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?