All articles by Jessica Bird
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AnalysisWhat role does ChatGPT have to play in benefits communication?
Need to know:Artifical intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT can automate and streamline processes, freeing up HR and leadership time for more nuanced and creative tasks.Benefits communications can be personalised, and their delivery optimised for each individual employee, to have a the best possible impact.Employers must be careful with sensitive data, ...
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Case StudiesRicoh readies itself for next generation of workplace AI
In June 2019, document services, consulting, software and hardware business Ricoh placed itself at the vanguard among employers, introducing financial wellbeing artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot MyEva to its approximately 2,000 UK employees.In the years since, the organisation has seen registration for the service increase from 19% to 46%, highlighting employees’ ...
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ArticleBuyer's guide to group dental plans
What are group dental plans?Dental plans are a type of insurance or cash plan that specifically cater for oral health, helping staff afford regular dentist visits for preventative and routine care, such as accident and emergency cover, crowns, implants and fillings, as well as larger issues such as treatment for ...
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ArticleBuyer's guide to private medical insurance
What is private medical insurance (PMI)?PMI is a type of insurance designed to cover medical expenses incurred during illness or injury, such as operations, consultations, diagnostic investigations and tests. It traditionally involved full medical underwriting or a moratorium, meaning it can cover pre-existing conditions, unlike other types of healthcare plans.Typically, ...
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ArticleDial A Ride to pay £12,500 in unfair dismissal and holiday pay compensation
Non-profit transport service Dial A Ride, the trading name of Blackburn and Darwen Community Transport, has been ordered to compensate a former driver in a dispute concerning unfair dismissal, employment status and holiday pay.The case concerned claimant A Russell, who worked as a driver from 2018, providing transport for vulnerable ...
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ArticleKing Charles to reward frontline forces with royal recognition
Something for the weekend: Frontline emergency service staff are among the 400,000 people set to receive a medal to mark the Coronation of King Charles on 6 May.The medal, the design of which was unveiled today (5 May 2023), will be awarded to Armed Forces, frontline emergency service workers, and ...
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ArticleYounger employees take three more sick days per year than older peers
Younger employees, aged between 18 and 24, take an average of three more sick days per year than their older peers, according to research by Health Shield Friendly Society.This age group also took the most sick days for mental health reasons, compared with those aged between 55 and 64 who ...
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ArticleAmazon runs Welcome Day for employees returning to Seattle office
Multi-national technology and e-commerce organisation Amazon called employees back to its Seattle headquarters this week (2 May), with a 'Welcome Day' that included free bananas, professional greeters and free drinks.The Seattle office, called The Spheres, houses approximately 55,000 members of staff, many of whom have not attended in person since ...
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ArticleCarreg Construction transfers to employee ownership
Welsh building contractor Carreg Construction has transferred to employee ownership 20 years after its foundation in 2003.The business, which employs 21 people, was founded by Andrew and Sue Phillips. Andrew Phillips agreed to stay on as director to help guide the development of the business alongside the employee ownership trust ...
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ArticleThe top 10 most-read articles between 28 April - 4 May 2023
The top 10 most-read articles on www.employeebenefits.co.uk between 28 April and 4 May 2023 were: Ovo Energy launches flexible bank holidaysGlaxoSmithKline plant employees strike after rejecting 6% pay dealCo-op introduces enhanced flexible compassionate leaveNHS Staff Council agrees to 5% pay increase for health workers in EnglandCadent accredited as menopause-friendly employerEXCLUSIVE: ...
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ArticleMaking Space increases pay in line with real living wage
Social care charity Making Space has increased pay by 10%, or the equivalent of £1,950 per year for full-time staff, in order to bring wages up to the level of the living wage.Employees at social care services run by the charity, amounting to more than 1,000 people across England, received ...
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ArticleOcado and Tesco Stores shortlisted for Best financial wellbeing strategy
Grocery retail giants Ocado and Tesco Stores are among those shortlisted for the Best financial wellbeing strategy category at the Employee Benefits Awards 2023.At a time when living costs and inflationary pressures are rising, this award recognises those employers which succeeded in improving and supporting the financial wellbeing of staff ...
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ArticleQuarter of large employers have seen increase in pension scheme opt-outs
A quarter (26%) of large employers have seen an increase in the number of pension scheme opt-outs among employees in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, according to research by Cushon.The research, conducted among more than 2,000 UK organisations employing 500-plus employees, found that pension scheme opt-outs were one of ...
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ArticleCo-op introduces enhanced flexible compassionate leave
Retail organisation Co-op has launched a refreshed compassionate leave policy ahead of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which runs from 8 to 14 May, to support its 57,000 employees when experiencing the death or serious illness of someone close to them.The policy, which was launched today (3 May), doubles its previous ...
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ArticleTipping Bill passes into law to make withholding tips illegal
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill, or Tipping Bill, has received royal consent and passed into law, making the withholding of tips from staff illegal.The government predicted that this would protect more than two million employees, as well as allowing them to view an employer's tipping record. It also suggested ...
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ArticleFifth of employers do not record sickness absence
Sickness absence recording by employers hit its lowest level in three years in January 2023 (80%), according to research by industry body Group Risk Development (Grid).The research, which was undertaken in January 2023 among 503 HR decision-makers and 1,212 employees in UK organisations, also found that while a fifth (20%) ...
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ArticleNHS Staff Council agrees to 5% pay increase for health workers in England
NHS Employers and the NHS Staff Council have agreed to a pay rise that includes a non-consolidated payment for the current year, and a 5% raise for 2023-24.The non-consolidated payment for 2022-23 was agreed at between £1,655 and £3,789, equal to 8.2% for those in the lowest pay band, and ...
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ArticleGlaxoSmithKline plant employees strike after rejecting 6% pay deal
Employees of pharmaceutical business GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have commenced a series of walkouts across the UK from today (2 May) in an ongoing dispute over pay.More than 160 employees, who are members of trade union Unite, rejected a pay offer which included a 6% increase and a one-off lump sum of ...
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Article4most employee trust makes significant payout to invested staff
Risk and data analytics consultancy 4most has received majority investment by Phoenix Equity Partners, providing those taking part in its employee ownership trust with an average payout of £150,000 each.Of 4most's 240 members of staff, approximately 150 were invested in the trust. Phoenix Equity Partners' acquisition of a majority stake ...
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ArticleLiverpool and Knowsley councils commit to real living wage for care workers
Two Merseyside local councils, Knowsley Council and Liverpool Council, have committed to paying government commissioned care workers the real living wage, from April 2023 and April 2024, respectively.The councils joined Wirral Council, which previously committed to pay the real living wage as a minimum, following trade union Unite's Stand Up ...