All Analysis articles – Page 63
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AnalysisWhat is the future shape of salary sacrifice car schemes?
If you read nothing else, read this…Fleet providers have begun to introduce electric cars under a salary sacrifice arrangement.Almost half (48%) of employers are considering introducing salary sacrifice.Policies can be put in place to prevent the salary sacrifice risks associated with maternity leave and long-term employee absence.In November 2013, fleet ...
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AnalysisTop benefits taken up through health cash plans
If you read nothing else, read this…Optical and dental remain the most popular benefits claimed through health cash plans.Physiotherapy and chiropractic care are growing in popularity.Shortfalls in National Health Service provision are helping to drive cash plan take-up. Medicash Healthcare is one health cash plan provider to have seen increased ...
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AnalysisInterview with Sally Purbrick, head of reward, Anglian Water
“The days have gone in Anglian Water when the traditional HR department was just seen as something that brings people into the organisation and pays them,” she says.“It’s about the value we can bring. Specifically, the reward area, and our strategies around linking personal performance to reward, pushes the reward ...
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AnalysisAre default investment funds fit for purpose?
If you read nothing else, read this…Employers must offer staff a default fund under auto-enrolment legislation.But the funds are, arguably, not fit for purpose because of their legacy issues and restrictive asset allocation.Regulatory guidance on default fund governance should help default funds to evolve.Pensions auto-enrolment has been dubbed one of ...
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AnalysisWhat should future default fund strategies look like?
If you read nothing else, read this…The default fund strategy of the future should be flexible enough to address employees’ diverse retirement income needs.Asset allocation should be more diverse and include illiquid assets, such as property.But employers must focus on employees’ retirement income, rather than investment returns.Flexibility should be at ...
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AnalysisTop tips for managing default fund strategies
If you read nothing else, read this…Employers should start by identifying their employees’ retirement needs.Employers have a duty of care to ensure employees are financially able to retire.This requires employee education and engagement.Workforce needsEmployers should start by identifying the retirement income needs of their workforce.Andy Dickson, investment director, UK institutional ...
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AnalysisHow should employers communicate default funds?
If you read nothing else, read this…Employers must be honest with staff about their savings goals.Employees need to understand how long they may need to work to afford their desired retirement lifestyle.Employers should remove all jargon from their communications.Simon Chinnery, head of UK defined contribution (DC) practice at JP Morgan, ...
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Analysis
Benefits to energise a workforce
If you read nothing else, read this…Well-considered health and wellbeing initiatives can boost employee performance.Team challenges, such as marathon running, can improve staff camaraderie.Healthy-eating workshops can help staff take responsibility for their own health. Logic dictates that healthier workers will also be more productive and motivated to put more discretionary ...
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AnalysisFlexible benefits schemes can help staff keep new year's resolutions
If you read nothing else, read this…The new year is a good time for employers to educate staff about the flexible benefits they offer. Financial wellbeing is a particular area of focus for many employees as they assess their Christmas spending.Successful flexible benefits schemes require good forward planning. Employers could ...
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AnalysisReview of the 2013 benefits landscape
If you read nothing else, read this…A number of employers have been focusing on consolidating their benefits packages in 2013.Pensions administration is expected to dominate large employers’ agendas in 2014.Many organisations continue to lack a cohesive communications strategy to explain the value of their benefits provision to staff.Consolidation of their ...
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AnalysisFacts and figures on pension schemes
What employers are doing around pensionsTesco pension deficit rose to £2.4 billion.Barbon Insurance took steps to boost pension saving.BMW consulted on DB pension closure.Siemens UK boosted pensions take-up to 98%.Read the digital edition of the Pensions supplement 2013
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Analysis
Winter driving tips to keep employees safe
If you read nothing else, read this…Employers have a duty of care to ensure employees are safe when driving for business.Training, such as seminars or online risk assessments, can help staff understand the risks of winter driving in darkness or bad weather.Employers should remind staff about the legalities of drinking ...
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Analysis
Contract-based pension scheme comparison table
The plans, set up by employers, include group personal pensions (GPPs), stakeholder schemes and self-invested personal pensions (Sipps), and vary in terms of, for example, contribution levels and investment limits.Read on to find out how each scheme rates. Group personal pension (GPP)StakeholderSelf-invested personal pension (Sipp)Definition:This is an arrangement made ...
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AnalysisHow much do staff need to contribute for a comfortable retirement?
If you read nothing else, read this…The minimum 8% contribution required under auto-enrolment legislation will provide employees with a decent income in retirement if they start saving at age 22.Employees should aim to contribute a percentage of salary equivalent to half their age when they begin contributing, or aim for ...
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AnalysisCurrent state of play for workplace pension charges
If you read nothing else, read this…The Department for Work and Pensions’ consultation on pension charges includes the introduction of a 0.75% cap on charges, a ban on active-member discounts and an extension of the ban on consultancy charging to include all DC pensions, rather than just auto-enrolment schemes.Charges should ...
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AnalysisHow do bespoke and off-the-shelf default investment strategies compare?
If you read nothing else, read this…Off-the-shelf default investment strategies are more common in contract-based defined contribution schemes.Off-the-shelf plans have less governance responsibilities for employers.Bespoke strategies give employers more flexibility in their investment management.The structure of a default strategy is determined by various factors, such as whether a pension scheme ...
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Analysis
Back to basics on balanced managed pension funds
If you read nothing else, read this…Balanced managed funds invest across a small range of asset classes.Transparency in financial services has led to many providers closing or rebranding their balanced managed funds.Balanced managed funds are gradually being replaced by the likes of diversified growth funds.Employers have, by and large, complied ...
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AnalysisTop five long-service awards for employees
The days of carriage clocks and gold watches as long-service awards are fast disappearing, replaced by gift vouchers and electrical goods as the top gift choices for loyal employees. If you read nothing else, read this… Long-service awards vary across different organisations. The most common long-service awards tend to be ...
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AnalysisKey healthcare benefits for an ageing workforce
If you read nothing else, read this…Older workers may be healthier than their younger peers.But employers should be mindful of any specific health issues.Training and development can help to optimise cognitive abilities.Lamb believes the offer of companionship from a neighbour could go as far as to give an elderly person ...
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AnalysisThe challenges of auto-enrolling weekly-paid employees
If you read nothing else, read this…Weekly-paid employees’ eligibility for auto-enrolment is prone to change frequently because of their fluctuating pay.Employers’ payroll teams face increased workloads because of this fluctuation.HR and pensions teams need to support payroll providers to manage the workload.There have, of course, been challenges, not least of ...