Top 100 Best Small Companies to work for highlights quality of Hanley's work environment
27 February 2015
The Sunday Times’ Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For survey has highlighted the quality of Hanley Economic Building Society’s work environment, particularly the mutual’s commitment to employee well being, in its annual review.
In placing the Hanley in its Top 100 - at number 95 – the research team behind the extensive survey of employee engagement were particularly impressed with the length of time staff had spent working at the business, the availability of flexible working hours, the annual leave entitlement and the focus on healthcare and fitness.
Over a third of all staff working at the Hanley have been there for over 15 years, while 50 employees have worked for the organisation for at least five years – meaning this is one of the longest serving teams of all companies placed in the Top 100.
Out of the 68 people who work at the Hanley, 25 work reduced hours meaning a strong percentage of those surveyed (67%) said they did not spend too much time working while 76% said their jobs did not interfere with their home responsibilities.
Annual leave at the Society begins at 24 days per annum, rising with seniority and tenure, while staff also have the chance to ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ three days of their holiday entitlement in exchange for a salary adjustment.
The Top 100 report also highlighted Hanley’s commitment to the health of its staff citing the fact all staff have a free healthcare plan, which includes both dental and physiotherapy. Overall 64% of Hanley’s staff said they do not end the day feeling exhausted, a result which places the business in the top 15 firms based on this specific measure.
Other successful parts of the Hanley’s operation which warranted special mention included the Society’s commitment to ‘Giving Something Back’ to its local community which generated a large 80% approval rating from staff. The Hanley has a three-year partnership with local school, Ormiston Horizon Academy, which involves a variety of projects including the provision of work experience to pupils, career days, as well as supporting two ‘savings support officers’ who help run a savings scheme from the school.
Last year the Hanley gave £15,000 to the Douglas Macmillan Hospice and the school’s initiatives, 5% of which was raised by its employees.
This is the first year that Hanley has featured in the Top 100 and is the result of 99% of staff taking part in an anonymous survey in which they provided their honest feedback on a number of aspects related to working for the building society.
David Webster, CEO of Hanley Economic Building Society, commented:
“To figure in the Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For ranking for the very first time is a real achievement and recognition of the focus we give to employee well-being, as well as our commitment to our local community. Our work in this area is not just driven from the top but is testament to the whole workforce and the regular feedback we receive and act upon. It is particularly satisfying to see employee well being figure so highly in the research, and that the research has acknowledged the development of staff, the rewards we offer and our focus on flexibility in order to get the best out of them and to ensure they have a good work/life balance.
“As a mutual, our local community is vital to us and again the Top 100 report has emphasised the work we carry out, for example, with Ormiston Horizon Academy. We want Hanley Economic to be a recognisable part of everyday life for those in and around our region, we want staff to see us fulfilling this role and to understand they have a major part to play in doing this. This is why we actively encourage all our staff to get involved with these types of projects because it enriches their working lives as well as the people and organisations we can help support. All in all, we are delighted with our placing but recognise there is still much to do in order to improve on our ranking in 2016. We are all committed to this and have a number of ongoing projects which will hopefully support our efforts throughout the rest of the year ahead.”
David Webster, CEO of Hanley Economic Building Society, collects the award from Glenn Dimelow, Director of Best Companies Ltd at a ceremony to mark the unveiling of the Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For which took place in London this week.
For further information on the Hanley Economic Building Society, please visit: www.thehanley.co.uk
