First ScotRail and First TransPennine Express, part of FirstGroup, are providing their staff with flexible benefits to provide choice and to help attract new employees.
The two companies, which together employ 5,200, are using Vebnet technology and administrative services.
The flex schemes will have a small selection of benefits to begin with, including childcare vouchers, a cycle to work scheme and other lifestyle choices. It is hoped that the choices on offer, in particular, childcare vouchers will help recruit more women as train drivers.
The changes to the benefits scheme have come after discussions with four unions: TSSA, Unite, RMT and ASLEF.
The flexible benefits and the enrolment technology were communicated to staff in writing and through face-to-face road shows.
Human resources director for First ScotRail, Fiona Irvine, said: “We recognise the need to offer competitive employee benefits to attract and retain talented people. Because our industry has not always been seen as an exciting employer, we wanted to highlight that we offer our staff excellent career progression and development opportunities.”
FirstGroup employs more than 74,000 staff in the UK and North America.