All Article articles – Page 832

  • Article

    Association of Consulting Actuaries publishes paper on public sector pensions

    2011-12-05T10:49:29Z

    The Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) has published a discussion paper on bridging the gap between private and public sector pensions.In the paper, Placard, which was published on 28 November, Michael Johnson, research fellow for the Centre for Policy Studies, said market-linked pensions should be adopted for the entire public ...

  • Article

    Southern Housing Group appoints Capita Hartshead to manage DB pension scheme

    2011-12-05T10:24:29Z

    Housing association Southern Housing Group has appointed Capita Hartshead to manage its defined benefit (DB) pension scheme, which has 527 members.The five-year contract will include actuarial services, consultancy, pension scheme secretariat services, investment consulting, scheme administration, and pensioner payroll and fund accounting.Alene Wilton, corporate services director at Southern Housing Group, ...

  • Article

    Mercer research: Deficit of FTSE 350 defined benefit pension schemes rises

    2011-12-05T10:24:10Z

    The deficit of FTSE 350 defined benefit (DB) pension schemes has risen £20 billion over past month, according to research by Mercer. The Pensions risk survey found that the aggregate FTSE 350 DB pension scheme deficit stood at £80 billion at 30 November 2011, compared to £60 billion at 31 ...

  • Article

    Domestic and General to save £42,000 by offering flu jabs to staff

    2011-12-05T10:21:03Z

    Domestic and General is aiming to save over £42,000 this winter by offering flu vaccinations to its employees.Research from its HR team showed that between 1 September 2010 and 31 March 2011, a total of 400 employees were absent due to cold and flu-related illnesses.This represented 5,292 lost working hours ...

  • Article

    High Court rules index switch for pensions is lawful

    2011-12-02T11:55:00Z

    The High Court has rejected a claim by public sector unions that the government’s decision to switch from the retail prices index (RPI) to the consumer prices index (CPI) for future pension increases was unlawful.The judicial hearing began on 25 October 2011 to challenge the switch, which was announced by ...

  • Article

    Bank of England tells banks to curb bonuses

    2011-12-02T11:18:39Z

    Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, has urged banks to curb bonuses in order to protect themselves and businesses from the eurozone debt crisis.In the Financial Stability Report, published 1 December 2011, the Bank of England’s interim Financial Policy Committee (FPC) recommends that distributions – payments of dividends ...

  • Article

    US military builds stone circle for pagan cadets

    2011-12-02T10:15:00Z

    The United States military has taken measures of Stonehenge-type proportions to cater to its cadets who are practising pagans, witches and druids.The Colorado base of its air force training academy has built a stone circle to allow witches to cast spells and pagans to form circles of power. Situated at ...

  • Article

    London Overground Rail Operations enhances staff pay during the Olympics

    2011-12-02T10:10:00Z

    London Overground Rail Operations is enhancing its rate of pay by 25% for employees that work shifts during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.The deal will see 85% (almost 1,000) of its staff, including front-line station, conductor, train care, fleet maintenance and revenue staff, see a pay increase of ...

  • Article

    Trader Media Group extends payroll services provision to staff in Ireland

    2011-12-02T09:55:00Z

    Trader Media Group has extended its payroll services for its employees in Ireland.The publisher of automotive titles has 1,700 employees, 1,400 of which are in the UK.It rolled out the service, which is provided by Ceridian UK, for its UK staff in 2010.Joanne Walker, human resources director at the Trader ...

  • Article

    BP, BT, M&S and Tesco among winners at IFS Proshare awards

    2011-12-01T11:09:58Z

    BP, BT, Henderson Global Investors, Marks and Spencer, and Tesco were among the big winners of the 2011 IFS Proshare Annual Awards.John Collison, head of employee share ownership at IFS Proshare, said: “The quality of this year's nominations was truly impressive in almost every category which made this IFS Proshare ...

  • Article

    Female staff win equal pay case against Birmingham City Council

    2011-12-01T11:00:31Z

    A group of 174 female former employees of Birmingham City Council have won a Court of Appeal decision on equal pay claims.The employees, who worked as cleaners, cooks, catering and care staff, were aiming to recover compensation for bonuses they claimed they were excluded from. The bonuses had handed out ...

  • Article

    Heath Lambert and Gallagher Risk and Reward re-brand as Gallagher Employee Benefits

    2011-12-01T10:57:18Z

    Heath Lambert Employee Benefits and Gallagher Risk and Reward have re-branded as Gallagher Employee Benefits (GEB).GEB is now the UK employee benefits brand of Arthur J Gallagher International, the insurance, employee benefits and risk management adviser.The re-branded firm will focus on delivering advice and solutions across a range of areas ...

  • Article

    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine signs deal to replace personnel and payroll system

    2011-12-01T10:53:33Z

    The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) has replaced its personnel and payroll system.The national school of public health will use Northgate Arinso's ResourceLink Aurora system for HR, payroll, self-service and web reporting for its 3,000 staff.The system will also ensure LSHTM meets HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ...

  • Article

    Close Brothers research: Most UK employers unsure of auto-enrolment staging date

    2011-12-01T10:51:00Z

    More than three-quarters (77%) of UK organisations do not know when they have to begin auto-enrolling their employees into a qualifying pension scheme, according to research by the financial education division of Close Brothers.The research, which was conducted among 2,000 employers across the UK, found that 12% of organisations have ...

  • Article

    Bupa research: HR teams take measures to tackle winter absence

    2011-12-01T10:42:15Z

    Over three quarters (78%) of human resources professionals have implemented policies to try to reduce staff absence in December, according to a poll by Bupa.The Bupa December survey found one-third (33%) of organisations call staff in for questioning if they have more than three isolated days of sickness absence in ...

  • Article

    EXCLUSIVE: Trowers and Hamlins introduces financial education workshops

    2011-12-01T00:00:01Z

    Law firm Trowers and Hamlins is introducing a series of financial education workshops called ‘Making the most of your money’ as part of a three-tiered approach to ensure its 500 employees are looking after their finances.The first step was a series of presentations in October by Friends Life around the ...

  • Article

    Eurotunnel introduces cash plan for staff

    2011-12-01T00:00:01Z

    Eurotunnel has introduced a health cash plan for its 791 employees at its UK terminal.†The cash plan, provided by Health Shield, offers a number of benefits including: dental; dental accident; eyecare; alternative therapies; chiropody; health screening and a 24-hour helpline. The scheme, called Essentials, costs the organisation 75p per week ...

  • Article

    Sainsbury’s supports staff on Carers Rights Day

    2011-12-01T00:00:01Z

    Sainsbury’s has joined forces with Carers UK to support employees who care for an ill or disabled loved one.Because 2 December is Carers Rights Day, the supermarket chain is distributing Carers UK’s advice guide, which offers information on juggling work and care.Sainsbury’s has also sponsored 50,000 copies of the guide, ...

  • Article

    Simplyhealth research: Tax breaks on PMI provision will ease burden on NHS

    2011-12-01T00:00:01Z

    Over half (55%) of senior managers with HR responsibilities believe organisations should be given tax breaks to provide all staff with private medical insurance (PMI) and ease the burden on the NHS, according to research by Simplyhealth.The research findings follow Dame Carol Black and David Frost’s review into sickness absence, ...

  • Article

    Canada Life research: A third of employees want better work-life balance

    2011-12-01T00:00:01Z

    More than a third (37%) of employees would like a better work-life balance, according to research by Canada Life.The Canada Life research into employee absence, which surveyed 1,226 people in August 2011, asked what incentives could be offered to prevent employees taking time off work.For most respondents, flexible working was ...