All Analysis articles – Page 100
-
Analysis
Health & Wellbeing: How to rein back private medical insurance costs
Private medical insurance is a highly-valued perk, but escalating costs are forcing employers to find ways to pare down their premiums, says Sally HamiltonWith the cost of a company-paid PMI policy averaging £768 per employee in 2008 - 7.7% higher than a year earlier, according to Laing & Buisson’s Health ...
-
Analysis
High-earner tax changes will affect reward for all
Chancellor Alistair Darling's tax changes for high earners are likely to have far-reaching consequences for employee reward at all levels, says Tom WashingtonHas there ever been a time when reward has stirred such emotion and been so newsworthy as it is now? Whether it is public anger over bloated bonuses ...
-
Analysis
Are employers' reward packages ready for the economic upturn?
As the green shoots of economic recovery begin to appear, employers need to assess the effectiveness of their reward packages, says Jenny KeefeEconomic recovery may be a long, painful journey, but employers need to plan now for when better times return. Benefits are crucial to an employer's desirability in a ...
-
Analysis
How employers should use pre-paid cards to motivate staff
Pre-paid cards are an increasingly popular alternative to vouchers, but employers should be clear about how to use them, says Victoria FurnessCash is no longer king in today’s society. Cards overtook cash payments for the first time back in 2005 and Peter Ayliffe, chief executive of Visa Europe, has gone ...
-
Analysis
New trends for DC pension default funds
Most defined contribution pension members use schemes' default funds, but investment trends are changing, says Matthew CraigIf you read nothing else, read this...Some 82% of defined contribution members do not actively decide where to invest.Their contributions go into a default fund, which generally aims for positive returns without excessive risk-taking. ...
-
Analysis
Keep mileage claims under control
Making sure employees' mileage claims are accurate can keep employers' fuel costs under control, says Nic PatonIf you read nothing else, read this...Mileage capture schemes can reduce fraudulent claims and help with HM Revenue and Customs compliance.Recognise that not all mistakes will be down to fraud.Employers should spend time communicating ...
-
Analysis
A strategy to avoid long-term staff absences
Employers need a clear strategy to deal with employee absence caused by long-term conditions, says Sally HamiltonIf you read nothing else, read this…Employers should get in touch with long-term absentees sooner rather than later.Employers could consider work-focused healthcare, involve staff when devising a return-to-work plan and consider a phased return, ...
-
Analysis
Reward for temporary staff
How should temporary staff be treated when it comes to reward? Victoria Furness looks at the moral and legal considerationsThe UK is recognised as having one of the most flexible labour markets in Europe, which many business leaders attribute to the large proportion of temporary workers in the country.The government ...
-
Analysis
Group risk providers are offering improved products
Competitive group risk providers are offering an increasing range of free add-on services and products to their core cover plans, says Sam BarrettGroup risk benefits are designed to pay out an agreed amount of money in the event of a claim made if an employee is unable to work. But, ...
-
Analysis
How staff bonus schemes can be successful in a recession
All-employee bonus schemes can work well in a recession, helping staff to identify with company performance and objectives, says Peta HodgeSummary:All-employee bonus schemes can help manage the pay bill in a recessionThey help staff identify with the business's overall performance and so are a useful communication toolProfit-sharing feels equable and ...
-
Analysis
Flexible benefits can save costs and motivate staff in a downturn
Flexible benefits come into their own in times of economic struggle, as they can save costs and motivate staff, but employers should concentrate on quality rather than quantity, says Alison ColemanIf you read nothing else, read this...Flexible benefits plans need monitored and managed objectives, irrespective of the economic conditions. This ...
-
Analysis
Carrying out stress audits for staff wellbeing
Stress in the workplace can have serious consequences for an employer. An employee audit can reveal any problems, but the solutions need not be expensive, says Sally HamiltonIf you read nothing else, read this...Stress audits must have senior management backing.Employers could consider a DIY audit using the Health and Safety ...
-
Analysis
Corporate wrap products are taking shape
Corporate wrap, an integrated financial planning platform for employees, is taking shape as a proposition for employers, but the concept has its doubters, says John GreenwoodIf you read nothing else, read this...Corporate wrap is not yet available, but is likely to be in the next 12 months.Staff will be offered ...
-
Analysis
Restructuring pay and benefits in the recession
The recession has forced many employers to rethink, and sometimes restructure, their pay and benefits arrangements, says Tom WashingtonIt may be a tough time for reward, but never has there been a better opportunity for the function to prove its worth. To produce results within tight parameters, reward professionals must ...
-
Analysis
Protecting expatriate pay value as exchange rates fluctuate
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates can reduce the value of expatriate employees’ pay so what steps can employers take to protect them - and should they? Debbie Lovewell reportsIf you read nothing else, read this…- Exchange rate fluctuations have seen the pound fall against other major currencies, such as the ...
-
Analysis
Engaging male staff in wellbeing perks
Men can be reluctant to take health issues seriously, and employers may need to make a special effort to get them interested in wellbeing benefits and initiatives, says Nicola SullivanIf you read nothing else, read this…- Men are almost three times as likely as women to die while they are ...
-
Analysis
How to cut down on sickness absence
Sickness absence can be extremely costly to an organisation and a management strategy depends on using the right benefits, says Peta HodgeThe role of employee benefits in reducing sickness absence and getting staff back to work is going through a period of reappraisal. This is illustrated by the fact that ...
-
Analysis
Do Sipps spell an end for GPPs?
Self-invested personal pensions are putting the popularity of GPPs under pressure as employers and employees seek greater flexibility in their investment options, says Tom WashingtonIf you read nothing else, read this…- Group personal pensions (GPPs) are a contract-based defined contribution occupational pension vehicle.- Their popularity was threatened in 2001 with ...
-
Analysis
Cutting fleet costs while matching employee needs
Employers are looking at various ways to cut car costs during the recession, including mixing fleet funding methods to better match arrangements to individual employees' need, says Nicola SullivanIf you read nothing else, read this...- Employers that adopt a mixed-fleet approach, rather than a one-size-fits-all method, may be able to ...
-
Analysis
Benefits surgery: Company cars and salary sacrifice
We are considering implementing a salary sacrifice arrangement for our company cars. How would this work?We are seeing a significant amount of interest in salary sacrifice arrangements for cars. The interest may come from the view that there is a possibility of introducing this benefit at no cost to the ...