All articles by Debbie Lovewell-Tuck – Page 56
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Health & Wellbeing: Comment by Debbie Lovewell, deputy editor
Despite the continuing pressure on employers to cut costs, taking steps to maintain employees' health and wellbeing is more important than ever.Not only are staff often under increased pressure following redundancies, but employers would be wise to look after those left behind to be sure of having an engaged and ...
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Government pushes back deadlines to implement pension reforms
The government has extended the timeframe employers will have to automatically enrol employees into a qualifying pension scheme and pushed back the date by which organisations must contribute the full 3% on banded earnings under pensions legislation due to come into effect in 2012.A consultation paper published by the Department ...
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Employer profile: Schlumberger's global challenge to deliver staff benefits
With staff in remote global locations, Schlumberger’s benefits task is challenging, says Debbie LovewellUnless you are a potential candidate for the TV show I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, the opportunity to work in a jungle or desert environment is unlikely to fall within the realm of your ...
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Massive gender pay gap uncovered in finance sector
Female employees in some of the UK's leading finance organisations receive around 80% less in performance-related pay than male colleagues, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) Finance Sector Inquiry.The report also found nearly all women taking up new jobs in the companies surveyed earn lower average starting ...
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Axa appoints new managing director of corporate benefits business
Axa has appointed Paul McMahon as managing director (MD) of Axa Corporate Benefits.McMahon, who will replace Steve Edwards, will take up the role from 1 October 2009. McMahon most recently held the position of Md of Axa Distribution Services where he oversaw the development of the company's wrap platform.He said: ...
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Article
Sodexo launches online voluntary benefits scheme
Sodexo has launched an online voluntary benefits product for employers to offer to staff.TheBene£itsWebsite provides benefits and services in categories such as car, health, home, money, travel, shopping, lifestyle and legal matters. Some of the brands and retailers offered through the scheme include Halfords, Vision Express, APH, Fitness First, The ...
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Lorica Online partners with P&MM
Lorica Online, the new flexible benefits division of Lorica Consulting, has partnered with P&MM to offer a range of voluntary lifestyle benefits through Lorica's online benefits portal Cube.P&MM's lifestyle benefits scheme offers a range of discounts that staff cannot access on the high street on products and services, such as ...
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Consultation on the gender pay gap launched
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a consultation on how private and voluntary sector employers with at least 250 staff can measure and report on their gender pay gap.Women working full-time currently earn 17.1% less per hour on average than men, with the gap failing to improve in ...
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Healix Group extends risk screening tool into New Zealand
Medical risk assessment firm, Healix Group, has expanded into New Zealand with the implementation of its risk screening tool by New Zealand assistance products company, First Assistance.The partnership enables First Assistance to build the tool into travel insurance sales platforms developed for its own clients, improving the efficiency of its ...
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Pensions research: Pensions legislation
Employers are slowly getting ready for the 2012 reforms, says Debbie LovewellThe Pensions Act 2008 will introduce pensions reforms in October 2012 that include autoenrolment to a qualifying occupational pension plan or personal accounts, and the phasing-in of compulsory employer and staff contributions. The government appears to be slowly convincing ...
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Pensions research: Attitudes to pensions
Employers still place a high value on pensions, but many concede they should be doing more to boost staff take-up, says Debbie LovewellOver the years, workplace pension schemes have not fallen out of favour with employers, despite the (often complex) challenges they pose for many organisations. This is borne out ...
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Editor’s comment
Operating a pension plan can be like gardening. Schemes and plants both require a lot of nurturing to flourish. And, in some cases, both may fail to grow, if the wrong type of care and attention is lavished on them. But employers can take steps to help staff boost their ...
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Active Health Partners launches absence risk barometer
Active Health Partners (AHP) has launched an absence risk barometer to help employers quantify the risk of absence to business operations in their organisation.The guide creates a simple risk estimate (SRE) for reasons of absence. This produces a risk profile for specific sectors, companies and departments, allowing employers to implement ...
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Staff get ready for Hug Your Boss Day on 21 August
Managers may find they experience a sudden surge in popularity later this month on National Hug Your Boss day.Online job board Tiptopjob is encouraging staff to throw caution to the wind, and get up close and personal with their boss on 21 August in a bid to boost workplace motivation ...
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Article
FSA fines HSBC Actuaries and Consultants £875,000 for losing data
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined HSBC Actuaries and Consultants £875,000 for losing personal information of 1,917 pension scheme members.Their details were contained on an unencrypted floppy disk, which was lost in the post in April 2007. The confidential information included members' addresses, dates of birth and national insurance ...
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Maintaining staff health and wellbeing through the downturn
With the recession putting workforces under strain, health and wellbeing benefits pay their way by keeping staff fit, says Debbie LovewellWhen the going gets tough, people cope in different ways. As the recession tightens its grip, many may be tempted to reach for a glass of wine or a bar ...
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Analysis
Protecting expatriate pay value as exchange rates fluctuate
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates can reduce the value of expatriate employees’ pay so what steps can employers take to protect them - and should they? Debbie Lovewell reportsIf you read nothing else, read this…- Exchange rate fluctuations have seen the pound fall against other major currencies, such as the ...
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Renault launches pensions salary sacrifice
Renault has introduced a pensions salary sacrifice arrangement for its trust-based defined contribution (DC) scheme.The move is intended to help bring cost savings to the business. Marina Polyakova, HR business manager, said: “Employees will get a little bit more money in their pay cheque and, as an organisation, we will ...
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London Lite holds awards ceremony for vendors
Free London newspaper the London Lite has held an awards ceremony to recognise the work of its distributors.Its annual London Lite Merchandiser Awards, which are in their second year, awarded vendors in categories such as Merchandiser of the Year, Best Product Presentation, Most Environmentally-Conscious Merchandiser and Team Leader of the ...
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Samworth Brothers appoints Barnett Waddingham for pension services
Chilled food producer Samworth Brothers has appointed Barnett Waddingham to provide actuarial and pension administration services to its defined benefit (DB) scheme.The company, which produces chilled food under the Ginsters brand as well as supermarket own brands, operates an open DB scheme, which has over 5,000 members.Craig Stansfield, partner at ...