EXCLUSIVE: The University of Lincoln has launched a new employee benefits platform for its 1,700 core staff and 1,500 claims workers (who claim for hours worked rather receiving regular earnings).
It introduced its Linc-On platform, provided by AYMTM, part of Sodexo, on 4 May 2017. The platform has been designed to enhance overall employee engagement with benefits, as well as improve communications around the options available to staff.
Within two days of its launch, 25% of employees had logged in and explored the platform.
The platform features an interactive map of Lincoln, where each landmark on the map represents a location where a staff benefit is offered, for example, the local football ground, the sports centre, or the performing arts centre. Other landmarks on the map include the travel centre, which provides links to benefits such as bikes for work, cycle hire, season ticket loans, and the organisation’s car scheme.
As well as providing access to the university’s entire benefits offering, which includes financial education, family-friendly benefits, local discounts, and professional development schemes, the new platform also hosts the organisation’s recognition scheme. This scheme includes manager nominations for merit awards, service awards and enables points to be awarded to staff who demonstrate the organisation’s values.
The platform also incorporates a staff suggestion scheme, Freecycle area, and employee competitions.
The University of Lincoln previously communicated benefits via its employee intranet. Going forward, it will use the new platform to deliver the majority of benefits communications. This will include the use of a ticker tape update bar, a Linc-On news section, and an employee newsletter.
Ian Hodson, head of reward at the University of Lincoln, said: “We have worked closely with our provider to create something that is unique to Lincoln, embeds tools to encourage engagement.
“The site hosts all of our benefits in a handy city map where our workforce can find the type of benefit they are looking for via different buildings, such as the travel centre and the fitness centre. We are delighted to launch the platform and will be developing exciting new ideas going forward.”