Playtime for workers

EMPLOYERS have been encouraged to give staff time off this week to watch Andy Murray play at Wimbledon. Although the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) believes employers might actually benefit from allowing staff time off to watch the games, the majority of the 700 firms surveyed did not agree.

And, to most people, this would not seem unreasonable and, to be fair, where would it end? But, for events with a wider public appeal, such as England playing in the football World Cup last year, many firms did make arrangements for staff to watch the games.

What is interesting, however, and a shift from a generation ago, is the idea that giving staff time off to watch tennis should even be given serious consideration.

It is part of a sea-change in working culture, driven over the last decade by several factors.

While the recession and accompanying unemployment may have led to workers simply looking to stay in the job they have, prior to that an increasing trend was if an employee didn't like where they worked, they would simply leave and go elsewhere.

Many firms realised that if they wanted to retain their best employees, they had to provide the right workplace culture.

When banks came under intense criticism for continuing to pay large bonuses, even after the financial crisis saw many bailed out by the taxpayer, a reason they gave was that they needed to pay competitive rates to retain talented staff who would otherwise go to a competitor.

Another factor is the productivity of happy staff, which is not a new concept. In the 19th Century, chocolate magnate George Cadbury created Bournville, near Birmingham, to house his workers and "alleviate the evils of cramped living conditions".

Employees enjoyed good wages and working conditions, as well as pioneering pension schemes, works committees and medical care.

Most firms would now agree with Dr Jill Miller, research advisor at the CIPD, who says:

"We know that when employers enable flexibility at work, employees are more likely to go the extra mile."

While allowing staff time off to watch two weeks of tennis is not necessarily a barometer of how fair a company is, firms do increasingly see that happy staff are more productive.

While, in the past, investment in equipment may have been the priority, the most important equipment companies now have are the staff themselves.

Angela Lockwood, chief executive of Stockton-based North Star Housing Group, was in no doubt how important having happy staff was to the success of the business.

The firm has made it on to the Sunday Times list of the best 100 companies to work for two years running.

Ms Lockwood says: "They make the absolute difference, they are the X Factor and we invest heavily in our staff both in terms of involvement and their health and well being."

North Star Housing Group was set up in 2006 as the umbrella body for Endeavour and Teesdale housing associations and owns about 3,000 former council houses and new-build homes in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Teesdale, Darlington and Tyne and Wear.

The overwhelming majority of the 106 employees at the company told the Sunday Times it valued new ideas from them and they were excited about where the group was going.

They were also happy with their deal on pay and benefits, believing they were paid fairly for the work they do relative to people in similar positions in equivalent organisations.

Of course, building a constructive environment for staff to work in doesn't happen by accident.

Ms Lockwood says: "It takes a huge effort, working the way we do doesn't happen accidently or overnight, and isn't always the easiest option.

"You need to interview people and we did use external consultants to do some groupwide work. The focus was to get everyone into a place where they knew they could influence the way we operate and also constructively challenge how we operate."

Despite the effort involved, the benefits are not just a happy staff, but happy clients as well.

Ms Lockwood says: "Work is important, it is a big chunk of people's lives, so if people can come into work feeling respected, valued and happy, then the output is going to be better.

"There is a direct link between our award from the Sunday Times and the outcomes we achieve in the business.

"We have one of the highest tenant satisfaction rates in the country. Through staff being valued, if they feel that way it is reflected in the way they talk to residents and tenants.

"It is setting the tone, respect your staff and they will respect everyone else. It is about being able to influence and shape how we operate.

"People increasingly come to work, not just for financial reward, but also to make a bit of a difference."

As well as running staff conferences and introducing ways for the staff to feedback their views, the firm has recently been involved in a health and well being project, which has seen NHS experts come into the firm to talk to the staff about diet and fitness.

"A healthy workforce will deliver a good service, " Ms Lockwood says.

Other organisations have also invested heavily in the environment their staff work in, which is unrecognisable from offices of the Sixties and Seventies.

Before the Student Loans Company moved to the £8.5m Memphis building development at Lingfield Point, in Darlington, in 2008, it asked staff what they wanted their new workplace to be like.

The structure of the Memphis building, formerly part of the Paton and Baldwins wool factory, and some architectural elements were retained, but it was totally transformed inside.

Staff moving from Mowden Hall to the centre handling all aspects of student finance for the whole of England, suggested larger desks, files nearer to them, spaces to make a coffee and a "nice break-out area".

What was created was named the best refurbished/recycled workplace in the UK at the National British Council for Offices Awards in 2009.

As well as a modern, airy main office, there is a green space for staff to take breaks, which contains outdoor bench-style furniture and natural lighting to give users the feeling of being outside when the weather might not allow it, and a relaxation area containing sofas and table football.

Student Finance England's director of operations Derek Ross says: "There is a real buzz in our Darlington office as there is so much activity going on every day.

"The company is currently processing student finance applications for thousands of students across England and is answering around 20,000 calls from customers every day.

"In one day alone, we can receive 20,000 envelopes with student information, which is all dealt with at our Darlington office.

"With such high volumes of work going on, we think it's very important for our employees to work in a positive environment.

"Our office area in Darlington is bespoke, high-tech and open plan, which allows staff to communicate more easily and creates a high energy, productive working environment.

"We have a staff canteen and several break-out areas, as we think it's equally important for our employees to be able to relax and recharge when they're on their lunch or break."