Benefits

We value our staff and provide a wide range of benefits which reflect that commitment.

Leave provisions

We are a firm that encourages our staff to lead balanced and full lives and to participate in interests and activities outside work.

Our leave provisions include:

• Four weeks annual leave per year.
• Bell Gully Day – an additional day each year for staff members to use when they choose.
• Study leave, both paid and unpaid, and a Post Graduate Scholarship Policy.
• Sick leave of 10 days per year, available immediately.
• Extended leave policy for overseas or New Zealand travel or for volunteer activities such as territorial service, with an option to return to the same or similar job on return.
• Flexibility in taking annual leave in advance if necessary.
• Long service leave after 10 years.
• Marriage leave – five days’ paid leave.
• Enhanced Parental Leave policy where the firm ‘tops up’ the government paid parental leave to the staff member’s salary for a duration depending on the length of service.
• Paid paternity leave of up to two weeks.
• Emergency leave – domestic and bereavement.
• Career breaks.
• Discretionary extra bereavement leave for overseas bereavement.
• Leave for care of dependents – additional days are discretionary.

General assistance

Bell Gully’s initiatives ensure that we are at the forefront of work-life initiatives and best practice, and thus demonstrate our values and our commitment to our people. We are always open to feedback and suggestions from staff members. With that very much in mind, we have launched “BGenius” which rewards ideas and suggestions from staff on any aspect of what we do, the way we do it and opportunities for improvement.

• Mobile phones/laptops/Blackberrys are provided for senior staff who have a business need.
• All staff have access to a phone for family contact – both local and emergency international calls.
• Taxi charge cards are provided to staff who regularly work after dark for safety reasons.
• After hours car-parking is provided for staff in the office building.
• Meals are provided for those working late.
• A dry-cleaning pickup and delivery service is provided in both offices (at own cost).
• There is a “first aid” room in each office with a bed, sink, dim lighting etc, for staff to use if they feel unwell.
• We have an External Assistance Programme in place – a confidential external counselling and advisory service for staff, paid for by the firm.
• We have appointed staff and partners to act as “Listeners” who are available to act as a sounding board for staff with personal or work related difficulties. Listeners also proactively work to monitor stress in the workplace.

Health and well-being programme

We have an annual well-being programme in each office for staff and partners. The programme varies from year to year depending on local needs, interests and the availability of providers. Staff are notified throughout the year with details about upcoming sessions.

Our well-being programme includes:

• A subsidised health care insurance scheme.
• Subsidised fitness club or sports organisation membership.
• Workstation audits at work (and of home offices for those on parental leave). Those on parental leave receive a workstation audit at home.
• Free annual flu vaccinations.
• Daily fresh fruit bowls.
• Hearing and vision tests, mini health checks, mole mapping and osteoporosis checks.
• Yoga and pilates exercises classes in-house.
• Weekly massages.
• Assistance to stop smoking (information available in the Library).
• Seminars on diet, health, stress and nutrition.
• Self defence training.

We have a number of firm sports teams, including netball, cricket, soccer and tennis teams. We pay for entry fees into sporting events such as the Auckland Marathon and the Round Taupo cycle race, as well as providing apparel and catering for after-match functions.

Financial benefits

We value our staff and provide a wide range of benefits which reflect that commitment.

• Recruitment incentive payments - in keeping with the value we place on our staff, we reward referrals from staff which result in a placement.
• Graduate retention scheme for legal staff.
• Annual performance bonuses to recognise top performers.
• Staff welfare assistance.
• A yearly entitlement to free legal work including conveyancing, wills, and powers of attorney.
• Relocation assistance for staff transferring between offices or taking up an appointment from overseas.
• Discounted banking packages available to all staff.
• Taxi charge cards for those staff who regularly work late.

Environment and culture

We aim to provide a comfortable and pleasant environment to work in.

• Each floor has a “breakout” room. Staff are encouraged to enjoy their breaks in these rooms, which have leather loungers, chilled water and tea and coffee making facilities (including coffee machines). There are biscuits and crackers provided and fresh fruit is available each day. Daily newspapers and magazines are also provided for the enjoyment of all staff.
• Children are welcome at work. Family rooms are available in both offices, allowing parents to spend time with children of all ages. The rooms offer breastfeeding support (changing facilities and a fridge), television, toys, blackboard, books and games.
• All new starters at Bell Gully are formally welcomed at regular morning teas hosted by the Chief Executive.
• We have a casual clothes policy on Fridays and during the month of January.
• Also on Fridays is our weekly on-line staff newsletter.
• Bell Gully is a social firm, offering many events to staff. These range from team lunches, through to the mid-year ball/party, the annual children’s Christmas party and end of year Christmas function. Friday night drinks are held each week and all staff are invited to attend (drinks and nibbles are provided).
• All staff receive a gift at Christmas and for Staff Appreciation Day each year.
• There is a café and restaurant in the building in Auckland, while there is a café with in-house catering in the Wellington office.
• There is a pleasant outdoor area with seating in the Vero Centre in Auckland, as well as a gym.
• We have a comprehensive staff recognition policy.
• We offer monthly performance-related awards to thank staff for a great job and outstanding effort.
• We provide leave for staff participating in national sporting events.

Questions? Just contact our HR Team.