Punch extends voluntary benefits to all staff

Punch Taverns has extended the coverage of its voluntary benefits package to all its 20,000 staff across the UK.

Previously, voluntary benefits were available only to the 600 staff at the pub company's head office in Burton-on-Trent.

Staff at Punch's leased and managed pubs across the UK can now access voluntary benefits such as discounted holidays, high-street shopping or vehicle breakdown cover.

Tina Samson, interim reward manager for the company, said: "This is an exciting addition to our reward package, as we previously didn't offer voluntary benefits to all our staff. These are now available to our managed and retail population.

"They have access to [ a voluntary benefits] site through the pub PCs, or they can access the perks at home by going into the website or by phoning the Punch-specific telephone number.

"These voluntary benefits add to and enhance our current package and are an additional benefit so people can have a bit more spending power."

So far, local tourist attractions have proved popular among head office staff, said Samson.

The employee discount website uses a package called Vectis supplied by Icom.

Punch has publicised its new employee discount website by issuing weekly internal communications and has sent out posters to retail sites and head office. Payslips also include messages about the scheme.