All Article articles – Page 778

  • Article

    FTSE 350 pension scheme deficits increased in July

    2012-08-06T09:00:00Z

    The deficits for FTSE 350 companies’ defined benefit (DB) pension schemes increased by £5 billion since the end of June, according to research by Mercer.Its Pensions risk survey found that the pension deficits stood at £75 billion at 31 July 2012, compared to £70 billion at the end of June ...

  • Article

    Adrian Moorhouse: How can employers use the Olympics to boost staff engagement?

    2012-08-05T23:00:00Z

    The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are upon us and the excitement is palpable. The papers will be filled with stories of success and failure, of heartbreak and joy for the duration of the event. Although ‘Olympic fatigue’ is a very real possibility, this summer is a fantastic opportunity to ...

  • Article

    New Zealand's athletes receive a Marmite-y reward

    2012-08-03T08:45:00Z

    Offering rewards for a job well done and to motivate staff are common in many workplaces, and it would seem the Olympic Village is no exception.New Zealand’s Olympic-medal winners are being rewarded by Kiwi supermarket chain Pak ‘n’ Save with jars of Marmite.The bronze-medal winning New Zealand eventing team dropped ...

  • Article

    Most respondents monitor expatriate benefits programmes

    2012-08-03T08:00:00Z

    The majority (85%) of respondents have procedures in place to monitor their expatriate benefits programmes, according to research by Mercer.Its 2011/12 Benefits survey for expatriates and internationally mobile employees, which provides an overview of expatriate policies within large multinational companies, surveyed 288 multinational organisations with 119,000 expatriate employees.The research found ...

  • Article

    Quorum Business Park hosts sports-themed summer party for staff

    2012-08-02T09:20:00Z

    Quorum Business Park concluded a three-week programme of inter-office sporting competitions with an afternoon of onsite fun and games for its staff.The Quorum Games, a series of sports-themed challenges held throughout July, included tennis, football and hockey, as well as egg and spoon and three-legged races.Staff at the Newcastle-based business ...

  • Article

    UK employers have lowest cost per staff in Western Europe

    2012-08-02T09:15:00Z

    Employers in the UK have the lowest cost per employee per year anywhere in Western Europe, according to research by Towers Watson.Its annual Global 50 remuneration planning report, which includes the latest pay and benefits information for 50 positions across 57 countries worldwide, found that the mandatory costs and taxes ...

  • Article

    PWC to begin auto-enrolment communications to staff

    2012-08-01T09:45:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) is to embark on its auto-enrolment communications strategy by issung a guide to its 15,000 employees.The guide, which will be emailed to staff in the first two weeks of August, will detail the options available under auto-enrolment.These include joining the firm’s existing group personal pension (GPP) plan, ...

  • Article

    National Grid launches employee assistance programme

    2012-08-01T09:40:00Z

    Utility firm National Grid has launched an employee assistance programme (EAP) for its 9,000 UK staff.The EAP will be provided by Workplace Wellness, which is part of talent and career management firm Right Management.Andy Buxton, health and wellbeing manager at National Grid, said: “We are happy to be working with ...

  • Article

    EB Live Asia: Benefits programmes in Asia need to evolve

    2012-08-01T09:40:00Z

    HR leaders need to update the standard suite of benefits programmes available to stay ahead of the game, said Bonita Lee, vice president of human resources, Asia-Pacific for GlaxoSmithKline, during a panel discussion at EB Live Asia 2012 in Singapore.She added: “The list of benefits has not evolved in the ...

  • Article

    Asda rewards employees for long service

    2012-08-01T09:21:00Z

    Asda employees have been awarded for a combination of 41,040 years of service at the supermarket chain’s Big Anniversary event.The event, which is now in its 12th year, recognises staff with 25, 30 or 40 years of service.More than 1,500 employees were recognised this year. They received an extra week’s ...

  • Article

    73% of respondents believe executive pay is too high

    2012-08-01T08:30:00Z

    Almost three-quarters (73%) of non-executive directors believe that executive remuneration is too high, according to research by Hay Group.The research, The trouble with executive pay: insights into executive reward from the directors responsible for setting it, was conducted among 60 non-executive directors on FTSE 350 remuneration committees.†It found that 87% ...

  • Article

    Sainsbury’s pilots workplace wellness initiative

    2012-07-31T08:00:00Z

    Sainsbury’s has piloted a workplace wellness initiative to help increase activity levels and reduce sick days among employees.The FitStop pilot, managed by exercise firm Power Plate, was run at the supermarket chain’s Coventry office. It encouraged employees to perform a three-minute series of stretches on a Power Plate training machine ...

  • Article

    Wasabi introduces stakeholder pension scheme

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Wasabi has introduced a stakeholder pension scheme in preparation for its auto-enrolment staging date at the end of 2013.This is the first time the sushi and noodle bar has offered staff a pension scheme.The scheme is being rolled out to its 950 employees in three phases. The first two ...

  • Article

    GeoPost to launch GPP and improve pensions governance

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: GeoPost UK will replace its stakeholder pension scheme with a group personal pension (GPP) plan and introduce a pensions governance committee ahead of its auto-enrolment staging date of May 2013.The logistics firm has 4,500 employees, 2,300 of whom are in a stakeholder pension scheme that has been provided by ...

  • Article

    Selecta outsources fleet management

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    Vending operator Selecta UK and Ireland has outsourced its fleet management.The service, which will be provided by Leasedrive, is a four-year contract that will cover company cars.It is a move from a multi-provider model, and will provide contract hire, service, maintenance and repair, accident management and short-term rental.Wayne Millward, fleet ...

  • Article

    House of Fraser closes DB pension and introduces GPP

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    House of Fraser has closed its defined benefit (DB) pension scheme to future accrual and launched a group personal pension (GPP) plan in preparation for auto-enrolment.The GPP will be provided by Aviva. Johnson Fleming will manage the scheme’s administration, governance reporting and auto-enrolment compliance through its platform inform equip.The GPP, ...

  • Article

    Sellafield to host childcare roadshow

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Nuclear waste management firm Sellafield will host a roadshow to promote its childcare benefits during National Work-Life Week from 24 to 28 September.The roadshow, including a stand with freebies, a display board about childcare vouchers from provider Computershare Voucher Services, plus booklets and fliers, will be held at its ...

  • Article

    LeasePlan and Deloitte launch guide on tax treatment of company cars

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    LeasePlan and Deloitte have partnered to publish a guide on the tax treatment of company cars.The guide highlights some of the key issues that fleet, finance, tax, HR and reward professionals should consider when reviewing their company car fleet.The guide covers a range of tax issues, including:How is tax relief ...

  • Article

    Home Group launches salary sacrifice car scheme

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    Home Group has launched a salary sacrifice car scheme for its 3,350 UK employees.The social housing firm is currently phasing out the use of company cars and bringing in cash allowances. Some employees are expected to use their cash allowance to select a new car through the scheme, which is ...

  • Article

    Yorkshire Building Society launches health cash plan for staff

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) has introduced a health cash plan for its 4,000 employees.The plan, which is provided by Simplyhealth, allows employees to claim money back on visits to an optician, dentist, physiotherapist, chiropodist, chiropractor and osteopath.Staff can also use the plan for up to four resident children under the ...