All articles by Georgina Fuller
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Case StudiesSevern Trent values in-person celebrations during the festive period
Severn Trent is one of the biggest water firms in the UK and provides more than eight million people with clean drinking water every day. Its head office is in Coventry and it has 7,000 employees across the East and West Midlands, stretching into Wales. Around 60% of staff are ...
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AnalysisHow has the pandemic changed the shape of Christmas incentives and rewards?
Need to know:Employers are taking a more personalised and imaginative approach to gifts this Christmas. Think pamper days, bespoke hampers and personalised gift cards.This year, many employers will be using the budget they would have spent on Christmas parties on rewards and gifts.Many are also offering blended rewards, combining high ...
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AnalysisHow has the role of the line manager changed in supporting employee wellbeing?
Need to know:Line managers have had to change their mindset during the pandemic and become more proactive in managing wellbeing while employees are working from home.There has been a significant shift towards personalised, proactive wellbeing plans, daily and weekly health check-ins and Mental Health First Aid training, as well as ...
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Case StudiesBulb puts line managers at the centre of its wellbeing strategy
Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis in March 2020, Bulb, which is London based and has around 700 employees, has tried to put wellbeing at the forefront of its business strategy.Tom Fraine, chief people officer at the renewable energy firm, says: “We recognise that this is a time of ...
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AnalysisHow should retirement information change for employees at different life stages?
Need to know:Employees of all ages need help saving for a financially stable later life, but the format and delivery will need to vary across different demographics.To engage younger staff, employers could consider repackaging concepts such as pension payments and retirement planning to feel more relevant.Throughout the 15 years leading ...
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AnalysisPensions versus other workplace investments: what are employees' options?
Need to know:Pensions are still viewed as the primary workplace savings vehicle for employees, but other tools include the corporate Individual savings account (Isa) or the Lifetime individual savings account (Lisa).The Pension Freedoms Act has made pensions more accessible and potentially more desirable as a savings vehicle, but employees may ...
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Case StudiesMott MacDonald offers range of financial benefits to help employees save
The Mott MacDonald Group is a global engineering, management and development consultancy with 16,000 employees across 150 countries, and a headquarters in the UK. It is one of the largest employee-owned organisations in the world.Mott MacDonald has a defined contribution (DC) pension scheme for all UK staff; this is a ...
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AnalysisTop tips for communicating to a non-office-based workforce
Need to know:Employers should involve all employees in communications, and consider smartphone apps if certain sites have limited access to email.An effective communications strategy should be simple, coherent and focused on key messages.Organisations should aim to use a variety of channels, such as video, which can communicate a lot of ...
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Case StudiesGraf UK promotes open and social communications across different offices
Water management business Graf UK has sites across the UK - in Oxfordshire, Scotland and Ireland - which creates a challenge when trying to build an effective, united communications strategy.Nevertheless, communication is still an integral part of the organisation's corporate culture, explains director Matthew Ralph. “We hold regular meet-ups with ...
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AnalysisHow can employers calculate a return on investment on group risk benefits?
Need to knowEmployers should make sure they are maximising all features of group risk benefits they offer.The benefits provided to employees must be communicated in a compelling and timely manner.Employers should also factor in employee sickness absence and the cost of sick pay.Nearly 12.5 million employees were covered by group ...
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Case StudiesMunich Re UK Services offers a number of core group risk benefits
Munich Re UK Services is a global reinsurer which covers life reinsurance, non-life reinsurance and global risk. The group’s headquarters are in Munich, Germany, and the organisation has more than 43,420 employees.Munich Re UK Services offers a number of core group risk benefits including: group life, private health insurance, private ...
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Case StudiesNorthumbrian Water Group uses benefits portal to increase employee awareness
Northumbrian Water Group implemented a one-stop benefits portal using single sign-on technology to increase employees' awareness of their benefits provision and understanding of what is available to them.The portal, which is provided by benefits technology firm Staffcare, incorporates the organisation's pensions, corporate individual savings account (ISA) and voluntary benefits programme.Neil ...
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AnalysisHow to measure a return on investment (ROI) on benefits technology
Need to knowThe cost of benefits technology can vary considerably, from a set-up price of £15,000 to £100,000 per organisation for a flexible benefits scheme, depending on the complexity and scale.When it comes to measuring return on investment, research by Personal Group estimates that an organisation with 1,000 employees can ...
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AnalysisAre traditional approaches to employee motivation still valid today?
Need to knowContemporary motivation schemes, including digital rewards and points programmes, should sit alongside more traditional employee benefits rather than be mutually exclusive.Employers are still recognising and rewarding talent through loyalty milestones but over shorter periods of time, such as at one-year rather than five-year increments.Employers are also making more ...
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Case StudiesEnterprise Rent-A-Car recognises different staff motivation requirements
Car hire firm Enterprise Rent-A-Car has shifted its recruitment and training focus after analysing what millennials wanted from their first year in a job. Donna Miller, European HR director, says: “Previously, there would have been a far greater emphasis on the medium- or long-term career path. We recognise now, however, ...
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Case StudiesVolvo keeps track of employees’ health and wellbeing through workplace study
Global car manufacturer Volvo participated in Britain’s Healthiest Workplace study, run by VitalityHealth, in 2016. Volvo used its senior management team to promote the benefits of regular health checks, improvements to diet, and increased physical activity levels.It achieved this through a combination of wellness days to provide key health and ...
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AnalysisHow can an employer benchmark its wellbeing strategy?
Need to knowSeven in 10 organisations currently have, or are in the process of implementing, a wellbeing strategy, according to the UK workplace wellbeing index by Barnett Waddingham, published in May 2017.Data, including management information, benefits claims, absence data, advanced behavioural data and employee engagement survey results, can be used ...
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ArticleBuyer's guide to electronic motivation vouchers
The facts: What are electronic motivation vouchers?Electronic motivation vouchers are electronic cards or vouchers that can be loaded or topped up with a monetary value. These can be spent at a single store or at multiple retailers.Where can employers get more information?The UK Gift Card and Voucher Association at www.ukgcva.co.uk.Who ...
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ArticleBuyer's guide to bikes-for-work schemes
The facts:What are bikes-for-work schemes?Bikes-for-work schemes are tax-exempt arrangements that encourage employees to cycle to work to reduce environmental pollution and promote healthier lifestyles. The scheme enables employers to fund bikes and safety equipment, and loan these to employees.Where can employers find more information?Additional information can be found on the ...
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ArticleBuyer's guide to health screening 2016
The factsWhat is health screening?Corporate health screening is a range of assessments that can help identify health risks. This can help to safeguard employees’ health by identifying potential health issues that may benefit from early intervention.Where can employers get more information?Information on screening and tests that are recommended for employees ...