All articles by Jennifer Paterson – Page 34
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Article
InterGlobal enhances cancer cover on international PMI
InterGlobal has enhanced the cover for cancer treatment available through its 2014 UltraCare international private medical insurance (IPMI) scheme.The international medical insurer has removed previous benefit limits and excesses for cancer from its plan.Its UltraCare Standard, Select, Comprehensive and Elite plans will now cover the costs of all in-patient, day ...
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Article
OTS publishes details of benefits tax quick wins
The Office for Tax Simplification (OTS) has published the details of its nine ‘quick wins’, which aim to simplify the tax efficiencies on employee benefits and expenses.The ‘quick wins’, which will come in from January 2014, were identified in the OTS’ interim report on employee benefits and expenses in August ...
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Video
VIDEO: Debi Povey: Employee Benefits award put Bwin.Party on the map
Winning an Employee Benefits award put Bwin.Party on the map, said Debi Povey, head of reward at Bwin.Party, during an interview with Debbie Lovewell-Tuck, deputy editor of Employee Benefits.Bwin.Party won the award for ‘Best international benefits’ at the Employee Benefits Awards 2013.She added: “The award was because of a huge ...
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Article
Zurich launches group life assurance for partners
Zurich has launched a group life assurance product for employees’ partners.The product includes:Flexibility for the employer to set the value and number of benefit steps, up to a maximum benefit of £250,000.A simple member acceptance process that operates on a short application form.Cover up to age 75.Nick Homer (pictured), group ...
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Article
?Aegon UK to move investment platform in-house
Aegon UK is to purchase Novia Investment Services from Novia Financial.The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, will mean the development work on Aegon’s platform, Aegon Retirement Choices, will move in-house.Novia Investment Services was set up as a separate organisation to build and administer Aegon’s platform in 2011.Tommy Young, ...
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Article
Leasedrive Group partially acquired by HgCapital
Leasedrive Group has been 80% acquired by private equity investor, HgCapital.The fleet group’s management team has rolled 20% of their own investment and equity into the new financial structure.David Bird, managing director of Leasedrive Group, said: “This new investment, which sees the senior management team retain equity and shareholding, demonstrates ...
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Article
91% of pension schemes charge members
The majority (91%) of pension schemes have some form of charge for their members, according to research by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).Its 39th Annual survey, which covered 950,000 defined contribution (DC) pension members, found that 79% of schemes have an annual management charge (AMC), while the employer ...
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Article
42% have never changed their DC pension investments
Almost half (42%) of respondents have never made a change to their defined contribution (DC) pension investments, according to research by AllianceBernstein.Its Defined contribution survey, which questioned 500 employees who save into a DC pension, found that 22% believe changes to pension investments are not their responsibility.The research also found:55% ...
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Article
Only 2% intend to scrap childcare vouchers
Only 2% of respondents intend to remove their existing childcare voucher offering prior to the introduction of the government’s proposed new scheme in 2015, according to research by Jelf Employee Benefits.Its research, which surveyed 132 employers, found that 75% of respondents would consider retaining their existing childcare voucher scheme post-2015.In ...
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Article
Travis Perkins staff to share £17m sharesave payout
More than 7,000 Travis Perkins employees are to share nearly £17 million following the maturity of a five-year sharesave scheme on 1 December.This could amount to profits of £50,000 per employee.The home improvement organisation’s share price has risen by 50% over the past 12 months, to 1,757p on 10 December.The ...
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Article
Group risk industry paid £1.2bn in claims in 2012
A total of £1.2 billion was paid out by the group risk industry during 2012, according to research by industry body Group Risk Development (Grid).Its research compiled claims statistics to reveal the breakdown of benefits paid out by products, such as group life assurance, group income protection and group critical ...
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Article650,000 UK staff off sick each week
Nearly 650,000 UK employees phone in sick every week, according to research by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).Its research, which analysed figures from the BHF’s Health at Work programme, found that the public administration and defence sector, which includes many public sector jobs, has the highest absence levels, with approximately ...
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Article
Employee Benefits award win increases staff engagement
Amber Garner, benefits team leader at Home Retail Group, answers questions about what it means to win an Employee Benefits’ award.Home Retail Group won ‘Best employee share scheme’ at the Employee Benefits Awards 2013.What has winning an Employee Benefits’ award meant to you and to your team?We are passionate about ...
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Article
CIPP launches auto-enrolment self-assessment exercise
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) has launched an online self-assessment exercise that employers can use to check their readiness for auto-enrolment.The answers received through the exercise will form the basis of advice, guidance and support the employers will subsequently receive, in line with their specific levels of readiness. ...
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Article
Burberry and BT win share plan awards
BT Group, Burberry and Rio Tinto are among the winners of the IFS Proshare Awards.The awards recognise employers’ contributions to the employee share ownership industry. BT Group won the ‘Most effective use of technology’ award, as well as the award for ‘Best overall performance in fostering employee share ownership, for ...
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Article
GFK Group to launch global HR tool
Market research organisation, GFK Group, is to launch a global online HR, compensation and performance management tool.The product, TalentReward, which is provided by Towers Watson, includes a range of HR services designed to help employers with their performance management process, pay and career planning.GFK Group will launch the product in ...
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Article
Havas People launches reward brand
EXCLUSIVE: Havas People has launched a brand called Many Thanks, which offers a range of options for employers to reward and recognise their employees.The options include gift cards, vouchers and e-codes from a range of well-known retailers, including Love2Shop, Marks and Spencer, iTunes and Debenhams.Employers can also choose from a ...
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Article
Minority of employers tackle workplace stress
Research published by charity Mind in October found that 36% of the employees surveyed believe looking after workers’ mental wellbeing should be an organisational priority, but only 20% feel their employer takes active steps to help them manage stress.Emma Mamo, policy and campaigns manager at Mind, said: “We have been ...
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Article
Employee Benefits Awards 2014 to focus on DC pensions
Two categories at the Employee Benefits Awards 2014 highlight the great work UK employers are doing in this regard.‘Best DC pension default investments’, a category introduced in 2013, recognises an employer that makes a concerted effort to offer an appropriate, effective default investment strategy for its DC pension scheme. The ...
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Article
Employee Benefits Awards fuel ideas
Simon Andrew, head of communications at Benefex, explains what it means to be recognised with an Employee Benefits award.The consultancy won ‘Best benefits communications – smaller employer’ at the Employee Benefits Awards 2013. What has winning an Employee Benefits’ award meant to you?What has winning an Employee Benefits award meant ...