All articles by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam – Page 3
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ArticleConfessions of a benefits manager: Candid applies for her own job
It’s hard to tell exactly how well things are going for the company. One minute the executive Higher Beings are congratulating us on a fantastic, record-breaking quarter and the next they are shaking their heads and demanding budget cuts.I have a feeling I know where we are heading: another cull. ...
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ArticleKavitha’s keynote: Financial awareness is paramount
The pandemic has thrown many people’s finances into disarray, with some finding themselves unexpectedly being made redundant, while others at the end of their careers may be having to delay their retirement to save more money.While everyone’s situation is different, in these trying times what has become increasingly apparent is ...
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OpinionKavitha’s keynote: A year of home working
This week marked the one-year anniversary of the UK’s first lockdown and, for many employees, it was also the first anniversary of their unexpected shift to full-time home working.While there is no doubt the pandemic has presented numerous challenges for employers – largely due to the very sudden need to ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: BAE Systems demonstrates how to place mental health at the centre of wellbeing strategies
Employee Benefits Insights 2021: The pandemic has thrown into sharp relief the need for robust mental health strategies, Claire Walsh, health, wellbeing and injury prevention manager for BAE Systems said.In the closing keynote address to the Employee Benefits Insight 2021 event, Walsh told delegates: “If we consider the ...
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ArticleKavitha’s keynote: Taking time out to boost morale
As we reported earlier this week, managed transport and accommodation group CMAC will be hosting a number of employee wellbeing events as part of its ‘Time Out Week’ from Monday (22 March) to boost morale among its workforce.By offering sessions including virtual yoga, cocktail-making classes and online learning, the organisation ...
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ArticleKavitha’s keynote: Choosing to challenge
You would have had to have been hiding under a rock to miss the fact that it was International Women’s Day at the beginning of this week (8 March). Celebrated across the globe, this year’s theme was about choosing to challenge, encouraging people to call out gender bias and inequality.At ...
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ArticleYounger women face £100,000 gender pensions gap
A new report from Scottish Widows has revealed that younger women face a six-figure gender pensions gap.The company’s findings, published to coincide with International Women’s Day, showed that a female saver can expect to have £100,000 less in her retirement pot thanks to time taken out of the workplace to ...
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ArticleConfessions of a benefits manager: Candid tests online gyms
Big Bad Boss has put on weight and he’s not alone. This week, I sat in on a digital conference with the Higher Beings, our senior leadership team, and it was like staring into a box of hamsters. Big Bad Boss must have stepped on the scales, because he’s asked ...
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ArticleKavitha’s keynote: Flexible working is good for business
Earlier this week, we reported that HSBC is planning to drastically cut back on its office space – by 40% globally – in a move towards more permanent flexible working arrangements.Brought about “by a very different style of working post-Covid than we had before”, other banks have announced similar measures ...
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OpinionKris Weber: Legislative changes could see pension scheme members lose out
Corporate failures have for many years adversely impacted both the defined benefit pension schemes operated by ailing entities, and the ‘member outcomes’ of those using them to save for retirement. 'Anti-avoidance' then became a big thing and The Pensions Regulator's (TPR’s) powers are soon to be further widened when the ...
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ArticleKavitha’s keynote: The value of employer support and trust
Mental wellbeing has been an issue that has been climbing higher up the agenda at many organisations for a long time, and its ascent has only accelerated during this pandemic. Therefore, findings from Incomes Data Research earlier this week that revealed almost all (98%) employers had taken specific steps to ...
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OpinionLouise Skinner and Lee Harding: The government’s Spending Review plans for April
Due to come into force from April 2021, the details of the UK government’s Spending Review 2020 on health, education, transport and public services, were particularly high-profile this year due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. While NHS staff are expected to receive a pay rise based ...
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ArticleKavitha’s keynote: The proof is in the pay packet
Last week, I mentioned that many employers had been forced to make tough decisions in order to stay in business as a result of Covid-19 (Coronavirus), including reducing the pay packet of individuals at their organisations and consequently pushing some staff into serious financial difficulty.Indeed, as we reported earlier this ...
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OpinionRanjit Dhindsa: What do employers need to plan for 2021?
It's been said that 2020 was an unprecedented year, but perhaps 2021 will be an even bigger test. Last year, businesses had to deal with the final countdown to Brexit coupled with a pandemic that still continues to plague the world.This year, employers will again need to juggle a number ...
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ArticleThe top 10 most-read articles between 28 January – 3 February 2021
The top 10 most-read stories on employeebenefits.co.uk between 28 January – 3 February 2021 were: Bank of America rolls out thank-you awardsCovid-19 causing a burnout epidemicLockdown benefits ‘not fit for purpose’How is the pensions dashboards project progressing?Cronkshaw Fold Farm offers goat cameos to combat Zoom fatigueStena U-turns on sick pay ...
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ArticleConfessions of a benefits manager: Candid joins a project team
This week marks the kick-off of our latest benefits technology project. I am down as a subject matter expert, and it is my role to make sure that the business requirements are met. My colleague Lazy Susan is also a subject matter expert, which is rather unsettling unless her subject ...
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OpinionKatie Davenport: CJRS changes to allow furlough of working parents
Following closure of primary and secondary schools on 5 January 2021, HMRC amended its guidance on which employees can be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). An employer can now furlough an employee if they are unable to work, whether in the workplace or from home, because they ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: BAE Systems to discuss mental health wellbeing at EB Insights 2021
Claire Walsh, health, wellbeing and injury prevention manager, UK and rest of the world, at BAE Systems, will discuss how employers can support employee mental health during times of uncertainty at Employee Benefits Insights 2021.The ‘Placing mental health at the very centre of your wellbeing strategy’ session will be held ...
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ArticleThe top 10 most-read articles between 21 January – 27 January 2021
The top 10 most-read stories on employeebenefits.co.uk between 21 January – 27 January 2021 were: Wilko stuns unions by slashing sickness benefit termsAviva offers employees wellbeing day offHow can employers incorporate long Covid into health and wellbeing strategies?Edelman offers paid 'time-out' days to support staff through menopauseHow can employers align ...
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ArticleKavitha’s keynote: Employee appreciation has never been more important
As the effects of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic continue to be felt across the world, many employers are being forced to furlough staff, reduce pay or implement job cuts in a bid to stay in business.Meanwhile, it is likely that remaining employees at these organisations are facing personal struggles of ...