All Analysis articles – Page 97
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Analysis
Offering employee benefits to families of staff boosts employee engagement
Benefits for employees’ dependants are under pressure, but their contribution to staff engagement is clear, says Sam BarrettExtending benefits to family members has a long tradition, going back to the days when the likes of Cadbury provided employees and their families with housing, education, healthcare and sports facilities. Today, although ...
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Analysis
Financial education: Interview with Andrew Pendleton of York University
Financial education may not boost benefits take-up, but it can improve employees’ work performance, says York University’s Andrew Pendleton. Jenny Keefe reportsBritain might have finally staggered out of recession, but employees still need to repair the damage it has caused to their bank accounts. Andrew Pendleton, professor of human resource ...
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Analysis
Financial education: Be sure to hit your target audience among employees
Making financial education relevant to each employee that receives it is the key to maximising staff awareness and take-up of benefits, says Peta HodgeFinancial illiteracy fuelled the demand for sub-prime mortgage products, led to high personal debts and, ultimately, contributed to the collapse of financial institutions across the world.That was ...
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Analysis
Special report 2010: Financial education
Interview with Andrew Pendleton of York UniversityBe sure to hit your target audience among employeesHow to build a business caseLikely effects of the retail distribution reviewSponsor’s comment: Wide strategy needed to get the financial message across
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Analysis
Thought leaders 2010: The year ahead: Promoting a healthy attitude to sickness
Key PointsSickness absence is linked to the underlying culture of an organisation and its managers. A poor culture leads to high absence ratesOrganisations need to be able to do more with less, which requires a fit, productive workforceTo combat absence, employers need clear policies, current information, training for managers and ...
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Analysis
Thought leaders 2010: The year ahead: Green incentives spark economy drive
Key pointsThe recession has led employers to scrutinise their company car and business costsMany are focusing on corporate social responsibility and therefore on greener fleetsThe tax regime around low-emission cars is causing employers to rethink which cars they offer and how they do soIt is worth putting company cars into ...
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Analysis
Using incentivisation compensation management (ICM) tools to improve sales performance
Incentivisation compensation management software will reveal the best sales staff, says Nicola SullivanAs UK organisations, still stinging from the effects of the recession, become more focused on the governance and transparency of their reward packages, many are following their US counterparts and working more closely with sales directors to manage ...
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Analysis
Holidays as an employee benefit
If you read nothing else, read this…. Extra holiday can be offered instead of a pay rise or to reward performance in place of a bonus. Offering more time off can boost morale. Holiday trading can be included in flexible benefits schemes to raise employees’ allowance at no extra cost ...
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Analysis
News Analysis: The impending replacement of sick notes with fit notes
With the arrival of fit notes to replace sick notes in April, employers will have to rethink their arrangements for dealing with staff absence, says Ben JonesA major change in the way sickness absence is handled comes into force on 6 April. From that date, fit notes will replace doctors' ...
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Analysis
Why group self invested personal pensions (Sipps) are becoming popular in the workplace
Group self-invested personal pensions are gaining popularity in the workplace because they have something extra to offer, says Matthew CraigSelf-invested personal pensions (Sipps) have sometimes been seen as expensive, bespoke plans for affluent individuals, but they are now entering the workplace in the form of group Sipps.Last year, BT and ...
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Analysis
Make communications about pensions investment more meaningful
Giving employees the right amount of information about pensions investment and delivering it in the most suitable way can be a tricky balancing act, says Sarah ColesEmployers wanting to communicate contract-based defined contribution (DC) pensions investment face a catch-22 situation. To get staff to make the right investment choices, they ...
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Analysis
Factors to consider in defined contribution pension investments
The investment model is a critical element of any contract-based DC pension scheme and there are many factors to consider, says Ceri JonesPutting an investment model for a contract-based defined contribution (DC) pension scheme into place is not as straightforward as it may first appear. One challenge for employers is ...
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Analysis
Interview with: David Blake, director of the Pensions Institute at City University's Cass Business School
David Blake, director of the Pensions Institute at City University’s Cass Business School, assesses contract-based DC pensions investment as 2012’s reforms approach. Jenny Keefe reportsContract-based defined contribution (DC) pension schemes are the pensions equivalent of Ugg boots - they are loved and loathed in equal measure. In the UK, DC ...
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Analysis
Sponsor's comment: Employees must take advantage of flexibility in pension options
Jonathon Watts-Lay, director of Wealth at Work, explains how staff must play a more proactive role in managing their future income requirementsIn most cases, employees will purchase an annuity to provide them with an income in retirement. However, additional income flexibility supported by information and education may ultimately ensure that ...
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Analysis
Using reward and benefits to re-engage the workforce after the recession
As the country recovers from recession, employers face the tough task of re-engaging their workforces, says Nicola SullivanIn May 1940, Sir Winston Churchill famously told the House of Commons in his first speech as prime minister: “I would say to the House as I said to those who have joined ...
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Analysis
Are career average revalued earnings (Care) pensions a better bet?
If you read nothing else, read this:Based on an employee's average salary, career average revalued earnings (Care) pension schemes are generally lower cost and lower risk than defined benefit plans, but the savings can be modest.Switching from a final salary to a Care scheme only reduces the salary risk as ...
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Analysis
How to set up an international share scheme
Setting up an international share scheme poses many challenges, including language, legislation and technology, says Tom WashingtonIn today's world, few things are untouched by globalisation. Greater mobility and advances in technology mean businesses can operate on a truly international scale, and launching a global share plan is a great way ...
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Analysis
Peer recognition schemes pay off
Peer recognition schemes can have a powerful effect on staff morale and motivation, says Alison ColemanRecognising exceptional staff performance through reward is one way of boosting motivation and engagement. But recognition that comes directly from an employee’s peers may carry a higher value, and at a time when organisations are ...
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Analysis
Private medical insurance still appeals to staff
If you read nothing else, read this...Pay cuts and freezes place more emphasis on the value staff get from private medical insurance (PMI).Younger and lower-paid employees may see the tax they have to pay on their PMI benefit as an extra financial burden.Big employers still offer PMI because they value ...
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Analysis
Drive to improve administration for childcare voucher schemes
Childcare voucher schemes can hit administration problems, but leading providers are working to improve systems efficiency, says Nicola SullivanThe government’s announcement that it is to revise plans to phase out all tax relief on childcare vouchers came as welcome news for many employers. But this is not the only issue ...