Central London Location
Our office is located in central London, a 1 minute walk from Old Street Station (Northern Line Zone 1 Underground, and First Capital Connect Mainline).
Starting Salary
Your starting salary will be calculated within the starting salary range which is quoted on the advertised job description for the post. This calculation is based on a formula used to calculate all starting salaries across head office which rewards a range of areas including how well you meet the essential and desirable person specification criteria for the post. For this reason, we do not negotiate starting salaries.
Flexible Working Hours
The standard working week for full time staff is 37 ½ hours with a 1 hour lunch break, usually worked between 9 – 5.30. Merlin has a flexible approach to working hours – all full time staff must be in the office between 10 – 4pm, and must agree any variation in their normal working hours with their line manager in accordance with operational needs.
Generous Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days per year on joining Merlin, rising to 30 days after 1 year’s service. This is in addition to 8 days public holidays every year.
Season Ticket Loan
We offer an interest free season ticket loan to permanent staff, which is repaid in 12 equal monthly instalments.
Pension
You will be able to join a Group Personal Pension Scheme. If you contribute 3% of your salary, Merlin will contribute a further 5% of your salary and if you contribute 5% of your salary, Merlin will contribute a further 7% of your salary. You are eligible to join this scheme after 3 months employment with Merlin.
Loyalty Bonus
To reward commitment and loyalty to Merlin, after you have worked with us for 1 year, you will receive a loyalty bonus of £600 which will be added to your annual salary. This will increase by a further £600 for each additional year of service up to a maximum of 5 years service.
Employee Assistance Programme
To help achieve greater worklife balance we give access to an Employee Assistance Programme free of charge which gives telephone access to a team of independent advisors and counsellors 24 hours a day to help proactively manage any issues and difficulties you may face in your work or personal life that could affect your performance at work.
Healthcare Support
We provide membership of the Benenden Healthcare Society free of charge for all head office staff. Benenden Healthcare Society is a not-for-profit organisation that works alongside the NHS to provide help when there are difficulties resolving health problems under the state system. Assistance includes health and GP advice lines, provision of or payment for consultations, diagnostic tests, and minor outpatient treatment, and treatment for a range of conditions and provision of surgical procedures.
Reduced Cost Gym Membership
Merlin staff are eligible for discounts with Fitness First, DC Leisure Management (which operates local authority sports centres around the UK including several in South London) and Leisure Connection (which operates local authority sports centres around the UK including several in North London).
Childcare Voucher Scheme
Merlin offers staff the opportunity to access childcare at reduced costs with most childcare providers for children up to the age of 16. By sacrificing up to £2,916 a year of your salary to convert to childcare vouchers, you could save up to £962 a year as a basic rate tax payer, and £1,195 as a higher rate tax payer.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Merlin offers a Cycle to Work Scheme in order encourage health and fitness.
You can save up to 40% of the cost of the purchase of a bike and safety equipment, up to a maximum value of £1,000. These savings are made as a result of savings on tax and national insurance on the cost of the bike and safety equipment.
Professional Membership Fees
We pay up to £200 a year to contribute towards the professional membership fees for those staff where Membership is an essential requirement in the person specification for the role and is of a recognised professional body where membership is attained through qualification.
Unpaid Career Break
Staff who have worked with Merlin for three years can request an unpaid career break of 6 weeks.
Overseas Travel
A number of head office posts will have the opportunity to visit our overseas programmes from time to time.
Paid Study Leave
Once you have completed your probation period you are entitled to 3 days paid study leave per year for formal or self-supported study relevant to your current or planned future role with Merlin. If you are enroled on a formal course of study relevant to your job with Merlin you will be entitled to a total of 5 days paid study leave.
Interest Free Study Loan
We offer an interest free loan of up to a maximum of £3,000 in any one year to pay for the tuition fees of a formal course of study associated with your role.
Training
Merlin strongly encourages staff development and offers a variety of training courses and other development opportunities.
Formal training programmes include induction, a 3 day course ‘ Introduction to Relief & Emergencies’ for staff who are new to the humanitarian sector, a 7 day course ‘ Public Health in Crisis & Transitional Contexts’ for experienced health and humanitarian staff, and a Leadership & Management Development Programme made up of internal & external training events, coaching, e and distance learning.
We support attendance at external training & development events for training needs identified through the appraisal process, provide e and distance learning opportunities and a regular programme of lunchtime training and information sessions.
Maternity/Adoption Pay
In order to support pregnant women and parents adopting newly matched children as part of a diverse group of employees, Merlin pays full pay for the first 6 weeks of maternity/adoption pay.
Paid Paternity Leave
In order to support partners of pregnant women in a diverse workforce, any staff who are eligible for statutory paternity pay will receive full pay for the first week of this leave.
Sick Pay
If you are unwell and unable to attend work, you will be able to have up to 3 weeks sickness absence on full pay during your first year of working with us, rising to 4 weeks after one year, and 6 weeks after two years.
Eye Tests
Merlin will cover the cost of an eye test at most high street opticians on an annual basis.
Compassionate Leave
Merlin is sympathetic in cases of personal/family problems such as bereavement or serious illness. We will pay up to 5 days in a year, and in exceptional cases will offer up to a further 5 days paid leave.
Retirement Age
We welcome staff of all ages to join Merlin, and do not have a retirement age for Head Office staff.
All benefits are calculated on a pro rata basis for part time staff. |