If you can’t put a name to a face at Olswang law firm, there’s a logical solution — staff are pictured, alphabetically and smiling, on the organisation’s website.

The company was founded by Simon Olswang 26 years ago, and still espouses the philosophy that everyone should be respected for their contribution.

While there are training schemes for future partners, the firm doesn’t just focus on the fee-earners. It is developing a programme to support legal secretaries specifically and already has training in place for other departments.

A business law firm, specialising in technology, the media and property in the UK, Europe and America, Olswang has 577 employees in London and Reading.

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Olswang's entry in 2007

• Olswang's entry in 2006

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

Background

• Hats off to great leadership

• Getting the message across loud and clear

• Fly high with the X Factor

• Why it pays to know what you’re doing

Background

• Charity wins top small company award

• Special awards for best practice

• Rules of engagement

• 100 Best SME's to work for 2008

Multimedia

• Best Small Companies to Work For 2008

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

The rewards can be very good, and half the staff earn more than £55,000.

Fair Deal is the best-ranked factor for the company, with an overall positive score of 65% for questions on this subject, ranking the firm 42nd. People think they have fair pay for their responsibilities (64%) and are happy with their salary and benefits (68%). Employees also say their jobs are good both for personal growth (77%) and for the experience they gain (79%).

Everyone has performance-related pay and can take private healthcare and dental cover. There are childcare vouchers and life assurance, a give-as-you-earn scheme, gym subsidies and a concierge service. After six months, people can join the contributory pension scheme, with a typical 5% of salary almost matched by Olswang.

The company pays for annual well woman and well man screening plans, and has a company doctor. Despite this, it is near the bottom of the top 100 table for wellbeing overall, with people spending too much time working (50%) and work interfering with responsibilities at home (only a 57% positive score). Employees can feel the firm takes advantage of them, with just a 52% positive response for this question.

There are flexible ways to work, however, with plenty of technological assistance available. Maternity leave is boosted and the senior partner, Mark Devereux, makes it his business to get to know everyone, including the contract cleaners.

Company efforts to protect the environment also win staff approval, with a positive score of 81% for this question, ranking Olswang sixth.

The firm wants its employees to be pioneering, principled, passionate and distinctive, saying that it values personality in particular.

Meanwhile, teams get together with lunches, a big Christmas bash and weekends to European cities each year.

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