Workers in call centres are being offered bonus payments and family-friendly initiativesbecause of competition for staff.

Two in three call centre employers pay a bonus, mainly linked to targets, said a survey by the Industrial Relations Services research group.

Most bonuses ranged between four per cent and seven per cent of pay, at least as much as annual pay rises. With fierce competition for staff in call centre "hot spots", firms are paying bonuses to reach key targets and retain workers.