The policy reinforces the significant role we play in these communities and gives our people the chance to see this contribution for themselves. Our social policy ethos can be defined as ‘thinking nationally, acting locally’.

Our social policy is based on five key strategic themes:

• Our ‘major supported charity’ programme
• Employee volunteering
• Revitalising payroll giving
• Recruiting from socially excluded groups
• Education & community engagement

For our employees

In addition to these themes, our social policy provides extensive support for our people. We’ve set up an independent 24/7 Bullying and Harassment helpline, access to workplace counsellors and a confidential Employee Assistance helpline offering support on a range of work-related and home-related issues.

A key part of our HR Strategy involves providing flexible working to address work/life balance issues faced by our people. There are many business benefits from supporting flexible working and this policy also supports the Diversity aspect of Corporate Social Responsibilities.

Strategies and commitments

• We will continue to work with our major supported charity Help the Hospices  by continuing to develop the network of community champions and raise money for them. We have extended our partnership with Help the Hospices until 2008.
• We will continue to recruit from socially excluded groups building on the activities of the last year.
• We will continue to revitalise payroll giving by working in partnership with Payroll Giving in Action, continuing to raise the profile within our company to make our colleagues aware of the opportunity to support the charity of their choice in a regular, tax efficient way via payroll deductions and to optimise the funds raised by our people through payroll giving.
• We will continue to create a national employee volunteering programme and promote engagement.