All Analysis articles – Page 3
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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 ...
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AnalysisWhat will new guidance mean for menopause support in the workplace?
New guidance offers advice on reasonable adjustments employers can make, but these will vary depending on an employees’ role and an employer’s sector. Employers should adapt their policies according to the guidance to promote fairness and inclusivity in the workplace. It also highlights how to encourage ...
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AnalysisWhat does a benefits package for seasonal workers look like?
Credit: branislavpudar/shutterstockNeed to know:A strong onboarding and induction programme will help seasonal workers understand their benefits package and feel valued.Benefits should be tailored to the sector and the type of seasonal worker the organisation wants to attract.Introducing seasonal workers to permanent employees and including them in recognition schemes and social ...
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AnalysisCan technology help to offer a unified global benefits proposition?
Credit: metamorworks/shutterstock Cloud-based platforms can enable employees across the globe to access benefits through a unified proposition. Availability of benefits will differ between countries. Employers should ensure that their benefits technology and chosen provider are able to support varying needs in multiple countries. Benefex’s Evolution ...
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AnalysisWhat will the proposed fit note reforms mean for employers?
The government reforms will trial fit note process changes in order to improve triage and signposting. Making it easier to get a fit note will enable employers to help staff get assistance in a shorter amount of time, and potentially return to work faster. The reforms ...
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AnalysisDo employers have a role to play in overcoming the UK childcare crisis?
Employers can offer onsite nurseries, workplace nursery schemes, and subsidised and emergency care provisions to help with childcare.There are a variety of different flexible working options that employers could offer those who are struggling.Support for working parents can help with attraction, retention, skills shortages and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.The ...
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AnalysisHow to keep employees happy on minimum pay rates
Credit: M2K7/ShutterstockNeed to know:When budgets are under pressure, organisations need to strike the right balance between pay, benefits and other factors such as working conditions and wellbeing.Benefits such as discount schemes, health cash plans and financial education can help employees make their money go further.Communication is key, helping organisations understand ...
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AnalysisWhat do employers need to know about the pensions lifetime allowance abolition?
Credit: Natata/Shutterstock Need to know: The abolition of the pensions lifetime allowance in April will require an overhaul of employee communications, and a revaluation of pension scheme design and administration, including opportunities to simplify the scheme and reduce the cost of running it. Employers will need ...
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AnalysisHow to introduce an employee recognition scheme
Initially, employers should identify what they want a recognition scheme to achieve.Employers can offer employees public verbal recognition, awards, bonuses, vouchers, stipends and spending accounts.Understanding employees’ preferences and needs, as well as the demographics of a workforce, can help with scheme engagement.Gallup’s September 2023 Empowering workplace culture through recognition study, ...
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AnalysisBuyer’s guide to fertility benefits
Credit: bezikus/ShutterstockWhat are fertility benefits?Fertility benefits are wide-ranging and include comprehensive support and treatment for individuals. The benefits cover the key areas of medicines, procedures and assisted conception, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Employers use the services of providers to offer fertility and parenthood-planning care ...