Our employee benefits

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Our benefits package forms part of our Life@One offer to help support our colleagues to live well.

The offer is based on what our colleagues told us was important. It includes our focus on wellbeing in the workplace and our recognition programme, as well as our benefits listed here.

Our benefits

Pensions

We are a sector-leader in the contributions we make to our workforce pensions. All employees have access to the 4%-4% auto enrolment scheme. This is our basic auto enrolment level, where the staff member and we each pay 4% of their annual salary into their pension pot. In addition, most employees can opt to pay either 4% or 5% of their salary as their employee contribution rate and it will be double-matched by us up to 10%.

Buying and selling leave

At specific times during the year, you can buy up to five additional days’ leave or sell back up to three days. We know that getting the balance right between work and home life is a big part of supporting our workforce wellbeing.

Eye care vouchers

We provide eye care vouchers for employees who spend most of their time working with a computer. These vouchers include the cost of a full eye examination and a pair of glasses for visual display unit (VDU) use from a particular range at a fixed price. Alternatively, the contribution can be used as an upgrade towards the cost of other frame ranges.

Flexi-time

Where possible, we operate a flexi-time system. This allows staff to work at times that suit their personal circumstances. This is granted at the managers’ discretion.

Personal accident policy

This provides insurance cover for all staff aged 16 to 75. The policy protects eligible employees in the unlikely event they severely harm themselves physically while carrying out their job.

Refer a friend

When you refer a friend to a job vacancy here and they go on to get the job, you’ll receive a referral bonus of £150. Once they’ve passed their probation, you’ll receive another £150.

Season ticket loans

Once employees have successfully passed their probation, they can apply for an interest-free loan towards the purchase of a season ticket for their commute.

Study leave

Employees studying towards a qualification related to their job can request up to five days of paid study leave in a year.

Career breaks

Employees with three years’ continuous service can apply to take a break of up to one year with a guarantee of returning to employment at the end of the break. Such a break may be for a variety of reasons such as wanting to broaden your experience or get new skills by carrying out work, research or study.

Healthcare

All staff have access to our healthcare cashback insurance scheme. Where you incur costs for medical care, including some complementary and alternative therapies, then you can claim back the costs up to the annual maximum outlined in the cover. This scheme, along with healthcare, also includes many retail discounts and wellbeing offers, such as gym memberships.

Employee assistance programme

We care for our employees. We offer a 24/7 helpline, where we provide free and confidential information, support and counselling services. The helpline offers emotional counselling and practical support on both work and personal issues, including debt, legal and family issues.