Analysis
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AnalysisHow to overcome the disconnect between benefits on offer and what staff really want
Source: Shutterstock Need to know: Many employers are seeing a gap emerge between the benefits they offer and what employees actually want. Work-life balance, wellbeing and financial support are especially valued by employees. Employers need to talk to staff, offer them a degree of choice ...
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AnalysisHow to maximise benefits communication with employee involvement
Source: Shutterstock MetLife’s 22nd annual US employee benefit trends study, published in March 2024, found that employees who understand and use their benefits were 88% more likely to feel cared for by their employer, compared to 34% of those who do not. This highlights the importance of ...
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AnalysisHow to conduct an ethnicity pay review
Source: Shutterstock Mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting will be introduced in the future, along with the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. Ethnicity data is a special category under GDPR, so employers must state what it will be used for and how it will ...
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AnalysisHow to take an inclusive approach to festive celebrations
To support a diverse workforce during the festive season, employers should foster an accepting environment that includes everyone. Providing choice regarding annual leave is key to ensuring all employees’ beliefs and cultural holidays are recognised. Gifts should not be restrictive towards any lifestyles or abilities. ...
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AnalysisHow can employers empower staff to take responsibility for their own health?
Encouraging staff to take responsibility for their health should start with a culture of personal accountability.Employers can show they care about employees’ health by providing solutions and services tailored to their needs.Facilitating conversations around health can help to reduce stigma and ensure workplaces are more inclusive.Benenden Health’s August 2024 research ...
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AnalysisWhat could the Labour government mean for employers' reward and benefits strategies?
Credit: Mistervlad/Shutterstock Need to know: The Labour government’s Employment Rights Bill will enhance employee rights but there are concerns that proposals could have unintended consequences, adding cost, disadvantaging some businesses and their employees, and affecting recruitment strategies. Extending pay gap reporting to ethnicity and disability may ...
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AnalysisWhat impact do charity initiatives have on employee engagement and motivation?
Employers should offer a variety of charity and volunteering initiatives and seek feedback on causes that are close to employees’ hearts. An organisation that is seen to be making a difference in the world can be attractive to current and potential staff. Monitoring participation levels and ...
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AnalysisHow far can a reward and benefits strategy truly impact recruitment and retention?
Employers should identify issues affecting existing and potential employees when creating their reward and benefits strategies. Tailoring benefits to meet employees’ needs can attract talent and maintain retention levels. An organisation should regularly communicate its benefits to current and potential employees if it wants to promote ...
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AnalysisAddressing the gender health gap
The gender health gap describes disparities in healthcare access and care outcomes based on gender.Data and survey feedback can determine if an organisation has a gender health gap.Investing in diverse, inclusive and equitable health support can go some way to addressing a gender health gap.The gender health gap refers to ...
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AnalysisHow to boost the popularity of employee share schemes
Credit: Shutterstock/ YesPhotographersNeed to know:Employee share schemes can help organisations attract, retain and motivate staff.But these are not always as valued as they could be by employees.Effective communication is essential, including video, apps and presentations.In March this year, 9,200 Marks and Spencer staff who had been paying into a share ...
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AnalysisHow to use major sporting events to engage and motivate staff
Credit: Delpixel / Shutterstock.com Employers should consider what sporting events would most engage their employees and plan initiatives around these. Workplace activities can boost camaraderie and, ultimately, engagement. Any initiatives should be as inclusive as possible for all employees, as well as voluntary. In its ...
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AnalysisHow can employers support employee wellbeing in the summer months?
Frequently checking in on employees’ wellbeing in summer months can help highlight issues and allow for adjustments.Employers should raise awareness of sun safety, the importance of hydration and proper ventilation.Flexible working hours in warmer weather can improve wellbeing by offering time for physical activities, helping with childcare and supporting sleep ...
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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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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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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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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 ...