Argos corporate news
Argos wins gold award for charitable giving in the workplace
14 February 2006
UK’s leading multi-channel retailer, Argos, has been recognised for its efforts to fostering a culture of giving in the workplace with a Gold Award, at the launch of the new Payroll Giving Quality Mark. Argos, along with Treasury Minister, Ivan Lewis MP, is encouraging employers across the retail sector to follow suit by making Payroll Giving – the tax-effective employee donation scheme – available to employees.
Mike Sibbald, HR Director for Argos Retail Group says: “Regular Payroll Giving offers a great opportunity to build a relationship between our company, our employees and their other chosen charities. A key part of our corporate social responsibility agenda and an extra incentive to employees, Payroll Giving enables us to support causes dear to their hearts. It is all about building pride, making our staff feel proud to work for Argos, and to feel valued.”
Of Argos’s 24,000 employees, 2,851 give through the payroll, donating over £6,000 to their chosen charities each month. Argos pays the administration charge and matches one month’s donation.
The Payroll Giving Quality Mark aims to provide sustainable income sources for UK charities by increasing participation in Payroll Giving. The scheme recognises and rewards businesses for making Payroll Giving available to staff, providing them with a certificate and use of a logo which enables them to publicly demonstrate their commitment to good causes. Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are allocated to organisations that demonstrate excellence in fostering a culture of giving in the workplace through Payroll Giving. The Bronze Award is awarded to those companies with 1% employee participation in Payroll Giving, Silver for those with 5% employee participation and the Gold Award is reserved for companies with 10% employee participation.
The Payroll Giving Quality Mark is funded by HM Government, administered and promoted by the Institute of Fundraising, with support from Business in the Community.
By setting up Payroll Giving, employers enable their employees to give to any UK charity straight from their gross salary and to get immediate tax relief of up to 40% on each donation. Payroll Giving has minimal administrative requirements or costs and is an ideal way for organisations at all budget levels to generate a regular, reliable income stream for good causes.
