All Analysis articles – Page 2
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AnalysisAddressing the gender health gap
The gender health gap describes disparities in healthcare access and care outcomes based on gender.Data and survey feedback can determine if an organisation has a gender health gap.Investing in diverse, inclusive and equitable health support can go some way to addressing a gender health gap.The gender health gap refers to ...
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AnalysisAre employers’ eldercare plans meeting staff needs?
This year’s introduction of statutory carer’s leave highlights the needs of employees with caring responsibilities. But while a week’s unpaid leave will help, a wide range of eldercare benefits are now available for employers wanting to do more.
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AnalysisHow to boost the popularity of employee share schemes
Credit: Shutterstock/ YesPhotographersNeed to know:Employee share schemes can help organisations attract, retain and motivate staff.But these are not always as valued as they could be by employees.Effective communication is essential, including video, apps and presentations.In March this year, 9,200 Marks and Spencer staff who had been paying into a share ...
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AnalysisHow to use major sporting events to engage and motivate staff
Credit: Delpixel / Shutterstock.com Employers should consider what sporting events would most engage their employees and plan initiatives around these. Workplace activities can boost camaraderie and, ultimately, engagement. Any initiatives should be as inclusive as possible for all employees, as well as voluntary. In its ...
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AnalysisHow to design a company car scheme to suit today's workforces
Credit: PanuShot-shutterstockNeed to know:Hybrid and remote working have changed the need, and expectation, to drive to work five days a week for many employees.Yet access to a company car, especially an electric vehicle through salary sacrifice, remains popular.Company car schemes are still an important recruitment and retention tool, but need ...
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AnalysisBuyer’s guide to corporate eyecare
Credit: Shutterstock/Yury-Nikolaev.What are corporate eyecare schemes?Looking after employees’ eye health delivers several benefits to employers. As well as helping meet their duty-of-care requirements, offering employees a regular eye examination can be part of the overall health and wellbeing strategy.Problems with eyesight can cause headaches and eye strain and an optician ...
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AnalysisHow effective is strike action in pay and benefits disputes?
Employees often take strike action over issues such as pay, health and safety, pensions, benefits, changes to terms and conditions, and union recognition. The UK has strict laws regarding strike action and it cannot take place if certain requirements have not been met. Employers should consider ...
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AnalysisHow can employers support employee wellbeing in the summer months?
Frequently checking in on employees’ wellbeing in summer months can help highlight issues and allow for adjustments.Employers should raise awareness of sun safety, the importance of hydration and proper ventilation.Flexible working hours in warmer weather can improve wellbeing by offering time for physical activities, helping with childcare and supporting sleep ...
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AnalysisEducating staff about at-retirement choices
Credit: Andrii-Yalanskyi/ShutterstockNeed to know:Employees nearing retirement need to know if they can retire and what their options are.Employers can direct them to support from providers, send out newsmails or facilitate access to qualified financial advisers.It is important for employers not to be seen to be pushing people towards retirement or ...
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AnalysisHow can employers effectively deliver financial wellbeing support to a dispersed workforce?
Need to know:Financial wellbeing support must be accessible to all employees on demand regardless of their working location.Finding out what is needed can help shape support to a dispersed workforce.Support and communications that are useful to the majority of employees can avoid exclusion.In its State of financial wellbeing index 2024 ...
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AnalysisDoes a green benefits strategy motivate employees?
Green benefits can include bikes-for-work schemes, discounts on solar panels and rewards for using energy saving items.Employers can create a green agenda to motivate employees to choose more sustainable consumer options.Highlighting green benefits choices as part of an employee value proposition can increase attraction and retention.Research by The Electric Car ...
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AnalysisHow can employers nudge staff into saving more into their pensions?
Credit: Stephen Barnes/ShutterstockNeed to know:Employers should seek to understand the competing priorities that might stop individuals saving for retirement.Inertia is a powerful tool: enrol people at a higher rate and most will not choose to opt-out.There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to communications, which should be highly personalised.It is ...
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AnalysisPodcast: Why eye health should be at the centre of employee wellbeing
Credit: udra11 / Shutterstock In this episode of the Employee Benefits podcast, in association with Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, discusses the importance of focusing on eye health in workplace wellbeing strategies. During the discussion with Employee Benefits’ editor Debbie Lovewell-Tuck, Giles ...
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AnalysisAre we moving away from paternalism in employee benefits?
Credit: tomertu/ShutterstockNeed to know:Benefits strategies have evolved because of influences including employee expectation, cost and the pandemic.Flexible benefits, voluntary benefits, and allowances or pots offer the potential for greater personalisation.A robust communications programme delivering frequent messaging in different formats helps employees know what is available, increasing the value of the ...
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AnalysisHow to design a flexible benefits scheme for today’s workforce
Employers should communicate with employees to understand what they need from a flexible benefits package.Benefits that are offered as part of a flex scheme need to add value.As employees’ needs can change throughout the year, more frequent benefits enrolment windows can provide greater flexibility and choice.Following the impact of recent ...
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AnalysisHas hybrid working affected the way chronic conditions are treated?
Credit: Fida Olga/Shutterstock Need to know: The pandemic has greatly increased employers’ focus on chronic conditions. Listening to chronic condition sufferers is key. Group income protection has an important role to play. It is unclear whether chronic health conditions as a whole increased directly due ...
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AnalysisWhat can employers offer to improve employees’ fitness journeys?
Fitness benefits include discounted or subsidised membership to gyms, health clubs and studios partnerships, providing an annual employee fitness and wellbeing budget and on-site exercise classes.Employers should provide equal access to benefits for all employees, regardless of their work locations.By listening to employees and providing options based on needs and ...
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AnalysisWhat should employers look for in a default investment strategy?
Credit: Shutterstock/Olivier-Le-MoalNeed to know:Lifestyling is the optimal solution for defined contribution default strategies.A big trend is to introduce investment in private equity into default funds for young members, to drive returns.The new reporting regime for pension schemes to disclose their investment allocations to UK markets is flawed.Most defined contribution pension ...
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AnalysisFiscal drag: how can employers offset the challenges of a difficult economy?
The frozen tax thresholds could see some employees ‘dragged’ into paying more tax and have less disposable income as a result.Employers should ask employees about their financial pressures to understand how to support them.A salary sacrifice arrangement can support employees who are dealing with the impact of fiscal drag.In his ...
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AnalysisHow to strike a balance between managing staff wellbeing and financial pressures
Credit: Andrey_Popov/ShutterstockNeed to know:The cost-of-living crisis is forcing more employees to take on additional work due to financial pressures, raising concerns around burnout.Pay strategies such as targeted pay increases, performance-related bonuses and earned wage access can help.Employers need to ensure there is a culture where people can discuss financial concerns.With ...