Perks help to create that feelgood factor

by Melanie Clayton

There aren’t many companies that could throw a party to rival the celebrations to mark O2’s fifth anniversary and the opening of the O2 arena in Greenwich, southeast London. Live performances from Tom Jones, Kaiser Chiefs and Basement Jaxx made it a night to remember for the 17,000 employees and their guests last summer.

The telecoms company ranked sixth in the Best Big Companies to Work For list this year. A positive score of 64.5% placed O2 third overall in the fair deal factor, where staff are asked about their pay and benefits.

With a larger turnover than small and mid-sized firms, big companies can offer competitive salaries, but it takes more than bulging pay packets to keep employees on board. Thoughtful and unusual benefits can make staff feel their employer values their personal contribution to the success of the company.

Culture vultures at Deutsche Bank are treated to eight lunchtime and evening lectures a year in art galleries around London. The firm also gives staff a discount card for theatres and museums.

At Marriott Hotels International primping and preening is all part of the package, with staff able to use the hotels’ onsite leisure clubs. These usually include a gym, sauna, spa, swimming pool and a beauty treatment room where they can enjoy discounted services.

But it isn’t just the fun little extras which staff at big companies can lap up. Mothercare, the only high street retailer on the Best Big Companies list, makes sure staff feel valued by boosting core benefits.

Maternity is at the heart of the Mothercare brand, and to reflect this, benefits for new parents have been increased. “It must be costing the business a lot of money but they’ve still gone ahead with it,” says Samantha Smith, the manager of the Mothercare store in Portsmouth.

Whether it be star-studded parties, or a manager who doesn’t see family commitments as detrimental to a career, when it comes to perks, the best companies don’t lose the personal touch — however big they become.