Survey shows which UK companies treat their staff well

Marriott and Bourne Leisure, along with a handful of other travel companies, have been singled out for their positive treatment of staff in the latest Times b-Heard survey.

Both companies were named in the list of top 25 big companies, coming in fifth and sixth place respectively.

Marriott was praised for its management style.

"Management is done by walking around," said the survey. "This means that senior management walk the floors to interact informally with employees every day. This approach has never changed, along with the philosophy of ‘if you take care of the associate, they will take care of the customer’."

Meanwhile, at Bourne Leisure employees are offered paid days away from the business to gain training or qualifications in skills which might be their passion rather than directly related to their role.

"They support employees that are parents by providing highly subsidised childcare, a nursery pick-up and drop-off service, and maternity coaching sessions for expectant mothers to alleviate anxiety or worry and address any concerns about being away from and returning to work," the report added.

Audley Travel, Kuoni, Holiday Extras and Hays Travel made it into the top 100 companies, based on how they were scored by their employees.

At Audley Travel (63rd) buddy groups take place on a monthly basis between regional sales managers to ‘keep the learning alive’, while each team manager has a budget of £100 per head to spend on team-building activities throughout the year, for example scavenger hunts and escape room challenges.

At Kuoni (81st) a host of conferences held in the UK and overseas include skills training for store managers, assistant store managers, customer-experience executives and overseas-resort managers. Last year the store managers’ annual conference was in the Maldives,.

At Hays Travel (91st) fun activities include dress-down days, charity events, bake-off sessions and Fruit Friday to create a good atmosphere.

At Holiday Extras (93rd) monthly fun events allow the team to let their hair down, while an ‘Anytime+’ initiative allows people to work wherever and whenever, so people can work later if they want to pop to the shops or go to a school assembly.

There’s also a ‘Fun Budget’ which includes chocolates and scratch-cards for everybody on ‘Blue Monday’ in January, an annual Easter egg hunt, Friday summer barbecues, camping on site, ice creams, fireworks night with barbecue and human Hungry Hippos.

Advantage Travel Partnership was named as a ‘one to watch’, a special status awarded to organisations that have good levels of workplace engagement amongst employees.

It runs various staff initiatives, including ‘Breakfast with the Boss’ and an ‘Employee of the Year’ award.