All articles by Jennifer Paterson – Page 127
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Analysis
Voluntary benefits: Top of the perks
Jennifer Paterson looks at the voluntary benefits most commonly offered to staffVoluntary benefits schemes enable employers to offer staff access to a range of products and services, often at a discounted rate and/or with tax and/or national insurance (NI) savings. In these pages, we look at the most popular voluntary ...
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Analysis
Voluntary benefits: VAT ruling is a taxing matter
If you read nothing else, read this . . . From 1 January 2012, if employees sacrifice part of their salary for a benefit that is liable to VAT, output VAT will be due on the amount of salary sacrificed. VAT will be due on bikes-for-work schemes, home computers, mobile ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: DenPlan launches discounted gym membership to award long service
Denplan has introduced a discounted gym membership to award employees for long service to the company.The GymFlex scheme, provided by Incorpore, is available to the firm’s 350 staff once they have reached two years of service. It amounts to a 40% discount on membership at a local gym.Natalie Dixey, recruitment ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: Aviva research: Return-to-work interviews most common rehabilitation support
Return-to-work interviews (30%), occupational health support (24%) and workplace adaptations (23%), such as new chairs, are the most common types of rehabilitation support for employees that are off sick, according to research by Aviva UK.The survey, which polled 1,000 UK employees and 500 employers, also found that 34% of respondents ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: Amscan to roll out employee discounts scheme
Amscan will introduce an employee discounts scheme on 1 January.The party goods manufacturer and distributor will issue a letter, leaflet and discount card to its 126 employees, which can then be used to access the discounts website.Employees can also access offers, including high street discounts and online shopping, through an ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: Swiss Re research: 18% of employers would remove group risk to mitigate costs of auto-enrolment
Just 18% of employers would consider removing group risk benefits from their reward package to help mitigate the costs of auto-enrolment, according to research by reinsurer Swiss Re.Its Facing life’s responsibilities report, published in November, surveyed 1,000 UK staff and 500 employers.†A fifth (20%) of the 18% that would consider ...
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Article
Syngenta saves £100,000 through health plan
EXCLUSIVE: Syngenta has saved £100,000 per year over three years since switching from a fully insured private medical insurance (PMI) scheme to a self-funded health plan.The agri-science firm implemented the plan three years ago with provider Simplyhealth to save on costs, as well as to engage its 1,500 UK employees ...
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Article
JLT research: One-fifth of employers unprepared for auto-enrolment
Only one-fifth (19%) of employers are still not sure how they will comply with auto-enrolment, according to research by JLT Benefit Solutions.The UK pension reforms auto-enrolment and Nest employer research, which surveyed 504 employers, also found that, if organisations were to set up a new pension scheme to comply, one-third ...
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Article
Mercer partners Sage to launch benefits packages aimed at SMEs
Employee benefits consultancy Mercer and business software and services provider Sage UK have partnered to launch Sage Employee Benefits, a service designed to make it easier and more affordable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to introduce employee benefits packages.Sage Employee Benefits is designed to provide cover for organisations with ...
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Article
Government sets out next steps for merging income tax and NI
The government has published a paper setting out its next steps for the merging of income tax and national insurance (NI).The paper summarises the results of the call for evidence, and explains the principles that the government will apply when considering options for reform.As set out in the paper, the ...
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Article
Grass Roots research: 90% of employers say rewarding staff contribution is important
Nine out of ten organisations still think it is important to recognise and reward the contribution that staff make to the business, according to research by Grass Roots.The straw poll found the majority of employers still rate the traditional cash bonus, closely followed by time off, as the top rewards ...
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Article
Lorica introduces guide to 2012 pension reforms
Lorica Employee Benefits has launched a guide to explain the 2012 pension reforms and the challenges of auto-enrolment, including what organisations should do to prepare.The guide introduces the challenges, explains employer duties, and provides steps on what they should be doing now. It also includes details about staging dates.Jason Cannon, ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: LogBuy partners Incahoot for employee discounts offer
Voluntary benefits provider LogBuy has partnered collective buying website Incahoot to offer employers discounts on household bills.The site will be offered to 600,000 employees, across organisations such as Serco and Panasonic, providing discounts on home broadband, energy bills, mobile phones and insurance.The Incahoot website features a savings calculator, deal-checker tool, ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: Edenred awarded for environmental volunteering days
Benefits provider Edenred has been awarded for the environmentally friendly volunteering opportunities it offers to staff.The Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation, an independent environmental group dedicated to promoting the positive side of sustainable endeavours. Previous winners include the BBC, Carlsberg, Centrica, Coca Cola, E.On and Severn ...
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Article
Nuffield Health partners Compass Group in workplace wellbeing initiative
Nuffield Health and Compass Group UK and Ireland have formed a partnership to improve wellbeing at work.The partnership will integrate the fitness services of healthcare provider Nuffield Health with the catering company's nutritional services, to provide enhanced health and wellbeing services for employees of their corporate clients across the UK.A ...
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Article
Giant Group launches voluntary benefits scheme for contractors
Giant Group has introduced a voluntary benefits scheme, designed specifically for its temporary, freelance and contract workers.The scheme launched on November 8, 2011 to all of the contractor services provider’s employees, and is open to new joiners within their first two weeks.It will include a health cash plan, a group ...
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Article
Government publishes review into sickness absence
Sickness absence systems push people away from work and provide little support for them to return to work quickly, according to an independent review aimed at reducing the cost of sickness to employers, taxpayers and the economy.The Sickness absence review was presented to the government by Dame Carol Black, national ...
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Article
MetLife Assurance research: Funding deficits are the biggest risk to DB pension schemes
Funding deficits are the most important risk to UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, according to a comparison report by MetLife Assurance.The annual US/UK pension risk behaviour index, which compared pension risk attitudes and aptitude in the UK and the US, found that 58% of respondents in the UK chose ...
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Article
Astbury Marsden research: City pay rises 12%
Average base pay in the City has jumped 12% to £83,000 in the last year, according to research by financial services recruitment firm Astbury Marsden.The research, conducted among 1,380 City professionals, found that the base pay of managing directors saw the biggest rise, up 21% to £237,000.Pay increases for City ...
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Article
Pitney Bowes research: Almost half of SMEs will not throw a Christmas party
Almost half (48%) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not planning a Christmas party this year.The research, commissioned by communications firm Pitney Bowes and carried out by YourSayPays, surveyed 500 small organisations across the UK.Of the 52% of organisations that are hosting a Christmas party for staff, 91% intend ...