All articles by Debbie Lovewell-Tuck – Page 54

  • Article

    Research 2010: who are the respondents; key findings

    2010-03-01T16:37:34Z

    Our survey was carried out in January 2010, with analysis based on 354 responses from Employee Benefits’ readers and users of www.employeebenefits.co.ukKey Findings55% of respondents believe their flex scheme has been effective at reducing/containing the cost of reward.31% do not give staff a flex pot to spend, but enable them ...

  • Article

    Research 2010: tax-efficient flexible benefits

    2010-03-01T16:30:32Z

    The recession has seen more employers use the tax and NI savings from flex to fund business initiatives and additional pension contributions, says Debbie LovewellIn September 2009, the government made a shock announcement that it planned to phase out the tax breaks on childcare vouchers from 2011. This caused such ...

  • Article

    Research 2010: how flexible benefits schemes are administered

    2010-03-01T16:26:57Z

    A minority of employers administer flex fully in-house, but many still claim not to know how much their scheme costs to run per employee, says Debbie LovewellThe proportion of respondents that manage their flexible benefits scheme fully in-house has been on a downward trend over the past five years. Five ...

  • Article

    Marine Harvest (Scotland) switches providers for pensions services

    2010-02-11T11:07:56Z

    Scottish salmon producer Marine Harvest (Scotland) has switched providers for its pensions administration, actuarial and consultancy services of the Marine Harvest Pension Scheme.From this month, Xafinity will take over the contract from Towers Watson.The open-ended contract will be serviced by Xafinity from its Stirling office in Scotland.Jonathan Seed, director for ...

  • Article

    Linklaters wins Lawyer HR award for benefits package

    2010-02-10T10:53:39Z

    Law firm Linklaters has won the award for 'Most effective employee benefits scheme' at this year’s Lawyer HR awards, which took place last night.The law firm, which employs a 2,500-strong workforce, has made a number of changes to its benefits package in the past year. These include the introduction of ...

  • Article

    NorthgateArinso acquires Australian HR and payroll provider Neller

    2010-02-09T12:50:26Z

    NorthgateArinso has acquired Australian HR and payroll solution provider Neller.The acquisition supports software and services provider NorthgateArinso’s UK global growth strategy as it seeks to expand in Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific (ANZA).Neller, headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, develops and markets software and services to support HR professionals. Neller’s subsidiary, ...

  • Article

    Mercer appoints Steve Smith as new UK HR head

    2010-02-04T10:45:25Z

    Mercer has appointed Steve Smith as UK head of human resources.Smith joined the consultancy from Alliance Trust where he held the position of head of human resources for five years. Prior to that, he was group HR director at Aberdeen Asset Management.During his 20 years of professional experience in human ...

  • Article

    Coats implements online hosted compensation management tool

    2010-02-03T11:20:59Z

    Coats has appointed consultancy Mercer to provide an online hosted compensation management tool and supply annual market data to support ongoing process and analysis work.The system will enable the sewing thread and needlecraft supplies firm to manage its market data more effectively, applying it to its top 500 employees in ...

  • Article

    Denton Wilde Sapte launches wellbeing programme

    2010-02-01T15:14:11Z

    International law firm Denton Wilde Sapte has launched a year-long healthy balance programme, with a particular emphasis on mental and physical wellbeing.The programme commenced with a health and lifestyle fair in the firm's London office on 29 January. This featured stands dedicated to health and fitness, social and creative activities.The ...

  • Case Studies

    Employer profile: Sony UK

    2010-02-01T12:23:00Z

    Sony UK has invested in lifestyle facilities to keep its employees fully energised for maximum performance, says Debbie LovewellThe location of Sony UK’s head office on the site of the old Brooklands motor racing circuit is perhaps apt for an organisation that has an initiative called ‘Firing on all cylinders’ ...

  • Article

    Employers could save 35% on benefits costs by reviewing supplier contracts

    2010-01-28T09:01:18Z

    Employers could save up to 35% on benefits costs by renegotiating supplier contracts, according to consultancy Hewitt Associates.In particular, savings could be made by reviewing benefits such as private medical insurance, group life assurance and group income protection.Colin Bullen, head of health and risk benefits at Hewitt Associates, said: “Companies ...

  • Article

    Nissan Motors reappoints Mercer as global retirement consultants

    2010-01-27T11:39:05Z

    Nissan Motors has appointed Mercer as its global retirement consultant for the second year running.Mercer will advise Nissan on pension governance all over the world. The move will strengthen the business relationship between Nissan and Mercer Japan, and also provide an opportunity to further the partnership between Nissan’s overseas subsidiaries ...

  • Article

    FirstGroup and Apache appoint Mercer

    2010-01-11T15:51:45Z

    Transport operator FirstGroup and oil and gas exploration and production company Apache have appointed consultancy Mercer to provide implemented consulting services to their pension funds.FirstGroup will use the services for one of its UK pension plans, which has total assets of £35 million. This will provide the fund with investment ...

  • Article

    Aviva enhances group risk products

    2010-01-11T15:32:38Z

    Aviva has made several enhancements to its group income protection and group life products.With immediate effect, it has increased the free cover limit formula on its existing and new group life policies from £15,000 to £20,000 multiplied by the number of lives in a scheme, subject to a maximum of ...

  • Article

    Financial services firms move away from short-term incentives

    2010-01-11T15:15:21Z

    Financial organisations have changed the mix of pay, moving emphasis away from short-term incentive schemes in favour of increased salary, deferred compensation schemes and modified incentive programme design, according to a global survey by consultancy Mercer.The sector is also changing the nature of its short-term incentive schemes, with more focus ...

  • Article

    Personal accounts rebranded as National Employment Savings Trust

    2010-01-07T16:52:58Z

    The Personal Accounts Delivery Authority (Pada) has announced that National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) will be the new permanent name for the personal accounts scheme, due to come into effect from 2012 under workplace pensions reforms.Nest will be run by a not-for-profit trustee body, the Nest Corporation.Pada developed the new ...

  • Article

    Employers use flexible benefits to reduce costs

    2009-12-11T11:46:18Z

    Nearly one in four employers has reduced their benefit costs by introducing a flexible benefits scheme, according to a survey of UK employers by consultancy Mercer.A total of 55% of respondents believed setting up a flexible benefits scheme would actually increase their costs. Yet 39% of those with flex schemes ...

  • Article

    Royal Mail forecasts £10bn pensions deficit

    2009-12-11T10:30:03Z

    Royal Mail Group is expected to reveal a £10 billion deficit for its defined benefit (DB) pension fund.Adam Crozier, Royal Mail chief executive, said the pension fund deficit was currently being revalued, but the historic deficit was expected to reach at least £10 billion, compared with £3.4bn in the last ...

  • Article

    Debbie Lovewell, deputy editor of Employee Benefits: Challenging year must strengthen our resolve

    2009-12-03T16:21:40Z

    The past 12 months have certainly been an eventful time in the benefits world. Economic turmoil, legislative changes and the continuing need to cut costs have all posed significant challenges for employers.To mark the end of such a testing year, this month’s cover story takes a look back at the ...

  • Article

    Special report 2009: Tender process requires careful preparation

    2009-12-03T11:08:55Z

    A benefits tender process calls for careful planning and a clear focus on the criteria for choosing a supplier that best suits an employer's needs, says Debbie LovewellMaking any large purchase can be a daunting experience, especially in these recession-hit times. Few of us would spend a lot of money ...