EXCLUSIVE: Employees at international charity ActionAid have saved approximately £22,841 since March 2018 by using the organisation’s benefits platform to access retail discounts and free products.
ActionAid, which employs around 200 staff in the UK, launched the platform in March 2018, in partnership with provider Perkbox. The platform, which is designed to support employees’ physical, financial and emotional wellbeing, provides access to discounts and free products and services across 17 different categories, including food, drink and travel.
ActionAid implemented the platform in order to enhance its organisational culture, as well as to recognise employees for their hard work.
Since March 2018, the platform has received a 90% log-in rate, and staff have saved around £22,841 by accessing the available discounts. The most popular perks that have been redeemed are free coffee, discounted gym membership and free mobile phone insurance.
The platform was initially launched to employees using a presentation delivered by Perkbox, as well as emails encouraging employees to sign up. Ongoing communications centre around ActionAid’s monthly staff newsletter and on-site posters. The charity also uses the internal communications channel on its HR information system, MYHR, to promote the benefits platform.
The platform sits alongside ActionAid’s wider benefits offering, which includes flexible working, a workplace pension, free season ticket loans, a bikes-for-work scheme, eye tests and an employer contribution towards eyewear, and a learning and development portal.
The charity also provides access to mental health first aiders, hosts tea and talk sessions and has an annual learning and activity calendar. ActionAid is also currently piloting new leave policies, including a self-care day and two days off work for volunteering opportunities.
Andrea Metcalf (pictured), deputy director of people and culture at ActionAid, said: “Here at ActionAid UK, our teams work hard every day to support our work with some of the poorest and most marginalised women and girls around the world.
“As an organisation led by feminist principles, and which works on some challenging issues, it’s really important to us that we look after our people and support their wellbeing. That’s why we offer a dedicated mental health first aid service, employee counselling, an employee assistance programme, flexible working and many other benefits aimed at meeting the needs of our [employees].
“It’s great that so many people are using the platform and are taking the opportunity to treat, pamper and generally look after themselves.”
