Staff Benefits

We believe in providing our staff with a work environment that is happy & harmonious. One that helps them become their best professionally so that they can achieve their goals. Here are just a few of the things that we do:

Great Training Opportunities

* Annual Learning and Development Programme (Induction - Introduction to STDC, its culture and working environment, Toolkit One - (1 day),(Introducing new employees to STDC's core competencies for interpersonal and customer service), Toolkit Two - Refresher - (1 day), Foundations of Leadership (2 Days), Influential Leadership (4 x 2 days), Leadership Challenge (3 days)). * Monthly Knowledge Cafe' sessions. * Support for career focused individual learning.

Encouraging a fun and lively atmosphere

* Themed shared lunches i.e. Cultural Diversity day. * Various competitions e.g. annual Christmas office decorating competition. * We hold regular Staff Challenges which might involve quizzes, competitions and top town style events. * We support staff sports teams. * Our active Social Club provides monthly get togethers and plans events throughout the year. * An organisation-wide Christmas function for all staff, partners and children. * We hold monthly staff mufti days (followed by after work drinks), usually themed with the money donated to local charities.

3	Celebrating Success
	We say thank you regularly using the following techniques: * We invite high performing staff to special events (e.g. award dinners, concerts). * We reproduce positive feedback from the public in our staff newsletter - Stafflink. * We recognise effort and excellence in Stafflink and in our weekly external newspaper publication - Southlink. * Present a monthly 'Can Do' award.

4	Health and Wellbeing
	* We provide an independent counselling service. * We hold a bi-ennial Health Expo to encourage healthy alternatives. * Biggest Loser Weight Loss Competition. * ACC Health & Safety Accreditation. * Southern Cross Group Scheme. * Subsidised Eye Care scheme

5	Valuing our Staff
	* Retention Incentive Programme (RIP) - one week extra holiday after employee been with organisation for 3 years. There is a cash option. * Regular communication and positive feedback. * Group team building exercises. * We publish all staff anniversaries in Stafflink. * Annual Council wide staff breakfast where we announce the results of Best Workplace Survey.

6	Encouraging Feedback and Communication
	* Think New Thoughts - staff suggestions for improvement. * Quarterly All Staff Updates. * Building Achievers - six monthly individual performance feedback programme.