Call centre helps keep employees happy and healthy

A call centre is helping their employees get fit and healthy for the summer, by encouraging them to quit smoking, eat healthily and exercise.

Two “Stop Smoking” clinics are being run simultaneously for employees at the Call Connection offices in Cromwell Square, by the Suffolk “Stop Smoking” Campaign, under the auspices of the NHS.

The Health Improvement Facilitator for Suffolk NHS Primary Care Trust visits employees in each clinic one day per week for six weeks. The first group of employees have recently completed their course, whilst the second group is halfway through theirs.

Call Connection IT Technician Mark Dobrzanski was one of the first employees to take advantage of the clinic and has just completed his final session.

He said of the clinic: “Giving up smoking is something I wanted to do and knew I should do for a long time, so when the course was offered here I took full advantage of it. Now I have passed I intend to stick to it.”

The tutor commented: “There is a good atmosphere amongst the groups and they are all very motivated. It is fun to come here and give a service to people who really want it. We provide many clinics across Suffolk and they are all doing really well with lots of take-up.”

This is the latest in a string of initiatives introduced by the Ipswich firm, recently voted top of the ‘fair deal’ section of the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies for 2008, which is judged on employee happiness with wages, benefits and welfare packages.

Employees are given free fresh fruit, fruit juice, hot drinks and water throughout the working day and if anyone is stressed or tense, they can have a free Thai leg or foot massage, or ‘seated acupressure’ when ‘Relax Assured’ visit the offices twice per month. Instead of paying for their treatment, employees are asked to make a £5 donation to the nominated charity of the month. Call Connection staff also enjoy free membership of the Fitness First gym in Ipswich.

Graeme Kalbraier, Managing Director of Call Connection said of the initiatives in place: “Call Connection is constantly striving to evolve and give its staff more benefits and welfare services than ever before. Our staff are one of the biggest reasons for our success, therefore we believe they should be rewarded and looked after at work. They have a big say in the welfare benefits we offer”.

Employees also enjoy benefits such as 28 days holiday with the option to ‘purchase’ up to 5 more days, health and life insurance, subsidised car parking, family days out, interactive games at work, free Internet access, monthly charity days, and much more. Managing Director Graeme Kalbraier was recently awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the Working Families search for ‘Britain’s Best Boss’, after having been nominated by one of his employees.

Originally published in Call Centre Helper