All Benefits for carers articles – Page 69
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Article
Sodexo launches childcare voucher health check
Employee benefits provider Sodexo Motivation Solutions has launched a free childcare voucher checker.Its Health Check service, which is available to any organisation with a childcare voucher scheme in place, aims to help employers assess the health of their current scheme.The service includes an analysis of an employer’s current scheme, and ...
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Article
Queen's Speech legislates for childcare changes
The Queen’s Speech has confirmed legislation will be introduced to reform childcare for working parents, as confirmed in the 2013 Budget.From autumn 2015, the current childcare voucher scheme will be replaced by a tax-free childcare scheme.The scheme, which will initally be available for children up to the age of five, ...
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Article
Career breaks could reduce womens' pension pots
Women who take a career break could see their pension reduced by as much as £3,800 a year, according to research by private bank Duncan Lawrie.The report, which surveyed 2,059 people online and was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Duncan Lawrie, revealed that a quarter (25%) of respondents are ...
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Article
UK workers struggle with work-life balance
Heavy workloads are responsible for increased stress levels, with 60% of respondents finding it difficult to switch off from work when at home, according to research commissioned by health cash plan provider Medicash.The research, which surveyed more than 1,000 working parents in the UK, found that respondents who felt they ...
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Article
Ernst & Young and Mitie are top employers for women
Ernst and Young, Mitie and Nationwide Building Society are among the employers that have been named in The Times’ Top 50 Employers for Women 2013.The list, which is compiled in partnership with Opportunity Now the gender equality campaign from Business in the Community, identifies and celebrates employers that can demonstrate ...
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Article
Bright Horizons acquires Kidsunlimited
Childcare provider Bright Horizons has acquired Kidsunlimited, which has 64 nurseries and a childcare voucher business.The acquisition means Bright Horizons will operate more than 200 nurseries across the UK and Ireland.The transaction officially closed on 10 April 2013 for a cash consideration of £45 million.Carole Edmond, managing director at Bright ...
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Article
Working parents' rights extended
The change was made under the revised Parental Leave (EU Directive) Regulations 2013, which were originally due to come into effect in March 2012.Paul Griffin, head of the employment division at Norton Rose, said: “It is difficult for employers to arrange cover if parental leave is split into different chunks.The ...
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Opinion
Paul Quartly: Shared parental leave a big step forward
Employers should embrace this as a progressive change, but be aware that it brings new challenges in communication, organisation and trust.It’s important for the individual and the business that care is taken to develop a successful handover, ensuring any concerns are brought into the open, resources allocated appropriately and disruption ...
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Article
Unpaid parental leave extended
The right to unpaid parental leave for parents with children under the age of five will be extended from 13 to 18 weeks from 8 March.The change is being made under the revised Parental Leave (EU Directive) Regulations 2013, which were originally due to come in to effect from March ...
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Article
Most fathers would consider taking extended paternity leave
More than half (58%) of respondents would consider taking extended paternity leave, according to research by law firm Allen and Overy.The report, Discrimination at work: Paternity rights 2013, which surveyed 1,163 working men, found that 79% of those between the ages of 25 and 34 would consider taking extended paternity ...
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Article
Childcare voucher changes confirmed
Budget 2013: Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed that the current childcare voucher scheme will be replaced by a new tax-free childcare scheme for working families.The change, which will come in from autumn 2015, will see the government provide working families with 20% of their childcare costs, up to £1,200 for ...
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Article
Childcare voucher schemes set to change
Childcare voucher schemes are expected to change in Autumn 2015, under plans to be unveiled by prime minister David Cameron and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg today.The new system, which will replace the current salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare voucher scheme, will see employees pay 80% of their childcare costs ...
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Article
Legislation will help working parents
If passed, the legislation will implement the parental leave and ?exible-working commitments made by the government in November 2012.Under the new measures, working parents will be able to share parental leave following a child’s birth; prospective parents will be allowed to take more time off for antenatal appointments; leave and ...
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Opinion
Nora Smith: Shared parental leave fit for modern family
The new system suits the modern working family, allowing parents to decide how to spend the first year of their child’s life. Employers can also benefit by retaining talented female staff.But the government must ensure the changes can be easily administered by employers.The extension of the right to request ?exible ...
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Article
Two work-life consultations launched
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis) have launched consultations on extending the right to request flexible working, and the administration process for shared parental leave and pay, respectively.The Bis consultation, Modern workplaces: shared parental leave and pay – administration consultation, ...
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Article
Government unveils Children and Families Bill
The government has published the Children and Families Bill that will introduce shared parental leave and extend flexible working to all employees.The bill will implement the parental leave and flexible working commitments the government made in November 2012 in its response to the Modern workplaces consultation.Under the new measures, working ...
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Article
Barclays awarded for family-friendly policies
Barclays and Plantronics have won accolades for their family-friendly policies at the Family Friendly Awards, hosted by the Family and Parenting Institute and Daycare Trust.Barclays won the award for private sector employee engagement for its maternity, paternity, flexible working and carer policies.Plantronics was presented with the award for family-friendly innovation ...
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Article
Working parents turn to employers for childcare help
The Childcare affordability report, published by Family Investments in December 2012, found UK mothers were working up to four months of the year just to pay for care for their children.Under changes implemented by the government last month, households where one parent earns £60,000 or more are no longer entitled ...
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AnalysisVoluntary benefits for parents pay off
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…Providing family-friendly voluntary benefits helps to retain staff.Parental coaching is a growing trend among employers that are keen to retain their top talent.Childcare vouchers are a popular benefit to support working parents.Childcare has been identified as a key priority for the government over the ...
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Opinion
Alex Fricke: Voluntary benefits motivate parents
Some employers also run parents’ networks or seminars, offer maternity coaching and have a dedicated parent and child room on-site.Voluntary benefits such as these help employers to recruit, motivate and retain working parents. Childcare vouchers can be offered through a salary sacrifice arrangement, which affords advantages in tax and national ...