Treating them right, from the start...

The HR industry needs to take its own medicine when it comes to best practice in staff retention, according to a leading recruiter. And he knows what heís talking about - his own firm has just featured on prime time TV to illustrate his point.

Construction specialists Consensus appeared on London Today and London Tonight (Thursday January 5 2006) to illustrate how its own employees are eased back to work after the Christmas break by a week of pampering and fun. The story was in response to the TUC research showing that many workers in London work the equivalent of a day a week without pay.

Instead of cracking the whip at the start of the year, MD Martin Tyrrell prefers to show his staff that he cares for their health and wellbeing, something thatís part of company policy all year round - and it pays dividends in terms of staff retention. íOver the past 14 months we have lost only one member of staff, which is remarkable in this industry,í he said. íWe expect to work hard and smart during normal working hours, but we also encourage people to have a good work-life balance.í

Viewers saw Consensus staff being served drinks and pastries at their desks by a real butler, and a qualified masseuse easing the kinks from their necks and backs in between phone calls.

Martin said: íNo one likes coming back to work after a long couple of weeks partying - itís such an anticlimactic way to start the year. But this week has been relaxing and energising at the same time.í