All articles by David Woods – Page 5
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Article
Aon Consulting pilots wellbeing scheme for staff
Aon Consulting has launched an wellness programme to staff at its Farnborough branch in a bid to bolster employees' mental and physical capabilities.The programme, which will run for six months, will educate employees on nutrition and health, provide them with massages and relaxation techniques and nutritional and health information. Staff ...
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Article
Emergency measures compensate for 10p tax rate abolition
Chancellor of the exchequer, Alistair Darling, has announced changes to the personal tax system to help low-income employees affected by the abolition of the 10p starting rate of income tax.Personal tax allowances for the 2008-09 tax year will be increased by £600 from £5,435 to £6,035. This means that 22 ...
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Article
Top-performing companies pay less
The world's best-performing companies pay their staff 5% less than the average wage, as they are more effective maximising their reward investment.According to Fortune's Most Admired Companies 2008 from global management consultancy Hay Group, the firms included in the list are more effective at managing reward strategies and are better ...
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Article
Lonmin offloads defined benefit pension scheme
Mining company, Lonmin has struck a deal with Paternoster for the insurance firm to buyout the remaining pension benefits of members in its defined benefit (DB) scheme.James Scott, chairman of the trustees of the Lonmin Superannuation Scheme, said: "Securing member benefits with an insurer means that the scheme fully covers ...
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Article
Boots opposed to Nottingham parking levy
Nottingham-based employers may challenge the levy that will charge commuters 75 pence each day to park in the city from 2010, which has been approved by Nottingham City Council. Employers with ten or more parking spaces will be liable for the levy, which will cost £185 per year from 2010, ...
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Article
NAPF in legal challenge over VAT on pension investment services
Multi-employer pension fund Wheels Common Investment Fund (WCIF) and the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) have agreed to bring a challenge against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on the application of value added tax (VAT) on the investment management services supplied to occupational pension funds.If the challenge is successful, ...
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Article
YMCA to improve pension scheme services
The YMCA is to improve pension scheme services for 1,700 members as part of its evolving pension provision strategy.The organisation has appointed Xafinity Consulting on a rolling contract to work with it on improving the scheme.Paul Smillie, conpany secretary to the trustees, said: "Xafinity's interactive tools will no doubt help ...
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Article
HR Forum: Employers advised that bonus communication should be transparent
Employers have been reminded to ensure all elements of their bonus schemes are transparent and clear for all employees.Speaking at the Human Resources Forum on board The Oriana, Julia Watts, compensations manager at Gallaher told delegates attending the session Why retention is not about people but about managers that bonuses ...
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Article
HR Forum: Recognition is key to success
Delegates on board The Oriana attending the HR Forum have been reminded that the success of any company depends on its employees, and that the role of recognition cannot be overlooked.In the session, Employee engagement: Re-inspiring and empowering staff, delegates were encouraged to create a culture where all employees feel ...
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Article
Kellogg's staff to benefit from Friday afternoons off in summer
Kellogg's employees will be able to finish work at lunch time each Friday between May and September.Employees who have completed a full week's hours by Friday lunchtime will be permitted to take the afternoon off.This is the fifth year that Kellogg's has run the scheme and the firm reported that ...
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Article
BBA Pension Trustees agrees to insure its pensions
BBA Pension Trustees, with the support of its sponsor BBA Aviation has agreed to insure its pensions in payment with Legal & General.The transaction means that 270m of assets will be transferred to Legal & General, which will pay annuity payments to the scheme for its existing 5,900 pensioners.This will ...
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Analysis
Sipps' popularity on the up
THE PROFILE of group self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) appears to be on the rise among employers. In the past few months, well-known companies such as Kingfisher (owner of B&Q), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Stagecoach, Willis Group Holdings and Coda have added the perk to their benefits package.Sipps are increasing in popularity according ...
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Article
Share plans must be offered to short-term resident staff
Employers must invite all employees including those who are resident but not ordinarily resident in the UK (RNORs) to participate in sharesave (save-as-you-earn) schemes and share incentive plans (Sips) under the Finance Bill 2008, which is awaiting royal assent.Currently, employers only have to invite staff who are UK residents to ...
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Article
Standard Life uses flex to further green initiatives
Standard Life is extending its green travel scheme, and adding foreign language classes and online identity theft protection to its flexible benefits options.More than 5,000 staff in its Edinburgh office will have the option to purchase a yearly travel card covering 25 bus companies and save tax and national insurance ...
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Case Studies
Employer profile: Novartis
Healthcare issues, drug trials and medication never seem too far from the news headlines, so the success of a pharmaceutical firm depends not just on how well its products can prevent and cure illness, but on the company’s integrity and ethical stance. Maintaining a positive public image can be a ...
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Article
Alexander Mann's new UK flexible benefits plan to go global
Alexander Mann Solutions has launched a flexible benefits scheme for its 600 UK-based employees with a view to rolling it out internationally over the coming year.The recruitment process outsourcing firm launched the scheme in March to help recruit and retain talented staff. It includes holiday trading, yearly health screening, dental ...
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Case Studies
Case Study: Wellcome trust Sanger Institute
Genetic research centre the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute uses canny communication to help employees crack the pensions code. The institute lets staff know how its defined benefit (DB) fund is performing in an annual newsletter, as well as through regular one-to-one pensions surgeries for the scheme's 800 members.Kathryn Fenn, head ...
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Case Studies
Case study: Humberside police build relationship with union
Humberside Police tries hard to build a solid relationship with Unison, the trade union that represents the majority of police staff within the UK.Instead of approaching Unison with a them-and-us attitude, Humberside Police makes managers available for Unison representatives to discuss issues around levels of pay or pension benefits, and ...
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Article
HMRC changes homeworking tax
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has increased the tax and national insurance contribution (NIC) free guideline rate employers can pay home working employees without keeping records from £2 to £3. The change came into effect from 6 April. Employers can reimburse homeworking staff for any additional household expenses they incur, ...
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Article
Pensions regulator to receive greater power
The government plans to increase the Pensions Regulator's powers to require employers to make contributions to a pension scheme if their actions could threaten the security of members' pensions. The Pensions Regulator would have the power to reduce the risk to members' interests in the event of any move by ...