, and we’ve introduced a Wellbeing Day. We have four business resource groups in the UK promoting DE&I, and in July we relaunched our social and charity committee. While the market remains challenging, our intention is to keep all this support for co-workers in place.
CHRISTIAN LINDSAY-SMITH
INTERCITY
At the beginning of the year, we provided an unprecedented level of pay increases in response to the rising economic pressures. We weighted these more heavily towards lower paid colleagues, ensuring that price increases didn’t result in additional difficulties for those who have been struggling. Additionally, all Intercity colleagues received a cost-of-living bonus in July 2022. We continue to assess inflationary impact and recognise our responsibility to support colleagues through this period.”
ADAM CATHCART
ONECOM PARTNERS
Onecom Group is taking steps to support employees by prioritising their health and overall wellbeing. We have arranged workshops on financial wellbeing, featuring insights from external experts on practical budgeting strategies, effective financial planning techniques, and managing day-to-day expenses. Recognising the potential impact of the economic climate on mental health, we offer a dedicated network of Mental Health First Aiders who are available to provide advice for dealing with financial stress. We also extend a complementary breakfast offering at our offices, giving staff the opportunity to catch up with colleagues informally promoting a family atmosphere where team members can support and advise each other. Our focus is on nurturing personal growth, resilience, and overall wellbeing.
JAMIE HUGHES
EVOLVE IP
We’ve introduced an Annual Wellness Day and work with a specialist external company to offer enhanced levels of expertise. We also have regular fruit deliveries and subsidised vending, and host monthly Lunch & Learn sessions where everyone can meet face-to-face, interact and share their knowledge. This brings business and mental health benefits. We have a pool table, computer console and other activities so staff can switch off and break away from their desk.
MARK PILLOW
VOIP UNLIMITED
“Within the last year our open door policy and support initiatives have evolved and we’ve been regularly assessing the impact of the recent economic changes on the team to ensure no one is left behind. As a company we’ve enhanced support initiatives further, offering flexible work arrangements to accommodate changing circumstances, actively adapting our policies and support systems to ensure employee well-being is looked after.”