All articles by Jennifer Paterson – Page 98

  • Article

    Esop Centre launches ‘Save our Csop’ survey

    2012-08-22T09:44:00Z

    The Employee Share Ownership Centre (Esop Centre) has published a survey to encourage employers to speak out against the abolishment of company share option plans (Csops).A Csop is an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)-approved plan that provides an employee with an opportunity to acquire shares in their employer.The survey follows ...

  • Article

    BGL Group increases take-up in employee engagement survey

    2012-08-21T09:08:00Z

    BGL Group has achieved a 76% engagement rate for its latest employee survey.The global financial services firm has seen engagement in its employee survey continue to grow since it was introduced in 2009.Initial results that year showed 58% of employees were engaged, while the 2010 survey saw this increase to ...

  • Article

    A quarter of respondents do not understand their payslip

    2012-08-21T09:03:00Z

    Just over a quarter (26%) of respondents do not understand everything on their payslip, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).The research was conducted in the lead-up to National Payroll Week 2012, which takes place from 3 to 7 September.It also found that 14% of respondents ...

  • Article

    Lack of flexible working opportunities leads to higher levels of stress

    2012-08-07T09:09:00Z

    Almost three-quarters (68%) of respondents reported unreasonable levels of stress when their working hours were inflexible, according to research by the Kenexa High Performance Institute (KHPI).Its WorkTrends report also found that a lack of flexible working opportunities has an impact on employees’ intentions to leave employers.More than half (59%) of ...

  • Article

    Employee Benefits/ Premier pensions and workplace savings research 2012

    2012-08-06T11:45:00Z

    As auto-enrolment approaches, many employers’ attention is now firmly fixed on what compliance means for their organisation, according to the Employee Benefits/Premier pensions and workplace savings research 2012.Just under three-quarters (72%) of respondents said they have a project plan in place, while 69% have planned their budget for the changes.Three-quarters ...

  • Article

    FTSE 350 pension scheme deficits increased in July

    2012-08-06T09:00:00Z

    The deficits for FTSE 350 companies’ defined benefit (DB) pension schemes increased by £5 billion since the end of June, according to research by Mercer.Its Pensions risk survey found that the pension deficits stood at £75 billion at 31 July 2012, compared to £70 billion at the end of June ...

  • Article

    Adrian Moorhouse: How can employers use the Olympics to boost staff engagement?

    2012-08-05T23:00:00Z

    The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are upon us and the excitement is palpable. The papers will be filled with stories of success and failure, of heartbreak and joy for the duration of the event. Although ‘Olympic fatigue’ is a very real possibility, this summer is a fantastic opportunity to ...

  • Article

    Most respondents monitor expatriate benefits programmes

    2012-08-03T08:00:00Z

    The majority (85%) of respondents have procedures in place to monitor their expatriate benefits programmes, according to research by Mercer.Its 2011/12 Benefits survey for expatriates and internationally mobile employees, which provides an overview of expatriate policies within large multinational companies, surveyed 288 multinational organisations with 119,000 expatriate employees.The research found ...

  • Article

    Quorum Business Park hosts sports-themed summer party for staff

    2012-08-02T09:20:00Z

    Quorum Business Park concluded a three-week programme of inter-office sporting competitions with an afternoon of onsite fun and games for its staff.The Quorum Games, a series of sports-themed challenges held throughout July, included tennis, football and hockey, as well as egg and spoon and three-legged races.Staff at the Newcastle-based business ...

  • Article

    UK employers have lowest cost per staff in Western Europe

    2012-08-02T09:15:00Z

    Employers in the UK have the lowest cost per employee per year anywhere in Western Europe, according to research by Towers Watson.Its annual Global 50 remuneration planning report, which includes the latest pay and benefits information for 50 positions across 57 countries worldwide, found that the mandatory costs and taxes ...

  • Article

    Asda rewards employees for long service

    2012-08-01T09:21:00Z

    Asda employees have been awarded for a combination of 41,040 years of service at the supermarket chain’s Big Anniversary event.The event, which is now in its 12th year, recognises staff with 25, 30 or 40 years of service.More than 1,500 employees were recognised this year. They received an extra week’s ...

  • Article

    Sainsbury’s pilots workplace wellness initiative

    2012-07-31T08:00:00Z

    Sainsbury’s has piloted a workplace wellness initiative to help increase activity levels and reduce sick days among employees.The FitStop pilot, managed by exercise firm Power Plate, was run at the supermarket chain’s Coventry office. It encouraged employees to perform a three-minute series of stretches on a Power Plate training machine ...

  • Article

    Wasabi introduces stakeholder pension scheme

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Wasabi has introduced a stakeholder pension scheme in preparation for its auto-enrolment staging date at the end of 2013.This is the first time the sushi and noodle bar has offered staff a pension scheme.The scheme is being rolled out to its 950 employees in three phases. The first two ...

  • Article

    GeoPost to launch GPP and improve pensions governance

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: GeoPost UK will replace its stakeholder pension scheme with a group personal pension (GPP) plan and introduce a pensions governance committee ahead of its auto-enrolment staging date of May 2013.The logistics firm has 4,500 employees, 2,300 of whom are in a stakeholder pension scheme that has been provided by ...

  • Article

    House of Fraser closes DB pension and introduces GPP

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    House of Fraser has closed its defined benefit (DB) pension scheme to future accrual and launched a group personal pension (GPP) plan in preparation for auto-enrolment.The GPP will be provided by Aviva. Johnson Fleming will manage the scheme’s administration, governance reporting and auto-enrolment compliance through its platform inform equip.The GPP, ...

  • Article

    Sellafield to host childcare roadshow

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Nuclear waste management firm Sellafield will host a roadshow to promote its childcare benefits during National Work-Life Week from 24 to 28 September.The roadshow, including a stand with freebies, a display board about childcare vouchers from provider Computershare Voucher Services, plus booklets and fliers, will be held at its ...

  • Case Studies

    Case study: Sellafield powers up communication on childcare vouchers

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    Nuclear reprocessing site Sellafield has offered its 9,500 UK employees childcare vouchers for many years, but it continues to refresh its communications to ensure the value of the benefit is fully understood.Common employee questions include: Where can the vouchers be used? What kind of childcare is covered? How much saving ...

  • Article

    LeasePlan and Deloitte launch guide on tax treatment of company cars

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    LeasePlan and Deloitte have partnered to publish a guide on the tax treatment of company cars.The guide highlights some of the key issues that fleet, finance, tax, HR and reward professionals should consider when reviewing their company car fleet.The guide covers a range of tax issues, including:How is tax relief ...

  • Case Studies

    Case study: Vinci builds childcare voucher take-up

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    Construction firm Vinci UK launched a communications campaign early this year to refresh its 4,000 employees’ knowledge of its childcare voucher scheme.The campaign, created with Vinci’s provider, Computershare Voucher Services, included benefits roadshows, online slides, posters and material in its maternity- and paternity-leave packages.Campaign content highlighted the variety of childcare ...

  • Article

    Jelf Employee Benefits launches financial education services

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    Jelf Employee Benefits has launched two financial education services, called Jelf Money at Work and Jelf Money after Work.The services, which can be offered by employers as one-to-one sessions or group workshops, covers topics such as investment guidance, technical support and lifetime financial education, and are designed to help employees ...