How to create a Wellbeing
Strategy – Avis Budget Group
case study Nigel Wilkinson – IOSH Event – 23rd September 2015
Avis Budget Group
• Avis Budget Group (ABG) is the leading
global provider of rental vehicles
• Brands include Avis, Budget, Payless, Zipcar
• 1100 employees based in 80 rental locations
around the UK
• Operations range from 24/7, 365 days-a-year at
Heathrow airport to Monday – Saturday morning
at smaller ‘Local Market’ stores
Building the Strategy
• What’s already in place?
• Existing employee benefits?
• Ask employees what they’d like?
• Review results of previous employee surveys, if
these exist
• What budget is available?
• Create a wish-list from ‘no cost’ upwards
Wellbeing Hierarchy – Target Audience
Wellbeing should support all employees BUT ABG focuses on our Customer-facing
employees – inverted pyramid approach
OPERATIONAL CUSTOMER-FACING
TEAM
OPERATIONAL
MANAGEMENT
TEAM
HQ
MANAGEMENT
TEAM
M.D.
High Performing Employees
• Working at ABG is demanding
• Similar to most retail type operations
• Dealing with angry or upset customers when
things go wrong e.g. inbound flight delay
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides
support when needed
• High Performing employees tend to cope better
• Employees who manage their wellbeing by
exercising regularly and eating sensibly are more
likely to be resilient and also more productive
What’s the Wellbeing prize?
Source: Based on linkage case studies using Hay Group’s global normative database
4% 1 Decrease employee turnover by
Increase employee
performance by
0% 4
Increase customer
satisfaction rates by
8% 1
Multiply your
financial success
½ x4
Engage + enable your employees and here’s how you could benefit
ABG Wellbeing strategy – 4 Pillars
Mental Health Corporate
Social Responsibility
Affected by work/life issues,
exercise and eating/drinking/drugs
Employees generally want to work
for a caring employer
Physical Health
Exercise more; eat less
Lifestyle
Support
Access to a great range of benefits,
including discounts, exercise
initiatives, nutritional advice
Avis Budget Wellbeing programme in 2015
Great result from UK 2014 VOTE survey – 12% increase in Q “My
company cares about my Wellbeing” – need to deliver some
programmes to capitalise on this increased awareness
Launching of US based employee Wellbeing ‘ABG Care’ on-line
portal – log exercise/activity; nutrition advice; mental health
advice; volunteering opportunities
2015 charity events: Red Nose Day on 13th March; MacMillan
Cancer in September; Children in Need in November
Introduce more new discounted services e.g. gyms and health
cash plan
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme being
developed
Communications
• Ensure that all employees receive
clear and consistent channels
of communication
• Vital component to ensure
employees are aware of the
Wellbeing propositions
• Internal Communications are a key
partner in a successful programme
Facebook for UK employees
• Opportunity to connect and share
information in a current and fun way
• Content from employees and leaders and is positive and
celebrates achievements and success
Summary
• A Wellbeing Strategy can be based on anything
that would work in and can be afforded by your
organisation
• You may already be running some initiatives that
can be built into your programme
• Get employees engaged and excited about the
programme
• Internal communications are critical to success
• Review regularly and create a forward plan of
initiatives / offerings to maintain engagement
and interest
Questions?