HE’S the UK’s best boss – not only has he splashed out £20k on Christmas gifts for his staff, but he’s also rewarded them with trips to the Maldives and Disneyland Paris too.
Benjy Leslie, 25, has always believed treating his staff well means they will have more motivation to get work done.
As a result, the CEO and founder of Connect Management – the largest social-first talent agency – takes his team on lavish holidays abroad.
Benjy also spent £20k on Christmas treats for his ‘Santa Leslie incentive’ where the team member who has made the highest revenue that day gets to pick out a present.
The gifts ranged from Celebrations, Lego, headphones and a Rolex watch.
But Benjy believes it’s all “worth it” to have happy staff and a positive work environment.
Benjy, from Willesden, London, said: “I love giving back. Business owners sit on huge amounts of profit.
“For me it’s about sharing my gratitude.
“I have got a really happy work force – with 89 per cent staff retention. We wouldn’t have profits if the staff were not happy.”
Benjy set up his business in 2019 and as his success has grown, he has wanted to share it with his team.
He added: “I took them all to the Maldives for the first year of the business doing well.”
Now expecting his influencers to make £18m this year, he is able to give back lots of different incentives.
Benjy continued: “I give a holiday away every month. It’s a tombola. It gives people that buzz and excitement.
“The more revenue they deliver to the business the bigger slice of the pie you get.”
I took them all to the Maldives for the first year of the business doing well
Benjy Leslie
He is also running his ‘Santa Leslie incentive’ for the second time running and has purchased loads of fun items.
Benjy shared: “I got Celebrations, a Rolex, a holiday, iPhones.
“Every single day someone gets to pick a present.”
Benjy makes his team come into the office every single day because he says working from home is “lonely” and “less productive”.
He creates a fun office environment and makes someone bring in a game to play each morning.
He shared: “They bring a game and that brings the energy in the morning.
“On a Friday afternoon we do gratitude. Each person has to say something to someone that they are grateful for.
“It’s just a reminder – it’s such a fast paced world we live in and people need to be shown thanks.”
I love giving back. For me it’s about sharing my gratitude
Benjy Leslie
Recently Benjy also took the team to Disneyland Paris for their Christmas trip, as he acknowledged: “It was a thank you for everything. It was magical.”
Despite this, Benjy said he does “expect a lot” from his staff, as he admitted: “They understand what needs to be done.
“It’s a super amazing team. A lot of work places people resent their bosses and come in and do the bare minimum.
“I don’t feel we have that. You can’t buy that loyalty from staff. You can only earn it by being genuine.
“We do expect a lot but we hire the right people. If I treat people well they will work harder for me.”
