Bosses at Deutsche Bank have literally played the “culture card” when it comes to keeping employees happy. The bank offers its hard-working staff eight lunchtime and evening lectures a year at London’s leading art galleries, as well as a card giving discounts at theatres and museums.

Rewards are impressive for the 8,000-plus UK staff at the global investment bank, which was founded in 1870.

One in eight employees, typically investment bankers, earns more than £100,000 a year and six out of 10 get more than £50,000. Everyone has performance-related pay, share options and private healthcare. A fifth of staff have a final salary pension, the rest benefit from a non-contributory scheme. People are happy with pay and benefits (a 66% positive score, ranking fifth) and feel that the pay is fair considering their responsibilities (59%).

The bank does well in surveys looking at the support it gives working women and has a company crèche, as well as offering childcare vouchers. Maternity leave is 18 weeks at full pay, eight at the government minimum and 26 unpaid, while fathers get two weeks off.

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Turning up the Heat pays off

Strong training and a sense that work is to be enjoyed add up to Heat powering past its rivals into top spot this year

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Staff don’t feel they are under too much pressure to concentrate (67%) and they get help letting off steam with a subsidised gym membership. People have 25 days of annual leave, can work flexibly or from home, and the company offers sabbaticals and career breaks.

There is excellent training (60%) and job opportunities across the world, with a database to help people search for internal global vacancies.

People say the work is stimulating (71%) and many believe they have found their dream job (45%). Even if they had another job offer, most people would not leave tomorrow (71%), and find their experience is valuable for the future (76%). More than a third of staff have been at Deutsche Bank for more than five years.

The company encourages everyone to spend at least two days a year volunteering and matches funds raised for charity to the tune of up to £3,000 per person annually. People say Deutsche Bank puts a lot back into the community (59%).

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