All articles by Louise Fordham – Page 10
-
ArticleMicrosoft US enhances benefits package
Microsoft US is to enhance its parental, holiday and 401(k) pension benefits.The technology giant, which employs 59,853 staff in the US, is introducing its enhanced benefit offerings with the aim of fostering a supportive workplace culture that embraces diversity and inclusion. An enhanced parental packageFrom November 2015, its US-based staff ...
-
ArticleGovernment launches financial advice review
The government has launched a major UK-wide review to examine how financial advice could work better for consumers.The Financial Advice Market Review will look at all types of retail financial products, including pensions, insurance, savings and mortgages.The review will consider ways to encourage people to seek financial advice and to ...
-
Article32% unclear about Pension Wise service
Almost a third (32%) of respondents are unclear about the service Pension Wise can provide to employees, according to research by Close Brothers Asset Management.Its survey of 700 employers found that 29% do not know who their employees are turning to for information around the pension reforms.The study also found:13% ...
-
Article11% of over-60s have no plans to retire
More than one in ten (11%) respondents over the age of 60 who have not yet retired do not plan to ever do so, according to research by annuity provider Retirement Advantage.Its survey of 1,009 adults, conducted for Retirement Advantage by YouGov, also found that 6% of over 50s that ...
-
ArticleGovernment consults on pension freedom charges
The government has launched a consultation on early exit charges surrounding the pension freedoms that came into effect in April.The consultation will examine whether exit charges should be capped for those aged over 55 years that are planning to withdraw money from their pension pots.It will also look at how ...
-
ArticleReward Gateway to share £6.5m among staff
Reward Gateway is to share £6.5 million among its employees following a deal that will see technology investor Great Hill Partners buy the organisation from current owners Inflexion Private Equity.The £6.5 million sum will be shared among all 269 employees below board level.Staff below management level hold a 5% stake ...
-
ArticleTwo-thirds of employers making changes to annual performance reviews
Two-thirds of employers are making changes to their annual end-of-year performance reviews, according to research from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).PWC’s 2015 Performance management research, which surveyed 97 large organisations and 1,038 employees, found that 5% of respondent organisations are considering bringing an end to performance ratings completely. The research also found:More than ...
-
ArticleEAT rules on pensions disability discrimination case
An appeal has been allowed against a ruling that found a former technician had been discriminated against by receiving half of the pension he would have been entitled to had he been working full-time at the time of his ill-health retirement.In the case of the Trustees of Swansea University Pension ...
-
ArticleAlere refreshes benefits for multi-generational workforce
Alere is refreshing its employee benefits programme in the UK in order to increase engagement and provide more choice for the different generations within its workforce. The diagnostic device and service provider will enhance and expand its existing benefits package from September 2015. This will include the launch of new ...
-
ArticleCheering the way to employee status
Something for the weekend…Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill into law that will classify California’s professional cheerleaders as employees.Under the new legislation, professional sports teams in the US West Coast state must grant cheerleaders the same rights as other employees.Once the law comes into effect in January 2016, professional ...
-
ArticleTop 10 most read stories this week
The top 10 most read stories on employeebenefits.co.uk between 16 and 22 July:1. Pension freedom charges differ vastly.2. Carlsberg UK introduces financial education.3. How to build engagement with voluntary benefits.4. Oracle revamps financial education programme.5. Ikea UK to introduce the living wage.6. Taking a slice: the impact of tax changes ...
-
Article20% would save more than auto-enrolment default
One-fifth (20%) of respondents would increase the amount they contribute to their pensions beyond the minimum auto-enrolment contribution rate, according to research by Aegon.Its research, which is based on a sample size of 4,000 respondents, found that just 6% consider the 2018 default contribution rate of 5% to be unaffordable.Nearly ...
-
ArticleTop-earning female health professionals make 51% less than men
Top-earning female financial managers and directors are paid 40% less than their male counterparts, according to analysis by recruitment consultancy Michael Page.Its analysis, which is based on the Office of National Statistics’ November 2014 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, also revealed a gender pay gap of 51% for health ...
-
Article81% of staff in their 30s contribute to workplace pensions
More than four-fifths (81%) of respondents in their 30s contribute to a workplace pension compared to 72% of those in their 40s, according to research by asset management firm Fidelity Worldwide Investment.Its study, which surveyed 1,000 UK adults aged 30-49 in June 2015, also revealed that a greater number of ...
-
ArticlePortus Consulting issues Fitbits to staff
Portus Consulting has issued free Fitbit fitness bands to each of its 40 employees. The initiative, which launched in June 2015, aims to increase engagement and corporate wellness.Employees have the option to upgrade to models that track heart rates and sleep patterns, as well as the opportunity to purchase devices ...
-
ArticleIkea UK to introduce the living wage
Ikea UK is to introduce the living wage from April 2016.The retailer has committed to paying all staff at least £7.85 an hour, and a minimum of £9.15 an hour in London.The pay increase is expected to impact 50% of Ikea UK’s 9,000 employees.Ikea’s living wage pledge is part of ...
-
Article40% rise in employees seeking assistance for depression
The number of depression-related calls employees made to Canada Life Group Insurance’s employee assistance programme increased by 40% year on year, according to data from Capital Health and Wellbeing.The findings, which are based on call data for the first quarter of 2015, revealed that 21% of calls made to the ...
-
Article27% do not measure health scheme take up
Less than a third (27%) of respondents do not measure health programme take-up rates, according to research by insurer Unum.Its research also identified that four in ten employers do not monitor the health and wellbeing of their staff.The research also found:37% of respondents that offer flexible benefits plans do not ...
-
ArticleReal wages rise almost 3%
Real wages in Great Britain increased by almost 3% year on year, excluding bonuses, when comparing the period March to May 2015 with the same months in 2014, according to figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The ONS UK labour market, July 2015 report found that average weekly pay ...
-
ArticleConsultation launches on gender pay gap reporting
The government has launched a consultation to establish the details of its plans to make it complusory for large employers to publish the average salaries of male and female staff. The consultation will also look into what information from employers will be published, as well as where and when.Plans for ...