Work-life balance

We are open to ideas that enable our employees to manage their personal commitments and work, including flexible and part-time work and paid time off to pursue community roles such as school governorship, mentoring and other volunteering opportunities.

Our UK Employee Assistance Programme offers a range of personal services such as counselling, legal and financial advice and useful contacts for people with, for example, depression, marital problems, caring commitments and disability.

In Germany we have plans to open a crèche for employees’ children in 2007. We have also launched assistance for employees suffering stress or financial problems. This service is provided independently by an external party, but is subsidised by the company.

In Ireland we have added a ‘Parenting with confidence’ programme to our Perfect Balance programme.