Compass Group has scooped the Grand Prix at the Employee Benefits Awards 2005 by using its international benefits package to reward over 400,000 employees in nearly 100 countries. The judges said that the catering firm's 'Sharing in our success' plan was an "all encompassing business, HR and benefits strategy" that "engaged the hearts and minds of staff".
The plan incorporates six benefits arrangements: an all-employee sharesave scheme, employee discount offers, variable pay and bonus plans, management share option schemes, a country-based recognition programme and a site level recognition plan. David Walker, human resources director of reward, benefits and HR metrics at Compass Group, said in its entry: "Our challenge was on rolling out well researched initiatives that are highly relevant to employees - not just what HR managers think employees want - and which encourage behaviour to support our corporate objectives."
Compass faced a number of challenges that came from rapid expansion and acquisitions between 1987 and 2002. It had a situation where many employees knew the division they worked for but were unaware that it was part of the overall Compass Group.