The British property obsession has made Rightmove one of the UK’s top 10 busiest websites, alongside brands such as Google and Amazon. We are proud to be the UK’s number-one property website, and our achievements are not just the result of our teams working incredibly hard; they are also the result of employing passionate people.
People are an organisation’s most valuable asset. Everyone who works at Rightmove is critical to our success and growth, because we depend on their skills and commitment to achieve our objectives. It is important that as an employer we look after our people, so the benefits we offer to employees are crucial.
We have had a cash plan in place, provided by Health Shield, for a year, which was introduced to complement our private medical insurance scheme. We chose a tailored plan that specifically caters for all our needs. One of the overarching benefits is that it enables our employees to access medical treatment without the need to make an appointment to see their GP, which makes life a lot easier for them.
A health cash plan is a cost-effective way for businesses to look after the health and wellbeing of employees. Staff can claim cashback on dental check-ups, eye tests, contact lenses and glasses, physiotherapy and specialist consultations. Other benefits include a 24/7 counselling and support helpline, and a virtual GP surgery, where employees can talk to a doctor any time of the day without taking time off from work. Our employees can choose the benefits they want to access and claim back the cost up to the set limits. It gives staff the freedom to choose who provides their day-to-day healthcare, and the benefits are also extended to their family members.
According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD’s) Absence management survey 2014, published in October 2014, the average cost of absence per employee stands at £609 a year. Preventative health benefits, such as cash plans, can save businesses money in the long term, helping to improve staff wellbeing, motivation and morale.
My experience is that a cash plan is a great benefit to offer. It is something that makes a difference to people’s everyday life, and if all the benefits are used it can mean a big cost saving for employees against the normal cost of various health treatments. We have had very positive feedback from our staff since implementing the plan. The people at Rightmove who are in the scheme do use all the benefits available, and often think it seems too good to be true.
I would recommend businesses consider a cash plan when looking at benefits to offer staff. My tip would be to check the background of the provider and ensure there are no caveats around the claims that can be made.
It is important to know what our employees think about what it is like to work at Rightmove, so we run an annual ‘Have your say’ survey. An overwhelming 91% of respondents said Rightmove is a great place to work, which is testament of the culture we have developed over the years.
People also want to stay long term. In 2015, we celebrated 38 people being at Rightmove for 10 years or more. There are now over 400 employees, with the first ever Rightmove employee still working here today.
Zoe Casey is HR manager at Rightmove
