Enhancing employee experience: a guest article by Caz Meech

As recent years have brought upheaval and uncertainty for many, and the cost-of-living crisis continues to loom, providing a supportive, community-focused employee culture remains a priority for Keyloop.  

Alongside extensive initiatives to raise money for charity, drive workplace diversity and improve the organisation’s carbon footprint, the Keyloop team have been on a mission to enhance the experience for all employees.  

Employee perks and schemes have become popular in recent years, with a lack of workplace rewards fast becoming one of the key drivers for employees thinking about leaving their job. However, Keyloop’s Head of Internal Communications, Caz Meech discovered a humbler, quieter, and yet more pressing need from the Keyloop workforce, a requirement for grace and space to heal, when life throws a curveball.  

In this piece, Caz explores her recent experience during her time with Keyloop.  

When I joined Keyloop back in September of 2021 to develop the Internal Communications and Employee Experience function, there was no way I could have known what would be on the horizon for me. I was experienced in comms, but leading ‘Employee Experience’ (EE) was completely new. Luckily, I love a challenge and building something from the ground up was something I embraced. I spent time talking to Keyloopers and really listening to what would make a difference for our people and their experience at Keyloop and from that the newly formed ICEE team developed our Enhanced Employee Experience. 

The anchor for Keyloop’s EE is our people. It sounds obvious doesn’t it? Whilst private healthcare, dental cover, and fitness perks are great benefits to have, when life really throws a spanner in the works employees need more from their employer. I found that the most crucial things we could do were to provide a safe space for them to show up authentically, to provide them the tools to give back to their local communities, and time to tackle life head-on when faced with a crisis.  

The team set about looking at our employee offering holistically and made a number of changes including increasing paid leave benefits for compassionate, bereavement, carers, paternity and parental bonding leave, giving as much time as needed to support fertility matters, days off to celebrate a birthday or wedding, wellbeing days to reset when needed, and volunteering days that make a difference to others. Relieving time and financial pressures for our people has given them the freedom to find more balance in their lives when they really need it. 

And now here I am, living proof of how crucial putting your people first is. When my husband passed away this spring, the wider Keyloop team pulled together to support me. I felt safe enough to share with my colleagues my personal situation and to be honest about my absence; I was given time to care for my husband and our children during his time in hospice and following his passing I’ve taken the time I need to be practical and to process this enormous life change. I couldn’t have foreseen my new normal, but Keyloop has supported me during the most difficult time in my life for which I will always be grateful. 

So, how can I give back? By taking on a ‘crazy 7’s’ challenge for charity: 7 in the air (7 climbs totalling 77 metres), 7 miles on water, and 7 miles on land. Again, thanks to Keyloop and our ‘Supporting Communities’ pillar of our Power to Change programme, I’m able to take a day off in aid of raising funds for charity alongside 6 wonderful colleagues. Together we’re aiming to raise £10,000 for Hospiscare in Devon where my husband was cared for in his final weeks. The staff were endlessly kind, caring and patient, providing both medical and emotional support during the time we were there. Supporting the charity to enable other families to access the same resources is important to me. 

If you’d like to support the cause, please do take a look at our fundraising page, donate, spread the word, and help us reach our target.