Microsoft UK has switched providers of its flexible benefits scheme and moved the plan online for the first time.
The scheme, paper-based since 2003 and previously provided by Edenred, was relaunched in May using Thomsons Online Benefits’ Darwin platform.
The move is intended to improve the employee experience, reduce administration for Microsoft’s HR team, and improve the automation of data to benefits providers. Theresa McHenry, HR director at Microsoft UK, said: “If we are going to keep improving the benefits we offer and the breadth of flexibility, we need to have the best reporting functionality we can and the most efficient automation of data.”
Microsoft made the changes to its scheme part-way through its flex year, which runs from January to December with staff selecting benefits at the end of each calendar year.
McHenry added: “We wanted to move providers as quickly as possible, but also recognised that managing the enrolment process and switching technology providers at the same time was fraught with issues."
Read more about online flexible benefits schemes