CO0113 Staff Rewards & Benefits

Description

ECC currently operates a range of employee benefits including discounted shopping, salary sacrifice opportunities, buying of annual leave etc. We are seeking a provider or providers to potentially extend and harmonise our various benefits into an accessible web portal for employees to access wherever and whenever they need to. Active encouragement will also be given during the course of the contract to partner organisations (such as the Vine HR Partnership of neighbouring local authorities) to participate in the scheme at their own cost. The contract and pricing will need to be flexible to accommodate this intent. ECC has already developed such a portal in- house and providers can view this at My ECC Total Reward Hub | Welcome (rewardgateway.co.uk) to determine the minimum standard required. While the main provision is expected to be through a web based approach, full access to all services (such as via an app or by telephone to a Help Desk) must be possible for those employees who do not have access, or regular access, to a computer or other media device. Lot 1: ECC currently operates a range of employee benefits including discounted shopping, salary sacrifice opportunities, buying of annual leave etc. We are seeking a provider or providers to potentially extend and harmonise our various benefits into an accessible web portal for employees to access wherever and whenever they need to. Active encouragement will also be given during the course of the contract to partner organisations (such as the Vine HR Partnership of neighbouring local authorities) to participate in the scheme at their own cost. The contract and pricing will need to be flexible to accommodate this intent. ECC has already developed such a portal in- house and providers can view this at My ECC Total Reward Hub | Welcome (rewardgateway.co.uk) to determine the minimum standard required. While the main provision is expected to be through a web based approach, full access to all services (such as via an app or by telephone to a Help Desk) must be possible for those employees who do not have access, or regular access, to a computer or other media device. Provision will principally be to core ECC employees (circa 7,800 employees currently but reducing over future years as the council transforms and restructures), but the contract and pricing will need to be flexible to allow this number to increase or decrease as ECC reviews structure and operating models. The existing agreement for the delivery of these services is expiring and ECC is looking to procure a replacement service which embraces new ways of working that have manifested due to the impact of the Pandemic. Staff are no longer tied to a single location/office from which they work, as such there is a greater diversity in location. The new service will be required to be flexible in how it delivers local benefits across Essex. Essex Council has made a commitment to develop an employee benefits scheme for its employees and also has a long-term vision to move towards a ‘Total Reward’ system to potentially include total reward statements. Essex County Council wishes to continue to offer its staff salary sacrifice arrangements and a voluntary benefits discount programme that offers ‘real’ benefits that reflect typical consumer spending and provides significant savings for scheme members. The voluntary benefits element of the scheme will need to be innovative and flexible in its provision of a wide range of top name and local discounts to staff. Essex County Council currently offer: - Childcare Voucher Scheme, - Cycle to Work Scheme, - Additional Annual leave purchase