All articles by kscott – Page 152

  • melanie-lane
    Opinion

    Melanie Lane: Festive reward messages should be inclusive

    2016-09-12T14:39:43Z

    It is important that employers are sensitive to all employees’ religious and secular beliefs over the Christmas period. While it is likely that many staff will be celebrating Christmas to some extent, not all will, and some may want to keep sufficient annual leave for a religious celebration at a ...

  • pensions_note_430
    Article

    Government extends pensions VAT deadline

    2016-09-12T11:31:56Z

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has extended the deadline to implement revised methods for the deduction of VAT on pension costs.The transition period has been extended by a further 12 months, meaning that organisations and trustees now have until 31 December 2017 to amend arrangements whereby employers can recover VAT ...

  • Money
    Article

    34% feel there is too much choice when saving for retirement

    2016-09-12T11:17:10Z

    Just over two thirds (34%) of respondents believe there is too much choice when it comes to saving for retirement, according to research by Willis Towers Watson and Nottingham University Business School.The study, which surveyed 2,000 UK employees, also found that 35% of respondents feel that a lack of knowledge ...

  • Hermes
    Article

    Minister invites HMRC to consider investigation into pay practices at Hermes

    2016-09-12T11:15:53Z

    Courier organisation Hermes may be the subject of an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) following allegations around its employment practices, including pay for couriers.Margot James, parliamentary under secretary at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has invited HMRC to consider investigating working practices at Hermes.The invitation ...

  • Jane Higgins Allen and Overy
    Article

    EXCLUSIVE: Allen and Overy to discuss auto-re-enrolment at Employee Benefits Live

    2016-09-09T09:40:14Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Law firm Allen and Overy will share case studies and practical information about pensions auto-re-enrolment at Employee Benefits Live 2016.Jane Higgins (pictured), partner at Allen and Overy, will deliver a session entitled 'Auto-re-enrolment: are you ready?' on Tuesday 11 October as part of the two-day event's workplace pensions conference ...

  • deloitte
    Article

    Deloitte US introduces paid family leave programme

    2016-09-09T09:14:09Z

    Audit, tax services and consultancy organisation Deloitte has introduced a new family leave programme for its US-based staff, allowing employees to take up to 16 weeks of fully-paid leave to provide care for family.The programme, which launched in September 2016, takes a broad caregiving approach, helping to support staff who ...

  • Article

    6: small tax and leg: Government consultation round-up

    2016-09-09T09:11:57Z

    Gender pay gap reporting for the public sectorGender pay gap reporting guidelines are already in place for private and voluntary organisations employing more than 250 staff, with initial data due to be captured in 2017. In alignment with these measures, the government has recently concluded consulting on how to implement ...

  • Pension image
    Article

    75% are not encouraged to check their pension at work

    2016-09-09T08:52:07Z

    Three quarters (75%) of respondents are not actively encouraged by their employer to check their workplace pension during working hours, according to research by Aegon.Its survey of 386 consumer and customer panel members also found that 86% of respondents would check their workplace pension during working hours if encouraged by ...

  • On Phone
    Article

    What job is considered the most attractive by a potential partner?

    2016-09-08T15:26:54Z

    Something for the weekend: Could attractiveness to potential partners be deemed a new work perk? Online dating app Tinder has revealed the professions that prove most popular among UK daters, with lawyers and teachers earning the highest number of right swipes - or 'yeses' - on the app.The most appealing ...

  • Top 10 1-7 Sep
    Article

    Top 10 most read stories this week

    2016-09-08T14:06:08Z

    The top 10 most read stories on www.employeebenefits.co.uk between 1 and 7 September 2016 were: Marks and Spencer lobbied by MPs over planned pay changesPizza motivates staff more than moneyEXCLUSIVE: 49% cite flexible working as most coveted future benefitMarks and Spencer enhances pay and pensions deal49% are concerned about the ...

  • money, pound coins
    Article

    EAT rules that pay protection can be a reasonable adjustment for disabled staff

    2016-09-08T11:28:50Z

    The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that pay protection can be included as a reasonable adjustment for disabled employees.In the case of G4S Cash Solutions UK v Powell, Powell worked as an engineer for the integrated cash management organisation, maintaining ATM machines across central London until a lower back ...

  • Pension
    Article

    56% are saving adequately for retirement

    2016-09-08T10:03:19Z

    Just over half (56%) of respondents are saving enough money for their retirement, according to research by Scottish Widows.The annual Scottish Widows retirement report, which surveyed 5,151 UK adults, also found that 18% of respondents are not saving for retirement at all.The mean age at which respondents feel they could ...

  • EB Live 15 Exhibition
    Article

    Industry experts to showcase latest products at Employee Benefits Live 2016

    2016-09-08T09:25:20Z

    HR, benefits and reward professionals attending Employee Benefits Live 2016 will be able to access a wealth of industry knowledge in the busy exhibition hall.The two-day event, taking place on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 October 2016 at Olympia National in London, will enable delegates to network with leading providers, ...

  • Chairs
    Analysis

    What will caring policies of the future look like?

    2016-09-07T14:29:16Z

    Need to know:A formal caring policy can help to bolster support for carers in the workplace.Benefits such as an employee assistance programme (EAP) or childcare vouchers can be used to support an existing caring policy.Flexible-working arrangements, as well as paid or unpaid leave, are popular aspects of a successful caring ...

  • KPMG
    Case Studies

    KPMG uses employee-led networks to drive caring initiatives

    2016-09-07T14:27:10Z

    Audit, tax and advisory organisation KPMG utilises a range of measures to put employees in the driving seat when it comes to formulating and structuring initiatives that support working carers and parents within the workplace. Of the organisation’s 12,000 total employees across 22 UK-based sites, 6,483 have declared they are ...

  • Katherine Wilson
    Opinion

    Katherine Wilson: Ageing population intensifies need for caring policies

    2016-09-07T14:23:33Z

    One in nine workers in the UK care for a family member or friend who is older, disabled or ill, according to the 2011 Census. The pressures of juggling work and care, without the right support from employers or local services, have forced millions of people to give up work ...

  • John Letizia - Head of public Affairs at Unum
    Article

    31% of long-term sickness claims are for cancer

    2016-09-07T10:58:38Z

    Just under a third (31%) of long-term sickness claims paid relate to cancer, according to research by Unum.Its second annual claims statement, which provides information on all the income protection claims paid by Unum to people who became too ill to work between 1 August 2015 and 31 July 2016, ...

  • Pension piggy
    Article

    Take part in exclusive pensions research

    2016-09-07T10:29:24Z

    How are you supporting staff planning for their retirement? How do you feel Brexit will impact pensions?Have your say in the exclusive Employee Benefits/Close Brothers Pensions research 2016, which aims to help you benchmark your organisation’s pensions strategy.We are particularly interested in hearing about your approach to pensions communication, changes ...

  • Peter Maskell, BHSF
    Article

    BHSF acquires Nexus Healthcare

    2016-09-07T09:55:15Z

    Health and wellbeing organisation BHSF has acquired London-based occupational health services provider Nexus Healthcare.Nexus will initially be a subsidiary of BHSF Occupational Health, which is led by Dr Philip McCrea, managing director at BHSF Occupational Health.The acquisition will provide BHSF's occupational health division with nationwide coverage.Dr Steven Sperber, who founded ...

  • Diarmuid Russell
    Article

    EXCLUSIVE: Glassdoor to open Employee Benefits Live 2016

    2016-09-06T11:14:16Z

    EXCLUSIVE: Diarmuid Russell, head of international at Glassdoor, will deliver the opening keynote address at Employee Benefits Live 2016, when he will provide insight into how organisations can become known as the ‘best place to work’.Opening the conference on Tuesday 11 October 2016, Russell will discuss the themes and trends ...