Payroll Giving - success stories
See some examples of how other companies are running Payroll Giving, how they have set it up, and how successful they have been by clicking on any of the organisations below:
Z/Yen
About us
Z/Yen Group Ltd is a risk/reward management firm helping organisations make better choices. The company typically manages projects or provides people to deliver timely, quality work for clients in demanding situations. It has 12 members of staff and launched Payroll Giving in March 2005.
How we started Payroll Giving
Z/Yen presented the idea of Payroll Giving to staff as part of an informal staff meeting/social event. The benefits of donating money in this way were explained using a small presentation, and staff were encouraged to ask questions and voice any concerns.
Z/Yen contacted one of the approved Payroll Giving Agencies. The Payroll Giving Agency sent through the paperwork, and staff filled in a simple donation form stating who they would like to give money to and how much. The process was extremely straightforward:
- the scheme took about four hours to set up in 2005 and takes less than ten minutes each month to operate
- our standard payroll software calculates the correct tax figures for each employee and tots up all of the Payroll Giving deductions, Z/Yen then makes one simple payment to the Payroll Giving Agency
- the Payroll Giving Agency handle and distribute the money to charities, so the process is very straightforward from the company's point of view
Promoting the scheme
As a gesture of good will, the company pays the small Payroll Giving Agency administration fee, which is popular with staff, as they know that their entire donation is going straight to their chosen charities. By re-promoting the scheme periodically at Z/Yen staff gatherings, new staff are attracted to Payroll Giving and Z/Yen can enhance all staff's interest in the initiative:
- based on the most recent monthly payroll, 56 per cent of staff on the payroll are now Payroll Giving
- with an average gift level of £27.20 per month
Benefits for the company and the staff
Z/Yen's Managing Director, Ian Harris, says: 'Payroll Giving is a very easy and effective way for our staff to give money to charitable causes. It requires minimum effort, something particularly important for smaller companies like Z/Yen and enables staff to give regularly to the charities of their choice in a tax efficient way. I recommend Payroll Giving to all companies that do not yet have a scheme in place.'
Taylor Wessing LLP
About us
Taylor Wessing LLP is a leading law firm providing legal support for commercial organisations doing business in Europe. Based in Belgium, France, Germany and the UK, Taylor Wessing LLP provides the full range of legal services to major corporations and growing enterprises. Taylor Wessing LLP has almost 600 employees and over 100 equity members.
Why we started Payroll Giving
The scheme was introduced in 2000 at the request of an employee and with the use of a Professional Fundraising Organisation (PFO). We have since been committed to raising awareness of the scheme to enable employees to take part. Charities benefit most from regular donations and this helps change peoples lives for the better.
Keeping the momentum going
We have actively promoted the scheme by:
- including details in new employee starter packs and on our company Intranet
- a poster campaign at tea points
- paying the small administration fee charged by the PGA
- using a PFO, who have a low-key and friendly approach, with staff happy to be visited at their desks
- encouraging other law firms to promote Payroll Giving - as we believe it makes a difference
Promoting Payroll Giving is a part of our overall CSR strategy which has included:
- matching Payroll Giving donations
- supporting selected charities with donations and allowing staff time to volunteer (currently St Mungo's and UCL hospital)
- providing funds and support for local community initiatives
Benefits for the firm and the staff
Firm
- the whole process of administering the scheme is extremely easy and takes less than one hour per month
- we do one BACS transfer to the Payroll Giving Agency each month and they distribute the money to the chosen charities
- by using a PFO and a Payroll Giving Agency we find the administration of the scheme simple and effective for us, our employees and the charities themselves
- the receipt of a Payroll Giving Quality Mark Gold Award demonstrates both within the firm and publicly that we are committed to the good causes our employees care about
Staff
30 per cent of Taylor Wessing employees have now joined the scheme and currently raise over £50,000 each year for charities.
Pfizer
About us
Pfizer, is a research-based global pharmaceutical company. Pfizer discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals, and many of the world's best-known consumer products. Pfizer is the largest supplier of medicines to the NHS, and employs 6,500 people in the UK.
How we promote Payroll Giving
Pfizer introduced and has promoted Payroll Giving since 1987. The scheme is promoted in several ways, including:
- discussions with employees when they first start working for Pfizer
- guidance for all employees via the company Intranet and Staff handbook
Pfizer not only helps employees to give to charity through the scheme but also matches employees donations up to a maximum of £100 per month. Pfizer has itself given a total of £190,000 in matched giving to charities chosen by their employees. As a gesture of goodwill, the company also pays the small administration fee incurred by the Payroll Giving Agency.
What it means for employees and charities
- We encourage staff to support any charity of their choice, whether local, national and for any cause.
- Around 10 per cent of our employees donated through PG in 2006, with an average employee donation of over £40 per month, or almost £500 per year. In that year, employees donated £270,000 in total.
What are the benefits for Pfizer
As part of our wider community investment programme we seek to engage employees through volunteering, Payroll Giving, and providing matched funding fro employee fundraising:
- Payroll Giving is an important part of this programme as it offers employees the opportunity to support charities
- Payroll Giving allows all our employees to make use of tax free giving to charities
- shows support for the good causes that our employees care about
The specific benefits of PG for a large organisation such as Pfizer are:
- easy to administer - takes half an hour each month
- by matching our employees donations to their chosen charities, Payroll Giving allows us to direct our corporate giving budget in a way that enhances employee engagement
- administrative burden taken by Payroll Giving Agency
- promotion of scheme can be carried out electronically, via Intranet - saving on human resource
- employees sign-up online, reducing paper use
Pfizer received a Payroll Giving Gold Award in 2006. Dr Annette Doherty, Research Site Head and Site Leader, Pfizer Sandwich Laboratories, says:
'We were delighted to receive this award in recognition of Pfizer's support of Payroll Giving. The scheme is a great way for companies to encourage staff to support their chosen charities and has been a real success with our employees. We'd certainly encourage other employers to consider making Payroll Giving available to their staff.'
