All articles by Amanda Wilkinson
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Analysis
Employers must beware of salary sacrifice pitfalls
Potential tax and national insurance savings make salary sacrifice seem an attractive option, but employers should beware of possible pitfalls, says Amanda WilkinsonImplementing a salary sacrifice arrangement around benefits may seem an attractive option for employers keen to optimise any tax efficiencies available, but there are a number of issues ...
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Analysis
Safeguarding personal employee data must be a priority
Safeguarding personal data about employees must be a priority for employers and their benefits providers, says Amanda WilkinsonData security is an issue that is never far from the headlines and has major ramifications for benefits professionals.Employers, as custodians of employee data that includes bank details, salary and bonus information, email ...
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Analysis
Alternatives to occupational pension schemes
The changing perception of traditional occupational pension schemes is prompting employers to consider offering staff alternative financial benefits to meet their savings needs, says Amanda WilkinsonIf you read nothing else, read this...Employees' savings needs are changing.More flexible savings benefits may be required instead of traditional occupational pension schemes.Alternative savings options ...
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Analysis
Motivating staff in the recession
As the recession puts pressure on pay and jobs, reward schemes can play a vital role in keeping employees motivated, says Amanda Wilkinson.Case study: AdeccoCase study: Henry Boot†MAIN ARTICLECost-cutting is currently the number one priority for many organisations affected by the recession. But there is a danger that redundancies, forfeiture ...
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Case Studies
Case Study: Henry Boot
Case Study: Henry BootHenry Boot shares the burden Construction and property company Henry Boot granted a new set of options through its sharesave scheme last November to help motivate staff by giving them a stake in the business.The aim was also to help people who had taken part in a ...
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Case Studies
Case study: Adecco
Case Study: AdeccoRecruitment solutions company Adecco is reviewing its recognition schemes in light of the recession, with the aim of rewarding more employees for demonstrating company values or displaying outstanding performance.Previously, its schemes focused on rewarding top sales people with tangible rewards such as skiing trips. The company now wants ...
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Article
Hutchison 3G to relaunch flexible benefits scheme
Hutchison 3G is planning to relaunch its flexible benefits scheme and extend it to 700 head office staff.The telecoms company, which operates mobile phone network 3, currently provides a flex scheme to more than 2,500 staff based in its call centre and retail operations, each of whom have an allowance ...
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Article
Interview with Seth Russell, director of reward at Hutchison 3G
Life working as a benefits professional in the oil and gas sector, financial services, telecoms, media, the civil service and the National Health Service (NHS) should, on the face of it, be very different. However, for Seth Russell, director of reward at mobile phone operator Hutchison 3G, who has worked ...
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Article
Amanda Wilkinson, editor of Employee Benefits: Optimise benefits to make what you have even more effective
When times are tough you have to make the most of what you have. For compensation and benefits professionals this means ensuring that benefits programmes work together to optimum effect. If they do not, there is scope for difficult questions to be raised by senior management and finance, the most ...
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Article
Buyer's guide to vehicle leasing (February 2009)
Vehicle leasing offers an attractive way of cutting costs and benefiting from tax breaks, says Amanda WilkinsonIn this economic climate, populating a fleet with leased vehicles will be a more attractive option than buying them outright for many organisations.For employers trying to control costs, leasing is relatively risk free because ...
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Article
Editor's comment
Employee benefits have come a long way in the past decade or so, evolving into an invaluable set of tools that help employers attract, retain and engage talent.At employers' disposal is an armoury of perks that includes pensions, shares, bonuses, healthcare, cars and childcare. Employers have also put in place ...
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Article
Tesco extends share option plan to China
TESCO has extended its international share option plan and international bonus scheme for senior managers to relevant staff in China.Chinese legislation that had prevented employees from taking part in share plans offered by foreign-owned companies.Tesco is thought to be one of the first foreign firms operating in China to offer ...
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Article
Interview with Jane Vivier, senior reward manager at the UK Border Agency
Jane Viver, senior reward manager at the UK Border Agency, is motivated by the on-going challenge of finding low-cost but engaging benefits for employeesLittle things go a long way, as Jane Vivier, senior reward manager at the UK Border Agency, has discovered during her time working in benefits.“Some of the ...
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Article
Amanda Wilkinson, editor of Employee Benefits: More transparency needed on payments to benefits advisers
The next year will be tough. But don't let it be tougher than it needs to be. When the financial director comes knocking on the door demanding budget cuts, benefits professionals must be prepared to show they have done everything they can to provide an effective employee benefits package at ...
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Article
Editor's comment
In these cash-strapped times, interest in voluntary benefits and salary sacrifice schemes is sure to gather pace among employers and employees.Voluntary benefits enable employers to provide a benefits scheme that costs little, but which will also hit a spot with staff because of the savings they can make through discounts ...
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Article
Reckitt Benckiser aims for global unity with share plan
Reckitt Benckiser is launching a three-year global stock profit plan designed to focus the efforts of staff in 42 countries behind the company's overall performance, rather then their own local business units.The plan, which excludes the UK and US and was last run three years ago, goes live in February ...
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Article
Cattles boosts take-up of sharesave with new plan
Financial services group Cattles has launched a new sharesave plan so employees can take advantage of any future rises in the company's share price.The company has achieved a take-up rate of 40% among the 3,500 eligible employees, which is the highest since launching its 1999 plan.Tracey Quiggin, HR reward manager, ...
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Analysis
How multinational pooling of insured risk benefits can deliver savings
Multinational pooling of insured risk benefits can bring savings for employers, but due diligence is essential to make sure all insurers in the network are financially stable, says Amanda WilkinsonMultinational pooling, the mechanism whereby employers are effectively offered a profit share in their expenditure on insured risk benefits across multiple ...
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Article
Amanda Wilkinson, editor of Employee Benefits: Value for money essential to tackle tough year
In normal circumstances, people are often glad of the fresh opportunities a new year brings. But as 2008 draws to an end and 2009 beckons, many may be wishing the new year was over before it has even begun. The year ahead promises to be tough, with the UK now ...
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Article
Amanda Wilkinson: Flex needs a place in employers' benefits packages
Flexible benefits is a concept that has been around for at least 10 years and many large organisations that are keen to be perceived as employers of choice have implemented the perk.However, such schemes, which enable employees to opt in or out of perks as they wish or take cash, ...