All articles by Jennifer Paterson – Page 154
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Article
Yorkshire Water changes course on staff statements
Yorkshire Water has switched providers for its total reward statements.The utilities firm, which has provided total reward statements for its 2,400 staff for four years, switched to Benefex because it felt it was time to work with a new partner to ensure a higher level of accuracy.The company provides paper ...
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Article
Sage pilots occupational health service
Business software supplier Sage UK is piloting an occupational health scheme to help staff with musculoskeletal problems and has used its switch in childcare voucher providers to communicate the tax changes due to come into effect on 6 April.The health scheme, to be launched in the spring and provided by ...
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Analysis
Salary sacrifice can ease impact of national insurance rise
If you read nothing else, read this... From 6 April, national insurance contributions (NICs) will increase by 1% for employers and employees. Offering tax-efficient benefits such as childcare vouchers, bikes for work and pension contributions via salary sacrifice arrangements can help mitigate the impact of the NI increase. Employers are ...
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Article
Employee Benefits/Towers Watson Flexible Benefits Research 2011: Impact of legislation
Forthcoming pension reforms and changes to high earners pensions tax relief have affected attitudes to flex, but some employers are still unsure, says Jennifer PatersonA significant number of employers still do not know how the 2012 pension reforms have affected the way they view pensions in relation to flex. In ...
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Article
Employee Benefits/Towers Watson Flexible Benefits Research 2011: Tax-efficient benefits
With government tax changes on the way, more and more employers are keen to cash in on tax and NI breaks through flexible benefits, says Jennifer PatersonOffering perks with tax- and national insurance (NI) breaks has become a popular way to redirect cash back into a flexible benefits scheme. Popular ...
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Article
Employee Benefits/Towers Watson Flexible Benefits Research 2011: Benefits on offer
Voluntary benefits are increasing as the main precursor to flex, while childcare vouchers and bikes for work continue their rise in popularity, says Jennifer PatersonMaking the transition to flexible benefits requires a change in how staff think about their perks. The manner in which benefits are offered or communicated before ...
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Article
Employee Benefits/Towers Watson Employee Benefits Research 2011: Attitudes
As the recession is replaced by the age of austerity, many employers are looking to flex as a cost-efficient way to keep employees motivated, says Jennifer PatersonOnce again, the most commonly cited advantage of running a flex scheme is that it enables staff to tailor benefits to suit their needs ...
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Article
Projectlink Motivation re-branded as Grass Roots Projectlink
Projectlink Motivation has re-branded as Grass Roots Projectlink and is now operating as a division of Grass Roots UK.The recognition and incentives business was acquired by Grass Roots Group in 2003. Managing director Ian Horsham, who joined Projectlink in August 2007, will continue to lead the organisation.The Grass Roots Projectlink ...
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Article
Occupational Pension Trusts appoints Grove to run DB schemes
Occupational Pension Trusts (OPT) has appointed Grove Corporate Pensions to run defined benefit (DB) schemes.OPT allows pension schemes to separate from the sponsoring employer and club together in a national confederation. It provides an alternative to buy-out for DB scheme sponsors struggling to survive.Its GroveBundled product, which is aimed at ...
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Article
Tradeteam staff raise over £30,000 for charities
Employees across Tradeteam’s 29 UK sites have spent the past 12 months hiking, biking, baking and running to raise money for charity, raising over £30,000 in 2010.The drinks distributor has aligned its fundraising and community activities with its corporate social responsibility (CSR). These are supported by parent company DHL’s ‘Match ...
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Article
Randstad research: Few employers have assessed impact of Agency Workers Regulations
Only 7% of UK employers have conducted an assessment into how they will be impacted by the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), according to Randstad’s Shifting Sands report.Over a third (37%) of respondents admit they are unfamiliar with the regulations.The AWR, which will come into force on 1 October 2011, will ...
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Article
Standard Chartered Bank to launch integrated benefits portal
Standard Chartered Bank will be one of the first organisations to adopt a new integrated benefits portal from Standard Life.The Lifelens product, which provides employees with access to both pension and non-pension benefits, including savings options, flexible benefits, online payslips, total reward statements, pensions, planning and modeling tools, and educational ...
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Article
E.On switches on new flex perks and puts PMI in trust
E.On has added new benefits to its flexible benefits plan and switched its private medical insurance to a healthcare trust.The PMI scheme, provided by Simplyhealth, is employee-funded for most staff and is also available to families.Ant Donaldson, senior specialist – employee benefits at E.On, said: “PMI has insurance premium tax ...
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Article
Executive Offices Group research: Flexible working enhances productivity
The majority (87%) of respondents to the Executive Offices Group’s (EOG) Customer Service Survey said the greatest benefit for an employer offering flexible working is an increase in the efficiency and output of staff.Respondents to the survey, which included entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the financial services, ...
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Article
Standard Life research: Employers feel responsible for employees’ financial security
Eight in ten (80%) employers feel responsible for their employees’ financial security, with nearly a quarter (22%) feeling primarily responsible.†According to Standard Life’s Insights into Financial Responsibility (IFR) report, 65% of employers believe employee communication has improved over the past five years. However, almost the same number of employees (64%) ...
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Article
Government to delay extension to the right to request flexible working
The government has announced it will delay regulations extending the right to request flexible working to parents of 17 year olds for all businesses, which were scheduled to be introduced on 6 April.Working parents currently have the right to request flexible working if they have a child aged 16 and ...
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Article
Income tax charge for senior executives’ company cars
Senior executives who benefit from company car schemes and owner-directors with luxury cars are to be hit with a new income tax charge from 6 April.Under the new rules, the P11D tax paid on company cars, such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys and top-end Mercedes and BMWs, will increase significantly as ...
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Article
Office of Tax Simplification recommends retention of tax relief on childcare, bikes and green cars, but not on EAPs
The independent Office of Tax Simplification has presented its ‘Review of tax reliefs’ report to the Chancellor.After an interim report was published in December 2010, the Office of Tax Simplification received comments and feedback from taxpayers, advisers, HM Revenue and Customs, HM Treasury. and other interested bodies. The new report ...
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Article
Childcare Voucher Providers Association launched
The Childcare Voucher Providers Association (CVPA) has been launched as the industry body to represent employer-supported childcare providers and to promote best practice within the sector.The CVPA has set out a code of practice for its members, with particular emphasis on the required standards to ensure the secure delivery of ...
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Article
Asda and Panasonic staff warned on childcare vouchers tax relief
Asda and Panasonic have communicated next month’s changes to childcare vouchers tax relief to staff.From 6 April 2011, only basic-rate taxpayers will receive full tax and national insurance (NI) relief on up to £55 a week. Tax relief will be restricted to £28 for 40% and £22 for 50% taxpayers, ...