Any people and culture (or “human resources”) professional will know that employee expectations – and employer responsibilities – have evolved dramatically in recent years. Today’s workforce is more value-led than ever before, seeking purpose, integrity, and a sense of belonging in their professional lives.
Wellbeing is no longer viewed as a perk, but as a fundamental priority, with employees expecting their organisations to actively support all aspects of health and wellbeing in addition to traditional career development.
At Saffery Trust, we’ve always believed that our people are our greatest assets. Our international award-winning success is built on the principle that looking after our people isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. When our people thrive, our clients thrive too.
A values-first culture
Our four core values of integrity, excellence, enthusiasm, and collegiality underpin everything we do. They are more than words on a website, they shape our decision-making, guide our behaviours, and define our internal and external relationships.
Alongside traditional metrics such as experience, qualifications, and aptitude, we actively evaluate shared values in our recruitment decisions. In doing so, we know that new team members are aligned with the firm and its aims, and with their new colleagues.
Our people know the approach and behaviours that are expected from them from the outset, as well as what they can expect in return. From day one, we are clear about our values, our standards, and our commitment to creating a supportive, respectful, and inclusive workplace. In turn, our team members can rely on us to provide meaningful work, opportunities for growth, open communication, and a genuine focus on their wellbeing.
Holistic approach to wellbeing
We recognise that a fulfilled, healthy, and supported team delivers the best outcomes for themselves and for our clients. By weaving wellbeing into our daily operations, we ensure that our approach to wellbeing isn’t an occasional initiative, but a consistent, embedded part of life at Saffery Trust. That’s why we recently launched our firmwide employee wellbeing strategy, ‘Vivabalance’.
With ‘viva’ being the Latin word for “life,” and balance an integral part of wellbeing, Vivabalance focuses on four key pillars of health. It will be rolled out as a complementary employee offering alongside our extensive rewards and benefits programme which also align with the four pillars.
Physical:
We promote healthy lifestyles and offer access to fitness opportunities and preventative health resources. Our approach to promoting physical health has included initiatives such as:
- Lunch’n’learns with specialists delivering training on topics such as women and men’s health, and staying active in the office.
- Two eBikes with accessories available for staff hire free of charge, including at weekends.
- A Cycle2Work scheme with a local partner, making it easier and more affordable for team members to purchase eBikes, while promoting sustainable travel and active lifestyles.
- Providing team members with sit-stand desks, encouraging our people to vary their working position throughout the day, reduce sedentary time, and support better posture.
- Wellbeing walks from the office along the island’s beautiful East Coast.
- Corporate gym membership schemes and promotion of local fitness events.
- An informal lunchtime walking/swimming group – where team members invite others to join them on their walking or swimming activities through the day.
Mental:
We actively encourage our people to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing, our approach includes:
- Access to 24/7, free, confidential, professional mental health support via our Employee Assistance Programme.
- A Workplace Partnership with Guernsey Mind, which includes the delivery of awareness training and resources to our team members.
- A group of trained Mental Health First Aiders/Champions within the workplace to offer peer support and encourage open conversations about mental wellbeing.
- Year-round wellbeing initiatives and resources.
Social:
In any organisation, many employees may spend as much, or more, time with their colleagues than with their own friends and family. This makes it essential to create a workplace where people feel supported, respected, and able to be themselves, fostering strong relationships and a genuine sense of belonging. Our social wellbeing initiatives include:
- Regular sports and social events fully funded by Saffery Trust, supporting local businesses.
- Quarterly “Fika Friday” events where our teams take turns to host social gatherings in the office, with a budget provided by the firm.
- An annual out-the-office “Fun Day” to celebrate and reward our people’s contributions.
- Quarterly charitable fundraising activities which bring our team members together around shared goals, strengthen connections across the business, and make a positive impact in our local community.
- Refurbishing our shared spaces – such as the staff room – to create welcoming, comfortable environments that encourage people to step away from their desks, connect with colleagues, and recharge during the day.
Financial:
Alongside our competitive salary, reward packages and career development opportunities, we also share tools and resources to support our people and their financial wellbeing.
Flexibility and balance
We recognise that everyone’s personal and professional lives are different, and that flexibility plays a vital role in maintaining overall wellbeing. We offer flexible working hours and remote working options, enabling our people to design a schedule that supports both their role and their life outside of work.
Whether it’s adapting hours for family commitments, working from home to aid focus, or adjusting the day to include personal priorities, we encourage our team members to take ownership of creating a healthy work life balance that works for them. By trusting our people to manage their time effectively, we empower them to perform at their best while feeling supported.
Recognition
As a multi award winning firm, 10 years as an accredited STEP Platinum Employer, and a quarterly peer-nominated Client Service Award initiative for our team members, we understand the value of recognition. However, we also know that success is not solely measured in trophies and titles.
Not everyone seeks the spotlight, and many of our people have strengths that shine in ways that may not be captured by traditional metrics. That’s why we celebrate a broad range of achievements from both in and out of the office – from delivering exceptional client service and mentoring colleagues to making a difference in the community or achieving personal milestones. Every contribution matters and every success is valued.
Prioritising our people
By creating an environment where individuals feel valued, supported, and empowered both personally and professionally, we enable our teams to deliver their best work while enjoying a fulfilling and balanced life. When our people feel engaged and supported, our whole workplace community grows stronger, bringing successes we can all share and celebrate.
Find out more about life at Saffery Trust and view our current vacancies here.
