Employee Benefits Awards 2009: Most effective total reward strategy

Winner
Zurich Financial Services Zurich Total Reward Statement
and Flexible Benefits Scheme 2009 (entered by Buck Consultants)

This programme was designed to engage staff with their reward and to create a link between personal and business performance. It aimed to explore the reciprocal relationship between employer and employee.

A key part of this was to recognise individuals’ contribution to the business as well as their cost. A total reward statement was used to calculate the value of an employee’s reward for 2008, and including data on the business and employee performance for the past year. Then it calculated how the flexible benefits choices an employee makes can affect or enhance their life, and set out the employee’s personal and business goals for the year ahead. Zurich drew up this information by mining data held on its SAP HR system. The firm also used its total reward statements to drive up engagement by introducing targeted and personalised messages. Total reward communication was colour-coded into four sections – your total reward, your flexible benefits, your experience and your performance. It was also tailored according to each employee’s location, so local work environment perks could be included for specific staff.

Each business unit had a tailored message from the relevant business area head, giving a localised performance review.

Performance data from the SAP system also allowed comments to be included in reward statements to motivate staff by alluding to their level of performance and how it helped the business. Employee engagement increased from 77% to 84% over this period.

Pictured: Pete Steer, HR payroll and benefits director at Zurich Financial Services. Steer said: “We believe in using total reward to link individual performance to business performance, and that is reflected in this strategy. It’s a great pleasure to receive this award.”

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