All Analysis articles – Page 85
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Analysis
Mergers & Acquisitions: Sponsor's comment: Reward teams help seal the deal
HR has an essential role to play in a deal’s success, says Steve Allan, M&A practice leader for EMEA at Towers WatsonAs the economic recovery continues, merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is a significant route to growth for many organisations. The Towers Watson Quarterly Performance Deal Monitor, in conjunction with ...
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Analysis
Mergers & Acquisitions: Total reward aids integration
If you read nothing else, read this…Highlighting employees’ pay and benefits package can help to bring a new organisation together.A reward audit should be the first stage of the harmonisation process.A flexible benefits scheme can help to harmonise provision, but replicating previous packages may still be tricky.A total reward strategy ...
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Analysis
Mergers & Acquisitions: Pay restructuring may be needed
If you read nothing else, read this…Inheriting another organisation’s pay and salary levels can throw up a number of challenges for employers.Where two different pay scales exist, employers may need to start from scratch, creating new job titles and descriptions.Employee benefits must also be taken into account, because these may ...
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Analysis
Mergers & Acquisitions: The DC pension choices
If you read nothing else, read this...There is no single right answer on what do about DC pensions provision following a merger or acquisition.Some employers will launch a brand new scheme for all staff, others will extend existing plan and others will do nothing.Employers must consider factors such contribution levels ...
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Analysis
Mergers & Acquisitions: Due diligence is vital
If you read nothing else, read this...De-risk the pension scheme(s) the less risk and lower liabilities, the better.Check contracts. Are there any difficult commitments lurking?Check the rules on benefits will the sale trigger any difficult payments, such as stock option payouts?Communicate. Employees need to know you are preparing for a ...
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Analysis
Preparing for the costs of 2012 pension reforms
If you read nothing else, read this... Minimum employer contributions and auto-enrolment, if it results in increased pension scheme take-up, could lead to a rise in pension costs for employers when the 2012 reforms come into effect. There are a number of actions employers could consider to manage these increased ...
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Analysis
Mergers & Acquisitions Supplement 2011
Download a PDF of the Mergers & Acquisitions supplementDue diligence is vitalPay restructuring may be neededThe DC pension choicesDB pension liabilitiesTotal reward aids integrationSponsor’s comment: Reward teams help seal the dealEditor’s CommentA merger or acquisition poses many challenges for employers. Alongside the logistical issues thrown up by the gargantuan task ...
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Analysis
How incentives help reduce sickness absence
If you read nothing else, read this… Cash-based incentives or rewards can be offered to encourage attendance and discourage unnecessary absence. However, positive results may not address the underlying cause of high sickness absence rates. Recording sickness absence data is essential in order to understand how incentives can be effective. ...
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Analysis
Pensions governance supplement
Download a PDF of the Pensions governance supplementSponsor’s comment: Be ready for pension changesWhich adviser are you going to call?Contribution levels must be rightTechnology can handle auto-enrolmentNew names for managed funds
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Analysis
Pensions governance: New names for managed funds
If you read nothing else, read this... The Association of British Insurers has changed the names of its managed fund sectors so pension scheme members will better understand the levels of risk associated with their fund choices. Clear descriptions of fund choices will become even more important when employers are ...
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Analysis
Total reward strategy gives the full picture
If you read nothing else, read this... Total reward has traditionally been divided into four categories: pay, benefits, learning and development, and working environment. It takes account of the fact that no two employees are seeking the same thing from their employment proposition. Total reward will see a resurgence as ...
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Analysis
Quintiles ensures workforce is fit for purpose
Case study: Getting fit and saving money at QuintilesMinna Sheehan, territory manager for the Nicorette team with Johnson and Johnson at Quintiles, has worked for the organisation for 13 months. Her job involves visiting GPs, nurses and smoking cessation services to talk about the range of products and to organise ...
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Analysis
Micro-motivation can inspire employees
If you read nothing else, read this… Micro-motivation is a way of ensuring each employee’s motivation levels are targeted in a manner that is specific to that individual. The employer must understand what drives individuals rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Achieving micro-motivation in an organisation often comes ...
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Analysis
Corporate Isas prove popular
If you read nothing else, read this... A corporate Isa may not be as competitive as the high-street version, but offering it through a workplace portal and a payroll-deduction scheme makes it attractive for employees. The ability of a corporate benefits platform to put an Isa into the context of ...
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Analysis
Pensions governance: Contribution levels must be right
If you read nothing else, read this... The average employer contribution to a defined contribution pension scheme is 8%. Most DC schemes now offer matched contributions and this trend is likely to increase. Most employers are not expected to level down contributions for existing employees as a result of the ...
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Analysis
Pensions governance: Sponsor's comment: Be ready for pension changes
The changing landscape for workplace pensions makes good governance more important than ever, says Simon Fletcher, client relationship director at Johnson FlemingIn 2012 we will see the introduction of two of the most significant changes to workplace pensions ever to occur in the UK. The first – pensions reform – ...
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Analysis
How to boost small pension pots
If you read nothing else, read this... People who accrue total benefits of less than £18,000 in registered pension plans can take the fund as a lump-sum commutation if they are aged 60-75 and their pension funds' total value does not exceed £18,000. However, there are complications around this practice, ...
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Analysis
The big squeeze on benefits
If you read nothing else, read this… Rising inflation can pose challenges for reward and benefits professionals because it pushes up costs. Average earnings growth stood at 2.2% in February this year. Rising inflation will affect pensions, with final salary schemes being the hardest hit. Employers can take a number ...
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Analysis
Debbie Lovewell, deputy editor of Employee Benefits: Battle goes on to get the best value from benefits
Although the country has been out of recession for a couple of years now, employers are still facing a number of challenges posed by the economic climate. In particular, budgeting for benefits in a stagnant economy can cause headaches for benefits professionals as they try to strike a balance between ...
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Analysis
Striking a balance with international healthcare
If you read nothing else, read this... Expatriate healthcare policies typically differ from local policies in the level of cover they provide and the inclusion of repatriation services. A third category, the locally hired foreigner coverage, is now emerging in China. To manage the differences between categories, employers should ensure ...