All Benefits for carers articles – Page 70
-
ArticleNorton Rose Fulbright extends policies for working parents
EXCLUSIVE: Norton Rose Fulbright has extended its parental policies for its 1,100 UK-based employees.The law firm has simplified its parental policies and made sure they are consistent for all of its lawyers and service staff. All female employees are now entitled to 28 weeks maternity leave at full pay.Sacha de ...
-
Article
Buyer's guide to childcare vouchers 2014
Vouchers have helped about 700,000 families to afford high-quality childcare since 2005, providing savings worth around £1,800 a year for the average family. This goes towards the average childcare cost of £5,028 a year for 25 hours’ care a week, according to figures from the Childcare Voucher Providers Association (CVPA).Most ...
-
Article65% are unaware of shared parental leave
Around two-thirds (65%) of respondents are unaware of the shared parental leave legislation, which comes in to effect from April 2015, according to research by care industry website Good Care Guide.The Good Care Guide Parenting survey, which surveyed 1,000 working parents, found that, among those who do know about the ...
-
Analysis
What is driving demand for eldercare as a workplace benefit?
If you read nothing else read this…The number of people needing care will outstrip the family members able to provide it.Eldercare is the fatest-growing perk in flexible benefits plans.Demand is driven by the UK’s ageing demographic, the growing number of users of health and social care, and the ’sandwich generation’.Not ...
-
Case Studies
The benefits offered by Sky
PensionTrust-based defined contribution scheme.Double-matched employer contributions to a maximum of 8%.About 4,000 employees were auto-enrolled on 1 April 2013.HealthcareA healthcare trust, available to all staff.Physiotherapy, which is in addition to the trust’s out-patient limit.On-site physiotherapy at some locations.An employee assistance programme.Health screening.Group riskGroup income protection (GIP) linked to the pension ...
-
ArticleExtended right to request flexible working to come into effect
This had been due to take effect on 6 April, but was postponed because of a delay in the Children and Families Bill’s progress through Parliament.At the moment, employers must ’”consider seriously” requests to work flexibly from employees who have a child aged 16 or under, those with a child ...
-
Article43% of new fathers take half paternity leave entitlement
Nearly half (43%) of new fathers take five days or less paternity leave, which is only half of their two-week entitlement, according to research by HR software provider Octopus HR.Its research, Dads at work: a report into the paternity leave trends and working habits of the modern working father, analysed ...
-
ArticleGovernment sets out support for ageing workforces
The government has set out a framework for action to support employers in keeping an ageing workforce in employment.Its action plan, Fuller working lives – A framework for action, found that the UK economy could have been boosted by £18 billion in 2013 if the employment gap between people in ...
-
Article
Barclays and Centrica are top employers for working families
Barclays, Centrica and Islington Council are among the winners of the 2014 Top Employers for Working Families Special Awards.The awards, which were founded by Working Families in partnership with the Institute for Employment Studies and are sponsored by Computershare Voucher Services, recognise employers that support parents, carers and flexible workers ...
-
ArticleNew tax-free childcare scheme confirmed
The Queen has confirmed that the government’s new tax-free childcare scheme, first announced in the 2013 Budget, will take effect from autumn 2015.The Childcare Payments Bill will introduce the new tax-free childcare scheme to support working parents by giving support equivalent to basic-rate tax relief on money spent on childcare, ...
-
ArticleExtended right to request flexible working comes into effect
The right to request flexible working has been extended to every employee on 30 June.The legislation was due to take effect on 6 April, but was postponed because of a delay in the Children and Families Bill’s progress through Parliament.Previously, the right was only available for carers or people who ...
-
Article48% interested in emergency eldercare benefit
EXCLUSIVE: Nearly half (48%) of respondents would be interested in an emergency eldercare policy as an employee benefit, according to research by Allianz Global Assistance.Its research, which surveyed 200 UK employees, found that just 4% would turn to an employer or HR manager for assistance if they found themselves faced ...
-
ArticleEHRC urges employers to support carers
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) told the Court of Appeal on 13 May that employers should, as far as is reasonable, make adjustments to support employees who are caring for disabled family members.The case, in which the commission intervened as a third party to assist the court, involves ...
-
ArticleShared parental leave is opportunity to enhance family-friendly policies
Almost two-thirds (59%) of respondents see the government’s shared parental leave policy as an opportunity to enhance the family-friendly policies they offer to staff, according to research by law firm Hogan Lovells.Under the new plans, which take effect from April 2015, parents will be able to share 12 months of ...
-
Article67% concerned about complexities of shared parental leave
More than two-thirds (67%) of respondents are concerned about the potential complexities and increased administrative burden of the government’s incoming shared parental leave system, according to research by Norton Rose Fulbright.The law firm’s research, which surveyed 222 HR professionals, found that 76% of respondents have not taken any practical steps ...
-
ArticleBarclays partners The Positive Ageing Company to support ageing workforce
EXCLUSIVE: Barclays Corporate and Employer Solutions has partnered The Positive Ageing Company to launch an online tool to help employers support the challenges of an ageing workforce and their differing financial needs.The tool will sit within Barclays’ Money Works website.It offers employers information and advice to help staff assess monthly ...
-
ArticlePension contributions and childcare vouchers most popular tax-efficient benefits
Pension contributions via salary sacrifice and childcare vouchers are the most commonly offered tax-efficient benefits via a salary sacrifice arrangement, according to the Benefits Research 2014, which surveyed 256 respondents in March 2014.Salary sacrifice pension contributions remain popular. This year, 87% of employers that offer benefits via salary sacrifice enable ...
-
Article
Fujitsu launches leave policy for carers
EXCLUSIVE: Fujitsu UK and Ireland has introduced a policy that enables employees to take up to four weeks unpaid leave to manage their caring responsibilities.David Brackwell, head of wellbeing and inclusion, UK and Ireland at Fujitsu, said: “One thing that is becoming an increasing challenge for people is caring responsibilities. ...
-
OpinionNicola Kerr: Delay to extension of flexible-working arrangements
This legislation will give employees the statutory right to request a contract variation for flexible-working arrangements, and will require employers to consider the request in a reasonable manner.However, the right to request does not create a right to flexible working.As part of its strategy to create a modern workplace for ...
-
Article
Shared parental leave receives royal assent
The government’s Children and Families Act, which includes legislation for shared parental leave, has received royal assent.The act includes:From April 2015, mothers, fathers and adopters will be able to share parental leave around their child’s birth or placement.From 1 October 2014, prospective fathers or a mother’s partner will be able ...