In recognition of companies who really do go the extra mile for working families, we profile five of the best in this series. Today, we look at electronics company Plantronics.
Name: Plantronics
Sector: Technology/communications
Number of employees: 120 UK, 3,500 world-wide
Nominated for: Best for Engagement, Best for innovation, Best for flexible working
Plantronics is a medium-sized company specialising in the technology sector. They have developed what they call an "ultimate approach" to flexibility. This has enabled greater flexible working, which has helped engagement scores and led to some innovative initiatives.
Best for engagement
Employee engagement has gone up to 86% compared to an industry average of 62%, against a background of working practices and culture that is supportive of family-friendly working.
Intent to stay with the company is at 98%, and job satisfaction has increased by 40% to 85%. Employees decide the pattern best suits their need and preferences, and can flex their days as they want. For example, they can go to the (subsidised) gym in the middle of the day, attend appointments or simply go for a walk if they want.
Plantronics have seen that employees who are parents have especially benefitted. Working mothers and fathers are able to choose to continue to work full time without having to reduce their hours to find the flexibility they need.
Seniority and career progression are also completely compatible with flexible working methods. Flexibility is seen as an effective tool to support engagement and wellbeing.
Best for innovation
Plantronics has aimed to develop the best holistic flexible working experience possible. To do this they launched their own Smarter Working project, which looked at working practices, employee engagement and the effectiveness of communication technologies.
This was framed within a wider understanding of the role that work plays within the lives of employees as individuals, and how this could be made as fulfilling as possible through work and life integration.
Plantronics also gave employees a voice in the design of the office environment, and the approach taken considered three elements: developing innovative workspaces, communications and collaboration, and behaviours and skills.
Best for flexible working
Flexibility at Plantronics is an effective tool to support engagement and wellbeing. It is not simply about different formal working contracts, rather an approach to work, an attitude that brings responsibility and accountability for the employee to deliver results, and the choice over where, when and how they work within a trusting environment.
At the awards ceremony last week Plantronics were winners of the Best for Engagement award and highly commended on the Best for Flexible Working category.
