All Article articles – Page 679

  • Article

    DB plans increasingly use delegated investment providers

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    More than one-third (36%) of respondents have appointed a delegated investment provider for their defined benefit (DB) pension scheme, up from 18% in 2011, according to research by Aon Hewitt.Its Delegated investment survey 2013, which surveyed 275 UK DB pension schemes representing around £130 billion of assets, found that this ...

  • Article

    Time constraint major impediment to good DC governance

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    More than three-quarters (76%) of respondents said time constraints are a major impediment to good governance of defined contribution (DC) pension schemes, according to research by the Pensions Management Institute (PMI).Its research, which surveyed 175 PMI members in response to the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) call for evidence ...

  • Article

    Shares for rights scheme comes into force

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    The government’s Employee Shareholder Scheme came into force yesterday.The scheme, also known as shares for rights, was passed in Parliament after the government made several concessions to its original proposals.The legislation will enable staff to swap some of their employment rights, including unfair dismissal and redundancy rights, for shares in ...

  • Article

    DC pensions charges report due

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is expected to publish its report on workplace defined contribution (DC) pensions on 19 September.The report is expected to call for a number of revisions to workplace DC pension schemes, including a cap on scheme charges.The publication of the report comes as the Department ...

  • Article

    Grant Thornton launches salary sacrifice cars

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Grant Thornton has launched a salary sacrifice car scheme for its 4,200 employees.The scheme, which was rolled out in August and is provided by SG Fleet, caps carbon emissions at 130g/km to promote its green focus.The professional services firm had previously offered a car leasing arrangement to staff, as ...

  • Article

    BT to consider workplace savings platform

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Bringing workplace savings benefits, such as pensions and share schemes, all together into one place on a workplace savings platform is the way forward, said Kevin O’Boyle, head of pensions at BT Group speaking at Employee Benefits Live on 25 September.“But it can’t substitute with live face-to-face action,” he added.The ...

  • Article

    Bright Horizons partners Parental Choice

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Childcare services provider, Bright Horizons, has partnered Parental Choice to expand its Family Essentials programme.Parental Choice, which was launched in 2009, advises parents and employers on how to work together to combine a career with childcare. The partnership will expand Bright Horizon’s online portal through which employees can access family ...

  • Article

    DOD’s blog: Get me a tardis (and a cocktail)

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    On Wednesday night I had a very interesting chat to a pensions lawyer over a few cocktails at the annual Allen & Overy press party.I do not think it was the generously ginned-up drinks that made current pensions litigation trends appear interesting. In fact, the conversation quite sobered me up.It ...

  • Article

    JLT Employee Benefits launches pensions white paper

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    JLT Employee Benefits has launched a white paper, which provides an analysis of the evolution of the pensions landscape in the UK since the Pensions Commission report in 2004.The paper, Achieving the 21st century pensions settlement, was launched at a panel discussion at the Liberal Democrats’ party conference on 16 ...

  • Article

    Benefits do not suit multi-generations

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    The majority (85%) of respondents do not feel their current benefits package offers the flexibility required to suit their needs, according to research by Barclays Corporate and Employer Solutions (C&ES).The Talking about my generation: exploring the benefits engagement challenge report, which surveyed 1,200 UK employees, was commissioned by Barclays C&ES ...

  • Article

    Barclays launches workplace savings product

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Barclays Corporate and Employer Solutions (C&ES) is to launch a workplace savings and financial education product that focuses on the needs of the different generations of employees.Barclays Beyond Benefits brings together consultancy services, traditional employee benefits, share plans, pensions, financial education and banking services in a single online portal.It ...

  • Article

    Barbon takes steps to boost pension saving

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Barbon Insurance Group is encouraging young staff to start saving into its group personal pension scheme by lowering its minimum employee contribution to 1%.Speaking during a session at Employee Benefits Live on 25 September, Sarah Minter, reward manager at Barbon Insurance Group, provided tips to small and medium-sized employers (SME) ...

  • Article

    Consultancy charges ban takes effect

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Legislation to ban consultancy charging on auto-enrolment pension schemes came into effect on 14 September.Steve Webb (pictured), minister for pensions, signed the new regulations, which aim to give greater protection to pension scheme members.The legislation, which impacts defined contribution (DC) pension schemes used for auto-enrolment purposes, means an employer cannot ...

  • Article

    British Gas and Citi awarded for working parents' support

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    British Gas, Citi and Plantronics are among the employers that have been awarded for their benefits and policies that support working parents.The Top Employers for Working Families Benchmark Awards, founded by charity Working Families in partnership with the Institute for Employment Studies and sponsored by Computershare Voucher Services, recognise employers ...

  • Article

    Pall Europe took strong focus on auto-enrolment communications

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Communication is key prior to an employer’s auto-enrolment staging date, according to Vicki Tracey, senior benefits specialist at Pall Europe.Speaking at Employee Benefits Live on 25 September at London’s Olympia, Tracey explained that the manufacturing company, which staged on 1 September 2013, found that with a largely segmented workforce comprising ...

  • Article

    Auto-enrolment biggest benefits challenge

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: More than a third (39%) of respondents said preparing for auto-enrolment is their biggest objective over the next 12 months, up from 25% last year, according to research by Aon Hewitt.Its Employee benefits and trends survey 2013, which questioned nearly 350 UK HR and benefits professionals, found that other ...

  • Article

    L&G to cap auto-enrolment pension charges

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Legal and General is to cap the charges for auto-enrolment pension schemes at 0.5%.The charge is to cover both the annual management charge (AMC) for administration of a defined contribution (DC) pension and the charge for Legal and General’s default fund, Multi-Asset Lifestyle Portfolio.Employers, and their employees, that select Legal ...

  • Article

    Australia, UK and US have largest DC pension markets

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    The defined contribution (DC) pension markets in Australia, the UK and the US are the largest globally, according to research by Schroders.Its Lessons learnt in DC from around the world report investigated the universal commonalities and local distinctions in DC systems, and highlights the key concepts that determine success and ...

  • Article

    Employees look to employer for asset allocation decisions

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Around 2.6 million people who have not yet retired are most likely to look towards their employers for help with asset allocation decisions around their retirement planning, according to research by Baring Asset Management.The research, which was conducted online among 1,581 non-retired UK adults, found that 14% of respondents said ...

  • Article

    The Positive Ageing Company launches eldercare scheme

    2013-09-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: The Positive Ageing Company has launched an online programme that aims to help employers support employees with eldercare responsibilities.Its programme, AgeingWorks, is a one-stop shop of information and services that employees can use to better prepare for and manage the challenges and opportunities that ageing can present.The information and ...