Together Housing Group have been shortlisted as finalists for the Best Benefits to Support Work-Life Balance Award at the upcoming Employee Benefits Awards 2021, in recognition of their demonstrable use of benefits to support employee work-life balance. The awards ceremony will take place, in person, on Friday 12th November at Old Billingsgate in London and will celebrate innovative HR reward and benefits strategies and celebrate excellence in HR.
Prior to Covid-19, Together Housing already offered its employees flexible working but as the country went into lockdown in early 2020 the organisation went one step further and introduced a ‘smart agile’ way of working. This method of working has tailored Together Housing’s benefits strategy to support the varying needs of its employees.
Emma Tomkinson, Head of Change Project Partners for Together Housing, said, “Being shortlisted recognises the flexibility our new approach offers. Colleagues can work wherever and whenever they need to, bespoke to each service areas’ needs to get their job done to the best of their ability without historic time constraints. The pandemic has presented us with the opportunity focus even more on delivering high performance by offering even more flexibility than before. Our vision is to create a culture based on trust and mutual flexibility where people are judged on outputs not hours.”
Together Housing also offers a range of products and interventions to help employees reduce stress and manage their physical, mental and financial well-being. In addition to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which offers a confidential helpline, counselling and individual health care plan including access to an online GP 24/7, the organisation now has its own occupational health nurse and a team of qualified Mental Health First Aiders, as well as many other benefits.
Kevin Ruth, Deputy Chief Executive, explained: “Many of our colleagues are key workers at the frontline of the crisis with support staff caring for older or vulnerable residents and repairs and maintenance staff continuing to carry out essential work in people’s homes to make sure they are safe and secure. We also mobilised our staff to respond to the outbreak by supporting residents with financial concerns, including helping them to access Universal Credit, as well as employment and training opportunities, and working with food banks.”
A staff survey carried out found: 63% of colleagues are ‘very happy’ with current working hours and pattern, up from 33% prior to the pandemic. There has also been an increase from 27% to 65% of people reported to be ‘very happy’ with their work/home life balance and 65% are ‘very motivated to go the extra mile on a regular basis’, up from 58%. Sickness absence has also fallen by a huge 38% overall.
You can find out more about Together Housing and Job vacancies on offer here: Careers | Together Housing