All articles by Jennifer Paterson – Page 65

  • Article

    Changes to Companies Act promote employee ownership

    2013-05-01T08:40:00Z

    The government’s changes to the Companies Act 2006, which aim to promote employee ownership, come into effect on 30 April, following approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.In relation to authorising share buy backs, these amendments will:Allow off-market share buy backs to be authorised by ...

  • Article

    Global payroll practices need improvement

    2013-05-01T08:34:00Z

    The majority (85%) of multinational organisations surveyed want improvements to their current payroll practices, yet they are sceptical about whether payroll providers can deliver a comprehensive global solution, according to research by Ernst and Young.Its Global payroll: myth or reality research, which surveyed 161 global senior payroll leaders, found that ...

  • Article

    Simplyhealth launches new PMI plan for SMEs

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Simplyhealth has launched a new private medical insurance (PMI) scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).The scheme, Simply Employee Health, will replace its existing PMI schemes, Accessible, Preferential and Sante, from 1 July 2013. Its core cover includes a physiotherapy service, designed to remove the need for GP referral and ...

  • Article

    Ladbrokes offers text registration for sharesave

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Ladbrokes has re-launched communications for its latest sharesave scheme, and introduced SMS text message registration for staff.Its three and five-year sharesave schemes, which have been offered to staff since 1983, allow 14,000 eligible employees to save up to £250 per month. Staff have also received a 20% discount on ...

  • Article

    Peverel Group promotes total reward

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Peverel Group has launched a series of roadshows and workshops to promote its total reward platform, its flexible benefits scheme and new group personal pension (GPP) plan as it prepares for auto-enrolment.The property management group opened its flexible benefits enrolment window in March 2013, and employees’ benefit choices took ...

  • Article

    Pot-follows-member pension launched for film industry

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    A pot-follows-member group personal pension (GPP) scheme has been launched for the film industry to comply with auto-enrolment legislation.The Film Industry Pension Scheme, which will be operated in partnership between Helm Godfrey and Scottish Widows, is designed to address a series of industry-specific issues when it comes to pension administration, ...

  • Article

    Paperlinx extends mileage management system

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Paperlinx has extended its mileage management system across all company car drivers in its UK divisions.The international merchant group first offered the system, provided by Vertivia, in 2011 within just two of its operating organisations for a 150-strong fleet.The organisation decided to roll out the system to the rest of ...

  • Article

    Europa outsources fleet management

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Europa has outsourced the management of its 350-strong fleet to Fleet Alliance.The building and facilities management group, which employs around 4,000 staff, has around 110 company cars in the UK.It first appointed Fleet Alliance two years ago to source new cars as part of an online fleet management service and ...

  • Article

    European pension funds shift out of equities

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    European pension funds have continued to cut equity allocations, according to research by Mercer.Its European asset allocation survey, which looked at more than 1,200 European pension funds with combined assets of more than €750 billion, found that plans in the UK shifted out of equities over the last 12 months, ...

  • Article

    Employees feel pressure to work when unwell

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    More than two-thirds (70%) of respondents to research by Capita Employee Benefits said it is becoming increasingly common for them to attend work while unwell.The research, which polled 3,000 employees, found that 59% of respondents feel more pressure to go to work while ill than they used to.Despite this, 78% ...

  • Article

    Pension schemes not meeting principles of DC governance

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    More than three-quarters (76%) of pension schemes surveyed are aware of The Pensions Regulator’s Six principles of good workplace DC, according to research by The Pensions Regulator (TPR).Its Occupational pension scheme governance 2013 research, which surveyed 454 trust-based defined benefit (DB), defined contribution (DC) and hybrid pension schemes, aimed to ...

  • Article

    Edenred launches mobile site for childcare vouchers

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Edenred has launched a childcare voucher service for smartphones that will offer increased flexibility and convenience for working parents.The secure mobile site is designed to work will all smartphones.It enables working parents to check their balance, view statements and make payments on the go.From 14 May, employees that use Edenred ...

  • Article

    Sovereign Health Care launches new health cash plan

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Sovereign Health Care has launched a new health cash plan that costs 90p per employee per week.Its Merit plan offers employees 100% payback up to the policy limit on a range of healthcare costs, including dental and optical charges, as well as treatments such as acupuncture and physiotherapy.The plan ...

  • Article

    Whitbread and BT shortlisted for share plans

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    BT Group, Home Retail Group and Whitbread are among the employers shortlisted for the ‘Best employee share scheme’ at the Employee Benefits Awards 2013.The judges looked at how share schemes were communicated, how organisations handled any fluctuations in share price, and the impact of schemes on measures such as retention, ...

  • Article

    Reeves raises engagement with flexible benefits

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Reeves and Co has seen 86% of employees log into its new flexible benefits scheme since it was launched in March 2013.The enrolment window for the scheme opened on 13 March, following the launch of a voluntary benefits scheme at the end of February.At the same time the accountancy firm ...

  • Article

    UK workers struggle with work-life balance

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Heavy workloads are responsible for increased stress levels, with 60% of respondents finding it difficult to switch off from work when at home, according to research commissioned by health cash plan provider Medicash.The research, which surveyed more than 1,000 working parents in the UK, found that respondents who felt they ...

  • Video

    What ideas would Employee Benefits Awards judges take back to their organisation?

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    This year’s Employee Benefits Awards entries contained a number of ideas and initiatives the judges wanted to take back to their own organisations.Gary Brewer, head of reward and organisational development at William Grant and Sons, intends to look at his organisation’s approach to staff returning from maternity leave after seeing ...

  • Article

    Asda and Tesco shortlisted for total reward statements

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Santander UK, Tesco and Virgin Media are among the employers that have been shortlisted for the award ‘Best total reward statements’ at the Employee Benefits Awards 2013.For this award, the judges were looking for an entrant that had successfully integrated total reward statements into its benefits communications strategy, and used ...

  • Article

    Asda and BMW shortlisted for car perks

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Asda and BMW UK are among the employers that have been shortlisted for the award ‘Best car and travel benefits’ at the Employee Benefits Awards 2013.For this category, the judges were looking for a successful strategy that has made company cars and allowances effective as a benefit within an organisation.The ...

  • Article

    Regulator publishes three-year strategic pensions approach

    2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has set out its strategic approach to regulating defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pension schemes, and maximising employer compliance with auto-enrolment duties in its latest corporate plan.The strategic themes in the Corporate plan 2013 – 2016 include:Reducing risks to DB pension scheme members.Improving outcomes ...