The leading law firm that advises businesses, banks and governments across the world is rigorously fair with its own 2,464 staff, based in London and Colchester. They enjoy an extraordinary array of benefits, topped off with competitive pay packets — and overwhelmingly say that they are getting a fair deal, with a top 10 positive score of 72% overall for questions about pay and benefits.

Last year Linklaters, founded in 1837, became a limited liability partnership, but there were no changes to employees’ good feelings about its name: staff are proud to work for the company (84%). About two-fifths of the workforce earn more than £55,000 a year and they are happy with pay and benefits (75%), with fair pay for their responsibilities (71%) and relative to others in the firm (70%) — all top 20 results.

The company ticks almost all of the boxes for its benefits. Everyone has profit-related pay, private healthcare which includes their families, critical illness and life assurance cover. There is a concierge service, free gym, subsidised restaurant open all hours, and services such as a beauty salon, dentist and physiotherapist.

Performance-related pay, which half of staff receive, is based on team results, not individual work. Maternity leave is a generous 13 weeks at full pay, nine at 50% and 17 at 25% of salary, fathers have two weeks on full pay, and everyone has a non-contributory pension.

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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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• Fly high with the X Factor

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• Charity wins top small company award

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In return for these perks there are some long hours.

Linklaters does try to counteract this by giving time off in lieu at managers’ discretion, with flexible and home working aided by company technology. Staff get time off for emergency childcare and there are sabbaticals as well as secondments to other offices in interesting places such as Hong Kong.

People think the company puts back a lot into the local community (71%), investing £3.9m last year in communities close to offices. Everyone has at least one paid day a year for volunteering and initiatives include a “switch off” campaign to save energy and pro bono work for the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

To keep up people’s spirits, there are even “interactive prayer” meetings for every group.

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