EXCLUSIVE: Browne Jacobson is to add a range of new perks to its flexible benefits scheme, including an online healthy eating programme called Body Chef, and life assurance and critical illness insurance for employees’ partners.
It will also increase the limit for staff up to which flex their own life assurance. This is currently set at a base of three-times salary, with the option to flex to six-times salary, but that will be increased to ten-times salary.
The changes will take effect when the law firm opens its annual flexible benefits enrolment window in July.
It will host three benefits fairs for more than 630 employees across its three offices, in Birmingham, London and Nottingham. These will include exhibits and presentations from the law firm’s benefits providers.
Helen Whitt, HR advisor at Browne Jacobson, said: “It is part of our focus on employee engagement, and educating them around what benefits are available to them.”
The organisation’s flexible benefits scheme includes access to childcare vouchers, private medical insurance for eligible employees, dental insurance, travel insurance, bikes for work, life assurance at a base of three-times salary, group income protection and an employee assistance programme.
The benefits fairs will include presentations by childcare voucher provider Kiddivouchers, and emotional resilience workshops by Aviva.
Whitt said: “Kiddivouchers has identified that not all parents, particularly fathers, recognise that they are entitled to request [childcare vouchers], so they are keen to promote that a little bit more.
“[The resilience workshops] will cover recognising different situations in your life where you might need coping strategies. It is designed to support people and inform them.”
The benefits fairs will also highlight Browne Jacobson’s green initiatives. Katie Cook, HR administrator, said: “We have a relationship with the Big Wheel Club in Nottingham, which is a publicly-funded body that comes in on the day and offers support to employees.
”Last year, Dr Bike came in to do bike repairs. This year, we have an organisation called Ridewise, which is booking bike maintenance classes. [It] can also offer advice on greener routes.
“We also have some of the local public transport bodies coming in to talk to people about bus tickets and trying to get people on greener transport routes.”
The benefits fairs will be communicated to staff via on-site screens, message boards and the organisation’s intranet site.
