My Team - Employees' feelings towards their immediate colleagues and how well they work together
My team benefits from a high scoring My Manager factor as the manager is key to creating and sustaining a productive and positive work environment.
An employee’s perceived team will be those they work with on a daily basis.
The agency goes big on Mental Health Awareness Week with yoga, resilience and gratitude sessions and British Sign Language workshops. And everyone got an experiences voucher "to do something awesome." DesignStudio has also worked closely with Mental Health UK to offer regular training on topics such as imposter syndrome and supportive conversations.
Monthly gatherings bring the team together in new ways, from a sound bath and meditation in the office to Zoom-hosted pottery workshops and a fancy dress tribute to David Bowie. There are also competitions, such as for the 'most steps', with the victor rewarded with a National Trust membership.
There's a generous yearly training budget split amongst teams ensuring everyone can benefit. There is also a growing mentoring culture, with 10 employees joining the Creative Mentor Network to learn how to be inclusive industry leaders to support those from disadvantaged backgrounds in getting a foothold in the creative industries.
At the monthly breakfast club, staff get together and chat about non work-related subjects. They are asked to talk to someone new and offer topics of conversation as ice-breakers. It means people socialise outside of their circles and it's a great way to introduce new starters.
Senior management believe it is important that staff feel empowered and trusted. They are given the autonomy to make decisions. The leadership team has a "door always open" policy, meaning they are on hand for advice and support whenever it is required. That gives staff the confidence to challenge themselves while feeling supported.
Every year, top performers take part in the annual Disney trip which showcases the company's top-selling products. They stay in luxury accommodation throughout their two-week stay and enjoy the experiences that clients would have, such as meals from a private chef, a Disney firework cruise or a glass-bottomed kayak tour.
Palmers is a mindful business – signed up to a 'Mindful Business Charter.' It promotes staff wellbeing and considerate communications with clients and other contacts. Staff can attend a six-week mindfulness course and a nutrition and wellness seminar and are free to use a quiet room for meditations or "time outs".
The Entertainments Committee arranges events to help employees get to know each other socially, from the annual party, trips to London and the theatre to BBQs with games and challenges. There are also charity events, including marathons and themed days. And a team-building Palmers' football team competes with other local businesses.
Local people, local businesses, employees and their families are invited to Palmers' annual Christmas carol concert in aid of its charity of the year. The firm hires a choir and band and hosts a poetry competition for school children – the winners getting to recite them to the congregation.
The company describes its socials as "second to none" with "amazing turnout." Its monthly get-togethers are always fun-focused, with activities such as mini golf and visits to street food markets. And there are wellness ones too, including a trip to Kew Gardens and one to see Romeo & Juliet at the theatre.
All new recruits receive an in-depth starter pack before they join the company, with everything they need to get started. They're allocated coaches, and there are plenty of opportunities to ask questions with meetings with their peers, managers and all Managing Partners arranged for their first few weeks.
Managers are only ever hired from within, having already benefitted from internal training in areas such as copywriting, client servicing, confidence training and building rapport. They also get internal training with the Managing Partners and external training when they're new to post and as they develop.
