Now in its sixth year, the event celebrated the achievement of organisations who have adopted outstanding work-life balance polices and practices. It is also a chance to recognize the success of organisations which really understand the importance to the success of their business – particularly in the long term – of offering a range of flexible working opportunities and other benefits to their staff.

The comprehensive range of flexible working opportunities offered by ConocoPhillips are, according to Jim Atkinson, Economic Development Office (Warwickshire County Council), the reason why “this organisation really deserves to win an award for the second year running”. This includes a flexible benefits package which allows employees to choose from a menu which includes childcare vouchers and private medical/dental insurance, an employee assistance programme, plenty of training opportunities and career progression. Policies are continually reviewed, to meet the needs of the employees, and in the last 12 months a range of initiatives have been introduced which include a GP on site each week, a health challenge, and a learning and development website.

In addition to the flexible opportunities, the polices which have proved most beneficial to ConocoPhillips are; the working parents policy (including a maternity returners allowance as well as extended maternity and adoption leave and enhanced maternity pay), a Further Education Assistance Plan, and the Flexible Benefits Plan and the Health Promotion Programme (which offers monthly seminars on personal health and safety both in and outside the workplace).