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Bradford & Bingley – a caring employer

Winner of a Health, Work and Well-Being Award 2007

Bradford amd Bingley recognises that a physically and mentally healthy workforce is a more content, motivated and hence more productive one. Through their cultures and values programme they have developed a number of schemes, which have contributed to an increase in the staff feel good factor from below 50% in 2005 to 78% in 2006.

Process

In 2005, Bradford & Bingley implemented it’s cultures and values programme. A key element of this programme is the health and well-being of their staff.

Several factors were identified as having an adverse effect on a content and productive workforce, including work stress, poor physical health and long-term sickness. 

Bradford & Bingley had a number of schemes in place to combat these issues, but through their HR, Health & Safety and CSR functions, set out to expand on what had been achieved and ensure that, through effective internal communications, all staff are able to take advantage of what is available.

The cultures and values programme has been fully embedded within the business and cascaded down to senior management who have taken responsibility health and well-being schemes including:

  • A counselling service for staff on work and personal matters

  • A programme of stress management was developed in partnership with the Bradford City Council Environmental Officer and rolled out to all staff

  • Following a consultation with employees, the staff restaurants at head office locations have changed their menus to reflect a healthy eating policy

  • A committee of employees meets regularly to discuss and resolve any work issues that may be affecting them or their colleagues

  • A local professional masseur runs massage sessions for all staff at head office locations, Pilates classes are run at head office and the company offers discounts on admission to local gyms

Impact

  • Staff turnover is down from 30.1% in 2005 to 23.3% in 2006, a decrease of 20%.
  • A staff survey in December 2006 showed a significant improvement on the 2005 survey in the staff ‘feel-good’ factor score. Incorporating such questions as how likely staff would be to recommend Bradford & Bingley as a place to work, the score increased from 45% in 2005 to 72% in 2006.
  • Whilst absenteeism remains static at 4.7%, indications are that the stress management programme and massage therapy sessions, in particular within our call centres, are having a positive effect and long term improvements are expected.
  • Bradford & Bingley’s work on stress management has been recognised by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) as setting best practice in this area and they recently presented a case study at a series of HSE ‘healthy workplace solutions’ workshops within the financial services sector. The training has been so successful that the Bradford City Council Environmental Department is using it as part of their training.
  • Winner of a Health, Work and Well-Being Awards 2007 in association with Business in the Community.

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