All articles by Jennifer Paterson – Page 155

  • Article

    Working Families research: Employers prepared for additional paternity leave

    2011-03-01T00:00:01Z

    More than half (60%) of employers have already updated their policies to reflect the introduction of additional paternity leave (APL) and additional statutory paternity pay (ASPP), according to a survey carried out by Working Families.The APL Survey, which polled 250 employers, aimed to determine UK organisations’ readiness for the changes ...

  • Article

    Aviva research: Employee wellbeing is primary concern during long-term absence

    2011-03-01T00:00:01Z

    Over half of employers (61%) said their primary concern when an employee goes on long-term absence is the individual's health and wellbeing, according to Aviva UK Health’s 360 Degree Absence Management study.A further 23% were anxious about the pressure this absence would put on other employees’ workloads.Nearly half (50%) of ...

  • Article

    Budget 2011: Tax relief restriction on employer-supported childcare confirmed

    2011-03-01T00:00:01Z

    As announced in the Finance Bill in December 2010, the government will introduce a restriction on the level of tax relief available to high-rate and additional-rate taxpayers who receive employer-supported childcare.From April 2011, the weekly amount that parents joining an employer-supported childcare scheme will be able to claim exempt from ...

  • Article

    Wilkins Kennedy research: Staff participating in payroll giving falls

    2011-02-28T10:42:28Z

    The number of employees who give money to charity through payroll has fallen by 30,000, according to research from accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy.In the past 12 months, the number of employees taking part in payroll giving fell from 754,000 to 724,000. This has previously peaked in 2007/08 with 758,000 members.Although ...

  • Article

    Aetna launches international healthcare plans

    2011-02-25T10:31:08Z

    Aetna has launched a suite of international healthcare plans (IHP) for organisations with globally mobile employees.Employers select from one of four base plans, then choose from a menu of up to 49 additional benefits and limits. The plans are available in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong, and will ...

  • Article

    TPR and NISPI publish statement on improving pensions administration

    2011-02-25T10:29:25Z

    The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the National Insurance Services to the Pensions Industry (NISPI) have published a statement that sets out how the two organisations will be working more closely together to improve administration standards.The statement, which is part of TPR’s current drive to improve pension scheme administration, outlines how ...

  • Article

    PWC research: Employers to use more non-financial rewards to motivate staff

    2011-02-24T10:14:02Z

    Organisations in the UK will use more non-financial rewards to motivate staff, according to a PwC’s 14th PwC Global CEO survey.The survey is based on 1,200 interviews conducted from September to November 2010 with CEOs in 69 countries.†The UK data is based on 71 interviews conducted with UK-based CEOs.While 58% ...

  • Article

    Generali Employee Benefits appoints new chief executive

    2011-02-24T10:12:57Z

    Generali Employee Benefits (GEB) has appointed Mauro Dugulin chief executive officer as of 1 March. He will be responsible for the development of GEB on a worldwide basis. Dugulin, who has been with the Generali Group since 1981, was previously general manager of GEB in Brussels.He replaces Elio Moccia who ...

  • Article

    Stormchild Ventures launches flexible benefits product

    2011-02-23T10:11:06Z

    Stormchild Ventures has launched a flexible benefits product called i-Flex.The scheme is designed for organisations on a smaller budget such as small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs). It offers access to core benefits including salary sacrifice for computers, cars and bikes for work, as well as healthcare and childcare vouchers.The i-Flex scheme ...

  • Article

    Towergate Financial and HSBC launch pension scheme for SMEs

    2011-02-23T10:09:31Z

    Towergate Financial and HSBC have launched a new pension scheme for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to meet an employer’s duties under the forthcoming pension reforms due to come into effect from 2012, including auto-enrolment and the National employment savings trust (Nest).Called Workplace Pension in a Box, the scheme has ...

  • Article

    Herbert Smith adds to flex and voluntary benefits schemes

    2011-02-23T00:00:00Z

    Herbert Smith has added home emergency insurance and a discounted gym membership to its benefits package.The home emergency insurance, which is provided by Home 3 and is available through the law firm's flexible benefits scheme, covers plumbing, drainage, heating, electricity/gas supply, security, glazing and pest issues that can arise in ...

  • Article

    Asda pays out £26.9m bonus pot to staff

    2011-02-22T10:36:00Z

    Staff at Asda stores and depots across the UK will share a £26.9 million bonus pay out this week.As Asda’s parent company Walmart prepares to announce its full year results today, the UK supermarket chain has confirmed that staff with over six months service at Asda will receive their portion ...

  • Article

    Legal and General launches cash individual savings account (Isa)

    2011-02-22T10:33:51Z

    Legal and General has launched a corporate cash individual savings account (Isa).Its WorkSave cash Isa accepts contributions directly from payroll and can be topped up online using a debit card. The minimum regular contribution is £50 per month.Working with HBOS, Legal and General is offering investors 1% interest on their ...

  • Article

    XpertHR research: Private sector pay rises set to increase

    2011-02-21T10:37:15Z

    Employee pay rises in the private sector are set to increase, according to research from XpertHR.The report, which looked at 99 pay awards settled in the three months to the end of January 2011, found that the median basic pay deal in the three months to the end of January ...

  • Article

    Loomis UK appoints Mercer to provide pensions administration

    2011-02-18T10:33:47Z

    Loomis UK has appointed Mercer to provide administration services for its pension schemes.The provider of cash-handling services for banks, retailers and other commercial enterprises has made the appointment as part of an initiative to streamline its pension provider arrangements and reduce costs.It follows Mercer’s appointment last year to provide implemented ...

  • Article

    Prudential taken to court over DB pension plan

    2011-02-18T10:20:31Z

    Prudential has been taken to court by the trustees of its employees’ retirement fund.The financial services firm changed its practices in 2006 to plug a £379 million deficit in its defined benefit (DB) pension plan.Broadly, while the trustee must apply increases required by statute to certain elements of pensions in ...

  • Article

    Commerzbank fights appeal over €400m bonus pool

    2011-02-18T10:18:39Z

    Commerzbank has asked the UK Court of Appeals to throw out claims made by over 100 of its investment bankers who argue they are owed a share of discretionary bonuses from a €400 million pool.The bankers were employed by Dresner Kleinwort’s investment banking division which was taken over by Commerzbank ...

  • Article

    Prudential research: Two-thirds of workers will postpone retirement

    2011-02-17T10:56:04Z

    Nearly two thirds (62%) of those who had planned to retire in 2011 would consider postponing their pension and continuing to work in order to boost their retirement income, according to Prudential’s Class of 2011 research.This figure has increased since last year when 57% of those questioned said they would ...

  • Article

    Virgin Experience Days launch a mobile version of website

    2011-02-17T10:24:26Z

    Virgin Experience Days has launched a mobile version of its website which employers can offer to staff through their motivation and incentive schemes.The site also links to global positioning system (GPS) technology enabling users to check the distance from their location to experiences and activities they are interested in.Chris Smith, ...

  • Article

    W and FC Bonham and Sons transfers pension to Financial Assistance Scheme

    2011-02-17T10:20:37Z

    W and FC Bonham and Sons Retirement Fund is transferring its contracted-out pension scheme to the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS).Pope Anderson assisted the trustees in winding up the scheme in the period before it was eligible for the FAS.The FAS. which is managed by the board of the Pension Protection ...