1 THEY CARE ABOUT EMPLOYEE WELLBEING

Employees are increasingly expecting their employers to help them look after their mental and physical health. Companies that do this see higher levels of productivity, creativity and engagement. Working life is so fastpaced, unrelenting and uncertain, workers want to feel their employer has their back.

Manning Gottlieb OMD set up “The Gym” to help people ensure they stay “fit” for work, now and in the future, and to attract and retain the best talent. According to Amy Robbins, executive director, head of people, at MG OMD, the “spa area”, concerned with staff wellbeing, underpins and ensures the success of the entire programme: “The only way we can get our people to truly transform [and embrace change] is by ensuring they are mentally and physically fit. The spa offers treatments to support them, be it classes in stress and resilience, yoga, pilates, massages, counselling or alternative therapies such as hypnotherapy.”

Brighton-based digital marketing agency Propellernet, which is often cited in rankings as a great place to work, pours 5% of all profits into a ring-fenced “health and wellbeing fund” to pay for perks such as free breakfasts, team lunches and massages. Managing director Nikki Gatenby believes “upping the fun” and “triggering endorphins” directly benefits the bottom line: “We have a staff turnover rate lower than a quarter of our industry average (7% versus 30%) and sick rates five times less than the national average (1.1 days versus 5.7 days). Hard-nosed proof that being human pays off.”