All Analysis articles – Page 79

  • Analysis

    The Hot 100 Benefits Managers

    2012-02-06T00:00:00Z

    Download a PDF of the Hot 100 benefits managers supplement 2012 View our 100 top benefits managers online listed by surname:Hot 100: A-FHot 100: G-LHot 100: M-SHot 100: T-Z Editor’s commentThis month, Employee Benefits magazine celebrates the 15th anniversary of our launch. Back in February 1997, our first ...

  • Analysis

    Health cash plans: Using cash plans to reduce PMI costs

    2012-02-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read this…Employers are looking to combat the rising cost of private medical insurance (PMI) by introducing an excess. An excess of £100 can secure a premium saving of 7% to 10%.A common trend is to plug the PMI excess gap for employees by introducing a ...

  • Analysis

    Health cash plans: What are the key elements of a health cash plan?

    2012-02-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read this… A health cash plan reimburses members for the full or partial cost of health services such as dental, optical, physiotherapy and employee assistance programmes. In the past, cash plans were paid for by the employee, but there is a growing trend for employers ...

  • Analysis

    Health cash plans: How to select the right plan for staff

    2012-02-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read this… Health screenings, online risk assessments and medical questionnaires are first-step options to determine employees’ health profiles before introducing a health cash plan. Including relevant and valued health benefits in the cash plan will boost staff engagement and ensure a higher return on investment. ...

  • Analysis

    Health cash plans: Offering eyecare benefits through health cash plans

    2012-02-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read this… By law, employers must pay for eye tests and glasses for employees who use visual display units (VDU). Of those with an eyecare policy in place, most reimburse through expenses or issue eyecare vouchers. To meet their duty of care, employers can choose ...

  • Analysis

    International reward: Wellbeing strategy needs local input

    2012-01-03T10:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this …Nearly one-third (32%) of multinationals have a global wellbeing strategy and 47% plan to launch one in the next two years, according to a 2011 Towers Watson survey.Such strategies can improve productivity, reduce healthcare costs and bring consistency to communicating health.Employers should research ...

  • Analysis

    International reward: Take a look at offshore pension schemes

    2012-01-03T09:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this …Employers offer international pension plans (IPPs) to ensure they properly and competitively compensate employees for living outside of their home country.An employer needs to find a suitable offshore jurisdiction on which to base its IPP, understand the tax implications of the scheme, decide ...

  • Analysis

    International reward: Global viewpoint needs local focus

    2012-01-03T09:00:00Z

    Caroline Jowett-Ive, group vice-president reward at Travelport, tells Debbie Lovewell about the diverse challenges of providing cost-effective international benefitsManaging benefits internationally can be a challenging task, particularly in the current economic climate where organisations have to balance the need to control costs with the growing globalisation of business.Not surprisingly, cost ...

  • Analysis

    Time to show staff the value of pensions

    2012-01-03T00:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this ...Even though employers will be required to auto-enrol staff into a pension scheme under the 2012 reforms, this will not mean staff will automatically engage with it.This may affect decisions about employer contribution levels and whether to pay above the minimum.Communicating the positive ...

  • Analysis

    Employer profile: John Lewis Partnership

    2012-01-03T00:00:00Z

    Case study: Sporting challenge is a winner at John Lewis?Chris Husbands is a fitness adviser in the sports department at the Oxford Street branch of John Lewis.Specialising in large fitness equipment, he is part of a team of four who advise customers on fitness and explain how to get the ...

  • Analysis

    Make the most of bikes-for-work schemes

    2012-01-03T00:00:00Z

    If you read thing else, read this…Bikes-for-work plans have tax and national insurance efficiencies, but take-up can vary between 2% to 20%.Employers can make a scheme more appealing by introducing measures that make it easier to cycle to work, such as bike-parking facilities and onsite showers.Promoting it alongside wider initiatives, ...

  • Analysis

    Olympics can kick-start new benefits

    2012-01-03T00:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this:Employers can motivate and engage employees by aligning benefits and reward strategies with London 2012.They can implement a business plan that allows staff to take holiday or work flexibly.Putting in an office TV or allowing staff to stream events live on their computers is ...

  • Analysis

    News analysis: New year rings in legislative changes

    2012-01-03T00:00:00Z

    Pensions, healthcare and group risk benefits will be affected significantly by a raft of legislative developments this year, says Nicola SullivanSeveral legislative developments affecting employers’ reward packages will hit the headlines in 2012. These relate to six key areas covering pensions, healthcare and group risk benefits.First up is the retail ...

  • Analysis

    How many staff will opt out after pensions auto-enrolment?

    2012-01-03T00:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this ...Every employer must be ready for auto-enrolment, so start planning early. What is the corporate strategy? They should work out how much they want to achieve and can afford.Know the workforce – segment them and consider how they may react. The closer to ...

  • Analysis

    International reward: Tax-efficient benefits across Europe

    2012-01-03T00:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this …Understanding local regulations and culture is key to knowing which employee benefits can be offered in the most tax-efficient way and be of most value to staff.Multinational organisations often find sharesave schemes work well as a tax-efficient benefit across Europe.Economic uncertainty across Europe ...

  • Analysis

    New model emerges for private medical insurance

    2012-01-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read this ...Many conditions that used to require inpatient stays now only require day-case or outpatient treatment.Some experts see insurers providing company-paid cover for outpatient and day-case treatment, but inpatient cover as an employee-paid option.No PMI insurers formally offer this yet, but Cigna HealthCare has ...

  • Analysis

    Sickness absence review: industry reactions

    2012-01-01T00:00:01Z

    Will the recommendations from the government’s review of sickness absence management help to reduce the problem? Alison Coleman asks key industry figures for their viewsWith 140 million working days lost in the UK every year, sickness absence is almost a disease in itself and managing it is one of the ...

  • Analysis

    Employee Benefits/Xexec voluntary plans and tax-efficient benefits supplement 2011

    2011-11-28T12:00:00Z

    Download a PDF of the Employee Benefits/Xexec voluntary plans and tax-efficient benefits supplement 2011 Voluntary benefits: Top of the perksVoluntary benefits: Give workers what they really wantVoluntary benefits: Savings are worth the sacrificeVoluntary benefits: VAT ruling is a taxing matter Read more articles on voluntary benefits

  • Analysis

    Rewarding staff when inflation is high

    2011-11-28T00:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this…The lag between pay rises and inflation in the UK could have serious consequences for employers that want to remain competitive and reward performance.Employers should be clear about how reward aligns with business strategy.Financial education services and employee assistance programmes (EAPs) can help employers ...

  • Analysis

    When employers should use social media

    2011-11-28T00:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this…Social media can help employees understand the value of benefits.Establishing a social media strategy is vital to engage staff appropriately.Social media should not be used as a platform to address individual or personal queries.Before embarking on a strategy, employers must ensure they are committed ...