One generous boss is helping his employees cope with rising energy bills by dishing out almost $1,000 dollars to each and every one of his 60 members of staff.
James Hipkins - managing director of UK company Emerys Timber and Building Merchants - took over $59,000 out of his own pocket to help ease the toll soaring living costs were taking on his workers.
Last Friday (April 1), the UK saw the biggest leap in domestic energy bills in living history. BBC News reports that the energy price cap has shot up by 54%, meaning the average British household will now pay over $2,500 a year on gas and electricity alone.
While most citizens will be left to weather the storm on their own, workers at Emerys Timber and Building Merchants have been given a generous helping hand by super-boss Hipkins.
In an interview with The Sun, the 51-year-old manager said that - with the company doing well - he wanted to give back to the staff that make it all happen.
"It’s nice that we can see we are doing well as a company and it’s nice to feel it’s shared back with the people who make it successful," he said, adding: "We are only as good as our people - they are the ones who produce the figures and make us profitable."
The father-of-three went on to describe his employees' reactions when he gave them the good news, saying that they were extremely grateful.
"They weren’t expecting it and they were overjoyed," he said."I think they’ve found it’s a great help when everything’s a bit bleak. If you believe in your people, give back to them when you’re doing well."
Hipkins added that he hopes his attitude towards his workers inspires them to be loyal to the company and that he suspects the reason he has a slow turnover of staff is that they feel he respects the hard work they put in.
"Being a good boss is getting good figures and good results but it’s also providing good opportunities and a good environment," the boss said. "You spend a lot of time at work and if you can enjoy it all the better."
