SOCIAL MEDIA
Inchcape Retail creates a benefits buzz with Facebook
Automotive distributor and retailer Inchcape Retail is utilising the social networking site Facebook to help communicate its voluntary benefits package.
The package, Inchcape Employee Advantages Scheme (EAS), is provided by Asperity Employee Benefits. It includes a discount programme along with childcare vouchers and cycle-to-work scheme.
Inchcape Retail told Asperity that it had set up the Facebook profile as an alternative way of communicating with employees. It ran an employee benefit survey, completed by nearly half of the firm's 5,600 UK employees, which returned a positive response to the suggestion of communicating through Facebook.
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How it works
Set up as a “private” profile on Facebook, employees can enjoy regular updates on new retailers, “Super Saving” offers, competitions, most popular offers, weekly “top ten” retailers and offers, and peer-to-peer discussions and recommendations for savings available through EAS.
To join the Facebook profile employees must request “friendship” and then be accepted by Inchcape's Colleague Support Services team, who verify that the requester is an Inchcape UK employee. The profile includes a helpful information section, which explains how the scheme works and how to register, along with details on how to contact the scheme's helpdesk and Inchcape's Colleague Support Services team.
According to Inchcape, feedback on the Facebook profile so far has been “hugely positive” and there has been a number of money-saving “good news” stories posted by employees.
Rachel Begg of Inchcape said: "Facebook offers a great opportunity to communicate some great benefits to our colleagues in a way that helps increase and maintain employee engagement. The offers and savings available through the scheme generate a good deal of excitement among our employees so it's great to have a forum through which they can share their money-saving experiences and share tips and recommendations."
A final word
"The Inchcape team has been truly innovative in their approach to employee benefits communication. We always encourage our clients to engage their employees in as many ways as possible - a combination of posters, roadshows, emails and intranet banners are essential, but there's always potential to do more.
"Owning a Facebook account is almost as common as owning an email account, and mobile technology is making it increasingly available to people anytime, anywhere. Inchcape has recognised a real opportunity in Facebook to generate excitement around the benefits programme in a way that promotes employer loyalty and a feeling of community amongst Inchcape employees." - George Farrow, client service director, Asperity.
Want to know more?
Asperity Employee Benefits is the “UK’s leading provider of integrated employee benefits”. To find out more visit www.asperity.co.uk/about-asperity.