All articles by Alison Coleman – Page 8
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Analysis
Financial Education: What employers need to consider in terms of brand
If you read nothing else, read this... Employer branding on financial education programmes helps to secure the trust and engagement of staff, which is vital when making changes to key financial benefits. Financial education is a partnership, and co-branding a programme to identify its origin from the employer and independence ...
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Case Studies
Case study: Innospec shares its success globally
Global chemicals business Innospec, which operates in 17 countries, including the US, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Hungary, offers a sharesave scheme to all eligible staff.The Global All Employee Sharesave Plan, administered by Yorkshire Building Society, was rolled out in 2010 and is designed to take account of different legislation ...
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Analysis
International reward: Tax-efficient benefits across Europe
If you read nothing else, read this …Understanding local regulations and culture is key to knowing which employee benefits can be offered in the most tax-efficient way and be of most value to staff.Multinational organisations often find sharesave schemes work well as a tax-efficient benefit across Europe.Economic uncertainty across Europe ...
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Analysis
Sickness absence review: industry reactions
Will the recommendations from the government’s review of sickness absence management help to reduce the problem? Alison Coleman asks key industry figures for their viewsWith 140 million working days lost in the UK every year, sickness absence is almost a disease in itself and managing it is one of the ...
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Analysis
Multiple enrolment windows for flexible benefits
If you read nothing else, read this...Multiple flexible benefits enrolment windows enable new starters to join a scheme sooner and give existing staff more chances to switch their benefits.Enrolment windows for insured benefits, pensions and holiday trading are less flexible and tend to be restricted by scheme providers or HR.Older ...
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Case Studies
Case study: Student Loans Company staff cash in on reward cards
The Student Loans Company, which administers government-funded loans and grants to UK students, processes about 900,000 new applications a year, most of which arrive between June and October.In the run-up to last year's four-month peak, the HR department introduced a motivational programme to recognise and reward performance and inject an ...
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Analysis
Pre-paid cards grow as employee motivation tool
Employers can also enable staff to make a monthly salary deduction with the value loaded onto their card, enabling them to obtain cash back and discounts on purchases at selected retailers. This can appeal to staff looking to get the best value for their money.One of the advantages of pre-paid ...
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Case Studies
Case study: Volvo Car UK plays its motivation cards right
Staff motivation is a greater challenge when the 'motivatees' are not under the organisation's direct control, as with Volvo Car UK and its nationwide franchise dealerships, which range from PLCs to owner-operators.Programme manager Bob Moore says: "Previous incentives to improve behavioural changes among the sales teams delivered only short-term results. ...
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Case Studies
Case study: East Sussex County Council rates third-party sickness scheme
East Sussex County Council used a third-party absence management system as part of a wider strategy to reduce its sickness absence rates, from 9.5 days in 2005 to 6.9 days in 2010.The system, provided by FirstCare, was introduced with the specific aim of tackling short-term absence.Leatham Green, assistant director, personnel ...
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Analysis
Health and wellbeing: Best remedy for sickness
If you read nothing else, read this … Third-party absence management systems involve staff reporting absence to a trained nurse or healthcare professional. Data is then fed to the employee’s manager. Opinion is split over whether technology-based reporting platforms are superseding third-party absence management systems. Third-party systems can manually record ...
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Analysis
Rehabilitation services in demand for international healthcare
If you read nothing else, read this . . . Because standards of local healthcare services vary overseas, rehabilitation benefits for expatriates tend to be through international healthcare insurance rather than local private medical insurance. International health insurance cover is available at various levels, but it is important to check ...
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Analysis
Benefits in Singapore
If you read nothing else, read this… The increasing use of flexible benefits by employers in Singapore is effective in attracting and retaining talent. Using the segmentation of flex to target different demographics is increasingly in evidence. Extending international staff share schemes for expatriate workers is generally trouble-free ...
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Case Studies
Case study: Boots offers healthy rewards
Most of the healthcare incentives and benefits offered to Boots UK's 64,000 staff are voluntary benefits, such as private medical insurance, or discounts on flu vaccinations or eye examinations.These measures are part of a broad strategy, implemented two years ago, for supporting staff health and wellbeing. Boots UK takes part ...
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Analysis
How incentives help reduce sickness absence
If you read nothing else, read this… Cash-based incentives or rewards can be offered to encourage attendance and discourage unnecessary absence. However, positive results may not address the underlying cause of high sickness absence rates. Recording sickness absence data is essential in order to understand how incentives can be effective. ...
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Article
Buyer's guide to pension modelling tools
Key factsWhat are pension modelling tools?They are interactive tools that can calculate an estimated future retirement income based on factors such as an employee's current contributions, desired retirement age, and investment strategy.Where can employers get more information?Free online pension calculators are provided by the Pensions Advisory Service and the Consumer ...
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Analysis
Healthcare cash plans can be a bargain
If you read nothing else, read this... Low-cost health cash plans can deliver value as long as staff actually benefit from the limited cover they provide. Establishing what expenses staff are likely to claim for, and communicating the value of the cash plan, is key to achieving cost-effectiveness. Plans should ...
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Case Studies
Case Study: Boots
Retailer Boots raised its employee satisfaction levels after implementing a points-based recognition scheme.The scheme is centred around Boots Advantage Cards, which are offered to staff in the firm's 2,800 stores as reward vouchers in values of £5 or £20-worth of store loyalty points. Managers can also award points to be ...
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Analysis
Pre-paid cards can enhance motivation systems
If you read nothing else, read this...Points-based motivation schemes and pre-paid cards lend themselves well to reward strategies.The use of integrating technology streamlines the process and allows staff to be more involved.Branding cards with the corporate identity and ensuring the reward that they offer matches the needs and values of ...
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Analysis
Peer recognition schemes pay off
Peer recognition schemes can have a powerful effect on staff morale and motivation, says Alison ColemanRecognising exceptional staff performance through reward is one way of boosting motivation and engagement. But recognition that comes directly from an employee’s peers may carry a higher value, and at a time when organisations are ...
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Analysis
Effective communication around flexible benefits
Attention-grabbing communication is an essential tool to make flex schemes work, says Alison ColemanThe successful introduction of a flexible benefits scheme relies on the right communications strategy, which can prove elusive. Leaflets and handbooks packed with complicated, jargon-laden explanations of the scheme, what it includes and how it works, may ...