In a city where there is so much choice for employees and high levels of competition for employers, particularly in conveyancing, PLS Solicitors has come up with a new way to attract and keep staff.
Sarah Millican, HR Director at PLS says, “Like every firm, we take care of our staff with various rewards and recognition but when it comes to their health and well-being, we feel the opportunities to support our staff are endless.”
According to CIPD’s annual report on UK Working Lives www.cipd.co.uk/Images/uk-working-lives-summary-2019-v1_tcm18-58584.pdf, good work can be described across six indicators from recognition and reward, to achieving a sense of fulfilment and positively contributing to mental well-being of all.
Sarah continues “Over the past 10 years, PLS has understood the need to provide a place where staff look forward to coming to work and recognise the importance of mental well-being. Like the CIPD, we have identified six indicators via our Great Place To Work programme. We believe to attract and retain our staff we need to ensure PLS is a happy place of work by:
- encouraging people to achieve their career goals
- celebrating victories – no matter how small
- socialising – encouraging staff to take time to make friends
- volunteering – giving staff time off to take part in local programmes
- providing appropriate training, development and benefit package
- giving staff the opportunity to reduce stress, keep fit, healthy and mindful.”
This year, PLS Solicitors has named its chosen charity, Papyrus, which supports those suffering from suicidal thoughts, and the friends and family who are also affected. With this in mind, the firm is determined to look after health and well-being of all employees. Whether it is a massage at the desk, fresh fruit deliveries or encouraging staff to use the rec room to blow off steam with a friendly competition of table tennis or pool!
With two weeks since the launch of the programme, Sarah Millican, HR Director is delighted with the result: “Everything we have introduced across the six Great Place To Work indicators has gone down really well. There is a real buzz around the office. The social events have really brought people together, particularly those who wouldn’t normally get to talk to each other on a day to day basis and the healthy living is a real benefit to all.”
