Give your staff the gift of wellbeing this Christmas
Employee benefits and perks are critical for a happy, productive workforce. Here are 12 ideas you could roll out for your staff next year
With the cost of living crisis attacking on all fronts, due to rising mortgages, energy and food bills, your staff are likely to be feeling the strain, both financially and emotionally. As Christmas is just around the corner, here are a few ideas – in the spirit of the 12 Days of Christmas – for presents they’ll really appreciate, which could help improve their wellbeing in the coming months.
Sing along with us now... on the first day of Christmas, my bosses gave to me...
1. Two hours for wellbeing
The Inspire Group gave staff an additional two hours a day during the month of September, to allow employees more time to rest. This was offered in tandem with a drive to improve their sleep, by supplying sleep care packages.
Meanwhile, Kuoni in October offered its staff two hours to focus on doing something they love. Director of communications Rachel O’Reilly explains: "We launched Take Two alongside World Mental Health Day. It was an opportunity for staff to take two hours for themselves during the month of October – late start, early finish, time for an exercise class, a long lunch break, whatever makes them happy. It got lots of goodwill, so we’d definitely look to run it again."
2. Time for meditation
Monthly meditation sessions are held at Hays Travel head office, to help staff find a sense of calm. These last 20 minutes and are led by a member of the team who is a qualified yoga and meditation instructor. Sessions takes place in a multi-faith and wellbeing room, which is set up with incense, comfy cushions and calming music to provide a relaxing and tranquil environment.
Explains Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, Hays Travel chief operating officer: “We’re nothing without our wonderful people so looking after their mental health and wellbeing is a top priority.”
3. A four-day week
This is a biggie – there are life-changing benefits to working a four-day week, while getting paid as if you were working a full five. Althams Travel is one travel agency business that has pioneered the four-day week since April 2022 and Lemongrass Marketing was the first travel PR agency in the UK to introduce a four-day week as a four-month trial, which began in September.
Mirjam Peternek McCartney, founder and chief executive of Lemongrass Marketing, said: “We know that studies have shown that happier, healthier staff are more productive and more creative. We have devised a system of alternate shift patterns Monday to Friday to maintain full team productivity and output.”
A UK pilot for the four-day week came to an end in November, with around 86% saying they would continue the four-day week policy after the trial ends.
4. An away day overseas
Depending on your budget (and the favours you can call in!), why not take your staff away for a day or a few days of pure fun. In October ITC invited employees from all its brands to Portugal for a two-day conference at Domes Lake Algarve, which featured an afternoon catamaran cruise and a Make a Wish challenge, which saw teams presented with the challenge of making the dreams of five critically ill children come true.
Chief executive Phil Aird-Mash said: “At ITC, we don’t just work in travel – it’s also our passion and our motivation. Our time together in Portugal allowed our teams to have fun and experience the sense of purpose travel gives us all, after it was deprived to us and our clients for so long.”
5. An early pay rise
It would be a nice surprise, for staff expecting their pay review at the financial year end, to bring it forward. Audley Travel brought forward its annual pay review by three months to help with the rising cost of living. All staff received a five per cent salary increase from 1 October, instead of waiting until the traditional annual review in January.
Chief executive Nick Longman said: “We understand from our regular staff survey that due to the rising cost of living and longer-term impact of inflation, salaries are one of the main things concerning our staff at the moment, which is why we’ve taken the decision to act [in October] rather than wait until the annual January pay review.”
6. The chance to win a range of prizes
Set aside an amount of budget each month that you’re comfortable with and ramp up the fun factor. The Big Hays Travel Thank You is a monthly prize draw set up to reward and recognise staff. All employees across the business are automatically entered to win a range of prizes, that in the past few months alone have included a new car, a four-night trip to New York with £1,000 spending money and mortgage/rent, gas, electricity and water bills paid for by the company.
One of two winners of the bills prize, Sandra Taylor from Hays Travel, Washington, said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed, completely speechless. Of the 40 years I have worked in travel this is the biggest prize I have ever won. My husband can’t complain about me putting the heating on now.”
7. A mental wellness spa day
Imagine how great your staff would feel having a free massage on company time? Unforgettable Travel Group contributes £100 to each employee so they can book a spa treatment of their choice, using a paid day’s leave annually. As a further incentive, staff who successfully participate in the company’s eight-week “Healthy Office Challenge” receive a further two days off and a £100 reward. An extra day of annual leave is given for birthdays, and staff who pass five years’ service are offered a £2,000 cash bonus or a 30-day sabbatical.
8. Mental health first aid
Among those travel companies that have invested in Mental Health First Aiders is Barrhead Travel, which has trained a group of colleagues to provide support across the business on a range of topics. They also run the company’s You are not alone initiative, which is designed to tackle loneliness. This is an inbox, manned seven days a week, allowing staff to reach out whenever they need support or advice, or just someone to talk with. It was launched during the pandemic but Barrhead kept it going after positive feedback from staff.
Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, said: “Prioritising wellness was heightened during the pandemic, but we’re striving to ensure it continues to be engrained in our culture.”
9. Access to a life coach
Life coaches are skilled in mindset and manifestation, occupational psychology, leadership coaching, plus learning and development mentoring. Luxtripper has employed an in-house life coach, available to anyone in the business, at any time, for whatever they might need.
Nena Chaletzos, founder and chief executive of Luxtripper, says the life coach has been an invaluable addition to the team: “Whether it’s professional or personal – we don’t switch off being human when we’re at work, so we believe access to this valuable resource matters at all times.” Or make it more practical – make mortgage advisors or financial advisors available for your staff.
10. A weekly wellbeing walk
Walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercise and it’s great for mental health too, taking advantage of fresh air and chatting with colleagues away from the office environment. Every Tuesday lunchtime ROL Cruise organises a 45-minute wellbeing walk in the countryside around the Colchester head office.
In partnership with Just Peachee, employees can also sign up for free, dedicated HIIT training sessions. Rosie Cairns, joint managing director of ROL Cruise says: “What makes our partnership with Just Peachee corporate wellbeing special is that the activities are completely tailored to our staff and what they want. More and more are taking part in our weekly wellbeing walks and are really seeing the benefit of this.”
11. The opportunity to give back
It’s well understood that giving back is good for the soul, so give your staff time and support to dedicate themselves to helping those worse off. Andy Grayson, an NJT travel consultant for four years, raised £650 in aid of the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal through a quiz night. Not Just Travel helped out and covered the event expenses as well as donating to the charity. They also offered extra incentives to head office staff to host Ukrainian refugees.
12. A voice in the company
Take the time to survey your staff… either with a simple suggestions box, which they can post into anonymously, or use a company such as Glassdoor, a benchmark platform that employers can use to independently review their employers. Blue Bay Travel used the feedback gained from a Glassdoor survey to increase flexible working mechanisms, adjust weekend working hours, and overhaul its pay and reward strategy.
Alistair Rowland, chief executive, Blue Bay Travel says: “In recent years, the industry has taken a significant hit, and it’s been tough for people working in the travel industry. It’s never been more important to take care of our colleagues. Giving our team a voice and ensuring they know that when they share their thoughts, ideas and feedback, we’ll listen, is the very least we can do.”
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