GlaxoSmithKline increases voluntary benefits take-up to 94%

EXCLUSIVE: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has increased take-up of its voluntary benefits scheme to 94% by providing continuous communications to its 13,000 UK staff.

The pharmaceutical firm’s employees can sign up to receive news alerts, which flag up offers on either a daily or weekly basis. For its next round of communications, GSK will be placing information on its onsite plasma screens.

Since the scheme was launched in November 2010 with provider Next Jump, 12,160 employees have registered, and staff have spent £1.7 million through the scheme, which works out to average savings per employee of £42 a year.

Harsha Modha, director – UK benefits at GSK, said: “Employees seem to be more engaged with those benefits than with pensions because they can immediately see the benefit of the discounts.”

The scheme includes discounts at high -treet retailers, reloadable shopping cards, and is connected to GSK’s Trading Post, an online site that allows employees to connect with colleagues through classified adverts.

“Employees are able to put up classified ads around products or services or furniture to sell or pass on for free,” said Modha. “It is a way of connecting individuals within GSK and to enable them to sell off their goods and recycle.”

Read more articles on voluntary benefits schemes