All Analysis articles – Page 118
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Analysis
Employers are re-examining their eco-friendly stance
A growing awareness of environmental issues is prompting employers to re-examine their eco stance with perks playing a key role, says Debbie LovewellMillions of people around the world are due to come together later this year to watch a series of concerts featuring acts such as Bon Jovi, the Red ...
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Analysis
Employers should ensure occupational drivers are fully sight tested
Regulations force employers to provide eye tests for VDU users but there are still woeful shortcomings in checking the sight of occupational drivers, says Amanda WilkinsonEmployers may think they have all their legal obligations covered when it comes to optical care by providing eye tests to staff who habitually use ...
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Analysis
Providers are designing products to suit SMEs
The small and medium-sized market is seen as rich pickings by providers which are designing products to suit firms' needs and pockets, says Nick GoldingHistorically, the main areas of the benefits playground were open primarily to the heavyweights - larger employers that had the spending power to afford whichever perks ...
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Analysis
Papering over the cracks in DB plans
As the costs of final salary pension schemes rise due to new regulations and increasing life expectancy, many organisations are taking steps to reduce their exposure, Ceri Jones reportsThe government’s decision to protect members of final salary pension schemes by introducing the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and tough scheme specific ...
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Analysis
Product in focus - Dental care
The state of NHS dentistry means dental perks are often seen as a major tonic by workers, and with a wide range of products on offer employers are bound to find one to suit, says Kate DonovanDental insurance reimburses policyholders for some of the cost of maintaining good oral health. ...
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Analysis
A buyer's guide to income protection
Insurers are looking to new product designs and additional benefits to help boost the group income protection market, says Sam BarrettAfter market penetration figures stalled at around 11% in the 1990s, group income protection insurers have been looking for ways to stimulate demand and respond to changes in the employment ...
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Analysis
Employer profile: The British Library
The British Library’s primarily public-funded status poses challenges over pay, so with staff generally looking for a better employment deal it has turned its attention to employee benefits, says Vicki TaylorThe British Library is a unique organisation that receives and files a copy of every item published in the UK, ...
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Analysis
Are the days of using fixed-term contracts to drive down benefits bills numbered?
The use of fixed-term contracts as a perks-busting measure seems to be on the wane, as new laws and different attitudes take hold, says Nic PatonThe days when employers used fixed-term contracts as a way of driving down their benefits bill appear to be, if not completely eradicated, certainly numbered.The ...
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Analysis
Outsourcing payroll continues to appeal
The demands of IT and legal issues can make payroll outsourcing attractive, says Kirstie RedfordFor many businesses, the payroll function is essentially seen as an overhead which provides little hard financial return. To combat this, many firms are now choosing to outsource the task. In fact, just over a third ...
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Analysis
Alternatively secured pensions, an alternative to annuities?
Alternatively secured pensions enjoyed a brief period of popularity as a different option to annuities, before the government limited the way they can be used by imposing high tax charges, says Nick GoldingUK employees slogging away to build up their pension pots through an occupational scheme raised a small smile ...
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Analysis
Employers stuck in the middle with age legislation
All employers are aware of the new age discrimination legislation, and many have been reviewing their policies in respect of pensions, redundancy, recruitment, training and promotion, says Martha How, head of reward at Hewitt Associates. But there are also some subtler issues that employers are addressing - among these are ...
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Analysis
Tax and insurance advice for expats
Overseas postings can cause a lot of upheaval for staff, so they will appreciate good advice to help deal with issues such as tax and insurance, and make the transition smoother, says Alison ColemanMany years ago, long-term overseas assignments were few and far between, but as international operations have become ...
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Analysis
Wellbeing and leisure accounts are new additions to flex
Learning, wellbeing and leisure accounts are one of the newer additions to flexible benefits plans, but the concept is still developing, says Kate DonovanFlower arranging, driving lessons, language skills and acupuncture may not be activities that immediately spring to the top of the list of those that employers are willing ...
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Analysis
Staff should be educated about DC scheme investment options
There is a myriad of fund choices for staff in DC pensions but do they have the skills to judge them? Sally Hamilton investigatesOne of the most dramatic differences between a defined contribution (DC) pension and a defined benefit scheme is that in a DC plan the members ultimately take ...
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Analysis
PMI president-elect talks about challenges of pensions flux
President-elect of the Pensions Management Institute (PMI), Steve Delo, will be soon be leading the way in educating and guiding an industry that must contend with, what he calls a "mish-mash" of pension arrangements.Having worked in the pensions field since graduating from university in 1989, Delo is aware of the ...
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Analysis
Learn about retirement lessons - Sponsors comment
This article is brought to you by JPMorgan INVESTJPMorgan INVEST, part of the JPMorgan Asset Management group of companies, is a leading specialist provider of financial education in the workplace. David Cassidy, chief executive officer, JPMorgan INVEST commentsOn reflection it seems incredible, but the provision of occupational pensions are not ...
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Analysis
Reward management is a long-term proposition
In judging this year's Employee Benefits Awards there were once again some fantastic examples of highly-creative reward packages. Reward brands involving extensive employee communications are clearly in vogue and illustrate the increasing influence of marketing advisers on reward management.But just how representative are the leading organisations of UK plc as ...
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Analysis
Monitoring health
A vital sign that HR careMonitoring staff health can play a major role in illness prevention and should be a key constituent of any wellness strategyAny good health and wellbeing strategy should include measures for monitoring and assessing staff to identify and prevent potential illnesses before they turn into long-term ...
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Analysis
Sipps find their place in the market
Self-invested personal pensions have faced a boom in growth as individuals look to take charge of their own investments, but the offering might not be right for all employees, says Ceri JonesIf you read nothing else read this...Sipps have taken off as charges have fallen back in line with group ...
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Analysis
Make the most of failing motivation schemes
Kate Donovan questions how organisations can rectify or restructure failing motivation schemesArticle in fullPoorly-thought out gifts may not always be received with the enthusiasm the giver hoped for. Similarly, in the workplace, motivation schemes that have not been properly thought through can backfire even if implemented with the best intentions. ...