All articles by Ian Silvera – Page 5
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Article
Heatwave causes spike in absence rates
Almost a third (30%) of respondents have noticed a rise in absence rates during the UK’s recent hot weather, according to research commissioned by PMI Health Group.The study, which was conducted among 93 medium-sized and large employers, found that more than half (54%) of respondents do not operate flexible-working policies ...
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ArticleYoung people could lose £100,000 on pensions
Young people who delay saving for a pension until they reach middle age could lose up to £100,000 in employer pension contributions and tax relief, according to research by pension consultancy Barnett Waddingham.The research found that a 25-year-old, earning £25,000 per year, who delays joining a generous workplace pension scheme ...
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Article
Royal Mail privatisation is landmark for employee ownership
Vince Cable, business secretary, confirmed that Royal Mail staff would be given 10% of the organisation’s shares after its flotation on the London Stock Exchange, planned for later this year. The government has hailed the move as the second biggest employee share scheme in 30 years in terms of the ...
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Article
Employers must take care on pay promises
In the High Court case of Attrill and others v Dresdner Kleinwort, employees succeeded in their argument that their employer was contractually obliged to pay bonuses from a guaranteed minimum bonus pool of €400 million (£343 million) it had promised to set up. The court ruled that the bank had ...
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Article
Compliance round-up for July
It is to axe automatic annual pay rises in the civil service as part of a pledge to make £11.5 billion worth of public sector savings in 2015/16. The proposed legislation, announced in the Spending Review 2013 confirmed that public sector pay rises will be limited to an average of ...
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ArticleEmployee share schemes see great activity
Employees at Sports Direct were among those to enjoy a shares payout. Under the organisation’s 2009 bonus scheme, which is set to mature this month, staff will receive a payout worth 75% of their base salary in shares priced at £1.25.It is estimated that a Sport Direct shop assistant on ...
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Article
Buyer's guide to group dental plans 2013
The factsWhat are group dental plans?A group dental plan is an insurance-based scheme that offers employees cover for both preventative and restorative dental treatments. The plan gives staff access to dental insurance through their employer. The benefits can be accessed in various ways, including via private medical insurance (PMI), flexible ...
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Article
Thomsons enhances benefits platform
Thomsons Online Benefits has launched a new version of its Darwin employee benefits platform.The New Darwin Reward Centre tool is aimed at tablet users and provides employees with greater access to information, with the aim of engaging the workforce and enabling employees to make more informed decisions around their benefits, ...
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Article
Royal baby would mean lower pay rise for staff
Something for the weekend …As the hubbub around the royal baby continues, it’s time to take stock and reflect upon our new prince.Isn’t it great we have a future king? Aren’t we all pleased for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge?But, according to research by Aalborg University in Denmark, the ...
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Article
IG Group to review exec remuneration
IG Group is to conduct a complete review of its executive remuneration policy.The decision, which was outlined in the derivitave trader’s Preliminary results for the year ended 31 May 2013, was taken to reflect a realistic view of the medium-term growth prospects of the organisation.The report also disclosed that employee ...
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Article
Metro cleaners protest for living wage
Transport cleaners on the Tyne and Wear Metro are to protest for the living wage.The employees, who are backed by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), will gather outside a meeting of the Churchill Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority at the Newcastle Civic Centre on ...
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Article
Supreme Court overturns Nortel and Lehman pension ruling
Administrators for Nortel Networks and Lehman Brothers have won a case in the Supreme Court, after it ruled that The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) does not have priority rights to the assets of insolvent companies.The Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal and held that financial support directions ...
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Article
Recession has stopped Britain from saving
More than a quarter (28%) of respondents stopped saving in light of the recession and have not saved since, according to research by Now: Pensions.The survey, which was conducted by OnePoll and questioned 2,000 people, found that a quarter (25%) blame frozen wages and rising bills for their lack of ...
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Article
3i Group to reverse bonus plans
Private equity organisation 3i Group, which owns organisations such as fashion retailer Hobbs, has proposed to change its executive director’s pay policy following shareholder discontent.It made the move following a revolt by concerned shareholders held at 3i Group’s annual general meeting (AGM) after it announced it intended to change the ...
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Article
Top discussions from the Employee Benefits LinkedIn group
Labels such as ‘generation Y’ are too simplistic to work out how best to communicate, and therefore engage, with people.However, there is growing evidence to suggest the increasing proliferation of smartphones is facilitating how all ages (and generations) communicate.Indeed, I would argue that there is growing expectation from all ‘groups’ ...
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Opinion
Jackie Palmer: Team of the year award will be an inspiration
We have had a busy and eventful year in Freshfields’ benefits, transforming our flex site, implementing a suite of health and wellbeing initiatives, and engaging employees.To get some external recognition for everything we have tried to achieve is fantastic.We believe passionately in the role of benefits in differentiating Freshfields as ...
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Article
Sports Direct staff to receive shares payout
More than 2,000 Sports Direct employees are in line for bonuses worth more than £70,000 in August.Its Preliminary report 2013 disclosed that the retailer’s 2009 bonus share scheme will mature in August 2013.It will award these employees a payout worth 75% of their salary in shares priced at £1.25.It is ...
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Article
CJEU rules on collectively agreed pay rises
The European Court of Justice (CJEU) has ruled that collectively agreed pay rises should not survive Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Tupe) regulations.The decision in the case of Parkwood Leisure v Alemo-Herron brings an end to nearly three years of legal wranglings.The court ruled in favour of the employer ...
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Article
Negotiations of the naughty kind
Something for the weekend …You should never mix business with pleasure, or so the saying goes. But a new book flies in the face of that conventional wisdom.The Kama Sutra of work: Why work is the new sex and how to make sure you’re getting enough, authored by Avril Millar, ...
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Article
BGL Group hosts benefits fairs
BGL Group has hosted its annual benefits fairs.Almost 400 employees attended the fairs, which were held across the insurance firm’s sites.At the fairs, employees could access information about their benefits package and providers, including Bupa, Marriott Leisure and Virgin Active. They could also participate in development workshops, which were hosted ...