Benefits

Working at AOL offers more than just a creative, fulfilling work environment. Our benefits support your lifestyle and give you peace of mind - so you can focus on what's important to you: family, work, and life. AOL offers a wide range of benefit choices that enable you to design the benefits package that fits you best. In most cases, benefits for you and your eligible family members begin on your first day of work.

AOL Select helps you personalise your reward package by allowing you to choose benefits to suit your lifestyle and your needs. Our aim to help you:

• Protect your future and that of your family
• Look after you and your family’s health and well-being
• Make the most of your leisure time and help enhance your lifestyle

Protecting your future

• Group Personal Pension Plan C
  On average we are living longer so we may need to save more for a comfortable retirement. You can opt to join the contributory scheme whereby AOL will make contributions on top of your own personal  contributions; opt for the 3% non-contributory scheme which means that AOL will contribute on your behalf; or decide not to join the scheme and receive the 3% contribution as cash. You will receive a tax and NI break on contributions you make to your pension.
• Life Assurance
  To provide peace of mind to you and your family you can select a level of cover between one and four times your salary. This is payable as a lump sum to your nominated beneficiary in the event of your death.
• Income Protection
  In the event that you are unable to work, whether through illness or injury, Income Protection would provide a level of monthly payment to you as outlined in the policy .
• Critical Illness Cover
  This will provide you with a tax free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of the recognised conditions as outlined in the terms of the policy. You can also cover your partner.
• Personal Accident Insurance
  Whether you are at work, at home, or on the sports field, AOL provides cover which will pay a lump sum to you in the event of specified accidents.
• Financial Advice
  Financial products can sometimes appear complicated. Therefore, our financial advisers at Layton Blackham are available to answer your questions. This service is available to everybody and advice on AOL benefits is free.

Your health and wellbeing

• CIGNA - Private Medical Insurance 
  Insure yourself and if you choose, also your family, against the cost of treatment using private healthcare. This benefit enables you to select a level of private medical insurance that suits your personal and family circumstances.
• CIGNA Dental Insurance
  Dreading your next check up? Through AOL Select you have the option of managing the cost of your dental treatment.  You may select a level of cover for you and your family which will provide a reimbursement for your dental treatment.
• Nuffield Health Screening
  Prevention is often better than cure, and catching the early signs of health problems can help prevent issues later. A health screening will include a thorough check-up, the opportunity to discuss your issues with a healthcare professional, as well as a written report and recommendation for improving and maintaining your health.
• Healthcare Cash Plan
  As an alternative to private medical insurance, for a fixed monthly payment, you can claim money back to help meet a whole range of everyday health costs, from a new pair of prescription glasses to dental treatment or physiotherapy, for both you, and if you wish, your family.
• Employee Assistance Programme
  We understand that life can be complicated and that you may be faced with problems and pressures both in and outside of work.  AOL provides a completely confidential service for you and your family, giving information and guidance on different aspects of your life, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. This service is provided by ICAS who  can be contacted on 0800 072 7 072.

Your leisure and lifestyle

• Holiday (Buying only)
  Some years you may want to take more and some years you may want to take less. AOL Select offers you the chance to buy or sell vacation days to suit your needs. Starting from a core benefit of 25 days, you can buy or sell up to 5 days a year (For part timers and new joiners this will be pro-rated  – see AOL Select for more details).
• Bike Scheme
  Cycling is a healthy and a green way to get around. You can choose from a wide variety of on-road or mountain bikes from Evans Cycles.  NE
• Give As You Earn (GAYE)
  Donate to the charity of your choice. Using AOL Select you can contribute directly to your favourite charities quickly and easily.  Your chosen charity will also receive the tax you would have paid on the donation. 
• Retail Vouchers
  For the weekly shop, or to buy a regular treat, AOL Select can provide retail vouchers at a discount to the face value of up to 9% at various retailers.  You can select vouchers from as many participating retailers as you wish, including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and John Lewis, amongst many more e.g. £100 of John Lewis Vouchers will cost you only £91.
• Childcare Vouchers
  Childcare Vouchers can be used to pay for childcare including Nannies, Nurseries, Childminders and out of hours school clubs. With the added bonus income tax and national insurance breaks you can save  up to £1,195 per year
• TasteLondon
  New to AOL Select 2009.  - A tastelondon discount card entitles you to 2 for 1 meals or 50% off at over 700 restaurants in London and the Home Counties for 12 months.   AOL have agreed a discounted rate of £29.95 -  the card usually retails at £69.95!
• Massage
  Relax and unwind with a free 10 minute massage. Team Actuate  visit the office on a regular basis and will tailor treatment to where you think you need it.