All articles by Debbie Lovewell-Tuck – Page 3
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ArticleAutumn Statement: Government to consult on expanding PPF's role
The government is to consult on expanding the Pension Protection Fund's (PPF) role to act as a consolidator for defined benefit (DB) pension schemes that are deemed "unattractive to commercial providers" and are not currently served by the market.This is aimed at increasing opportunities for DB schemes to invest in ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Will we ever successfully close unequal pay gaps?
Next Wednesday, 22 November, is Equal Pay Day in the UK. This is the date when, based on mean average earnings, women effectively stop being paid for the year compared to men. According to analysis by the Fawcett Society, which is behind the day, the UK’s gender pay gap currently ...
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ArticleAAT reports increasing ethnicity and gender pay gaps
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has reported a mean ethnicity pay gap of 25.3% in 2023, up from 24% in 2022.Its median ethnicity pay gap rose to 25.6% in 2023 from 23.6% in 2022. The report, which is based on hourly rates of pay on 5 April 2023, also ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Is it too soon to mention *whisper* Christmas?
Now that Halloween and Guy Fawkes celebrations have passed, my thoughts have inevitably turned to Christmas. I have always loved this time of year, but for some reason, this year my festive spirit seems to have arrived much earlier than usual and I am now excitedly planning for, and looking ...
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ArticleAIB to introduce bonus and healthcare benefits for employees
Allied Irish Banks (AIB) is to introduce healthcare benefits and a bonus worth up to €12,700 for all employees.From 1 January 2024, it will introduce healthcare benefits for the first time for all employees in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The benefits, which are provided by Bupa and ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Will the removal of the bankers bonus cap drive change in remuneration structures?
Is it better to pay a reasonable basic salary and place a cap on bonus payments, or to pay a lower fixed wage with the scope to earn a much larger bonus payout? This is the question that has arisen this week following the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) announcement that ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Supporting domestic abuse survivors
One in five people over the age of 16 have experienced domestic abuse of some kind, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics in November 2022. This means that in any workplace, or indeed, within the majority of teams, statistically, you may well know someone who is ...
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ArticleEmployee Benefits Live 2023 speaker slides
Where speakers have given approval, we have uploaded the slides for the keynote and conference sessions at Employee Benefits Live 2023, which took place on 3 October 2023 at ExCeL London.Thank you very much to all of the speakers for sharing their ideas, experiences and insights.Keynote speakersKN1: Inclusive HRBernadette Thompson ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Do employees feel comfortable seeking mental health support?
Tuesday 10 October marked World Mental Health Day, a day aimed at talking about mental health and demonstrating to everyone that mental health matters. This year’s theme for the day was ‘mental health is a universal human right’, which aligns with the messages of many workplace mental health strategies.As ever, ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: The power of strong ESG credentials
How far do your employer’s values and ethics align with your own? And to what extent does this consideration influence your decision to accept a role with an organisation?Research published this week by recruitment firm Resource Solutions found more than a third (39%) of respondents over the age of 55 ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Supporting staff who are childless not by choice
This week (11-17 September) is World Childless Week, which is aimed at raising awareness of those who are childless not by choice.According to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in January 2022, in the UK, 18% of women who reach the end of their childbearing years do ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Dreaming of enhancing sleep quality
Do you get enough sleep? This is a question I frequently ask of myself, especially since becoming a parent five years ago. If it isn’t children waking in the night, good intentions for an earlier bedtime are often thwarted by a seemingly never-ending list of household chores, life admin and ...
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ArticlePoloWorks to roll out new benefits technology
Insurance market support services provider PoloWorks is rolling out new benefits technology to increase employee engagement with benefits and enable them to access all options in a single location.The platform, which is provided by Zest, will be rolled out in November.According to PoloWorks, the technology will also help with benefits ...
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ArticleConfessions of a benefits manager: Candid experiences artificial intelligence at work
It is all over the news: artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to get us. I have never found our organisation particularly endowed with intelligence, artificial or otherwise, so it is hard to see how it might work out here. I would love to be able to automate more of my ...
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ArticleExclusive: A fifth of employees worry about money every day
More than a fifth (22%) of employees worry about money every day, according to research by financial wellbeing organisation Bippit.Its report, The stigma edition 2023, which surveyed 5,000 UK employees and 660 senior HR professionals, also found that more than a third (36%) of employees do not like talking to ...
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ArticleThe top 10 most-read articles between 3 - 9 August 2023
The top 10 most-read articles on employeebenefits.co.uk between 3 - 9 August were: Bunzl, Ocado and Rolls Royce among top UK firms for retention51% of staff would sacrifice benefits to work from homeAnchor receives menopause-friendly accreditationShoosmiths enhances family-friendly policiesHow can pay transparency manage employees' expectations around salary?57% of millennials feel ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Does Zoom's return to the office really spell the end for remote working?
The hybrid/remote working debate reared its head again this week, following the news that video communications company Zoom has ordered employees back to the office. Stating that it believed a structured hybrid approach to be most effective, the organisation has mandated that employees based within 50 miles (80km) of an ...
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Article77% of SMEs say hybrid working has increased profitability
More than three-quarters (77%) of small- and medium-sized organisations (SMEs) believe adopting flexible-working practices has made their business more profitable, according to research by hybrid-working firm IWG.Its research also found that 74% of respondents said their workforces are happier and more satisfied with their work-life balance, while 63% agreed that ...
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ArticleTribunal rules law firm must pay out on 13 counts of unfair dismissal
An employment tribunal has ruled that a defunct Newcastle-based law firm must pay 13 former employees 90 days’ remuneration for unfair dismissal after failing to give sufficient notice of redundancy ahead of the firm ceasing trading.Short Richardson and Forth closed on 30 September 2022, before entering into voluntary liquidation on ...
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Article84% say employer sick pay support is most important benefit
More than four-fifths (84%) of employees say employer sick pay support is the most important benefit an employer can offer, according to research by financial wellbeing firm Wagestream.Its survey of 2,000 low- and variable-income employees from a sample of 500 employers also found that 83% of front-line workers said they ...