Like many other employers, insurance group IAG (UK) has been seeing much more use of its voluntary benefits scheme in the current economic climate. Ricky D’Ash, remuneration specialist at the firm, says: “We’ve got more and more spend going through the portal. It is at an all-time high.”
As well as seeing a marginal increase in everyday spending areas, such as supermarket shopping, he says areas such as technology and holidays, where discounts tend to be bigger, are also in high demand.
For D’Ash, promoting the scheme is vital. It is included in a benefits session as part of every employee’s induction, as well as being covered in regular communications and one-off promotions.†
“We have run promotions where we will have a draw to give away a prize such as a camera to anyone who goes and looks at a particular offer,” he says. “This has really helped to push up spend. Employees do jump at the chance to use these offers, but you do need to remind them that they are there.”
D’Ash is also keen to ensure the scheme is as broad as possible and has recently added several new benefits, including discounts on will writing, tax advice, solicitors’ fees and solar energy.
“We want our employees to get discounts and cash back on as much of their spend as possible, whether this is everyday shopping or to help them with the expenditure they might need from time to time,” he adds.
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