All articles by Louise Fordham – Page 3
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Article
12, Big Question: Denise Keating: Should parental leave be extended to grandparents?
The government has announced that it intends to extend the right to take shared parental leave (SPL) to grandparents in the child’s first year. The policy of SPL for the mother’s partner was initially pushed for by the Liberal Democrats in coalition in order to encourage more fathers to take ...
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Article
12, Big question: ?Rachael Saunders: Should parental leave be extended to grandparents?
Extending parental leave to grandparents is an interesting shift in government policy. It acknowledges the importance of all generations in family life, and the role that grandparents already play. A strategic response to our ageing population requires creative and bold policy solutions, and the opening of parental leave to grandparents ...
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ArticleNatixis launches wellness week
Natixis London Branch launched a wellness week on 12-16 October, to engage its 380 employees with their physical and mental health.The initiative, which is the first of its kind to be held by the investment management, financing, insurance and financial services organisation, included a programme of lunch-time events to enable ...
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ArticleNorthumberland County Council introduces living wage
Northumberland County Council has introduced the Living Wage Foundation’s living wage rate of £7.85 an hour.The decision to implement the living wage rate will result in pay increases for around 1,400 county council and school staff, with affected workers receiving an extra 41-79p an hour. This will be reviewed on ...
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ArticleMoney worries stop 25% from taking sick leave
A quarter (25%) of respondents go into work when unwell because of money worries, according to research by National Accident Helpline.Its survey of 1,000 UK residents found that 19% of respondents cite pressure from their boss as the reason why they do not take time off from work when ill, ...
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ArticlePWC launches return-to-work programme
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has launched a return-to-work programme to encourage talent back into the workplace.The 12-week ‘Back to Business’ programme includes a week-long induction duirng which participants will receive training and support to help with the transition back into work. Those taking part will be assigned to a dedicated manager who ...
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ArticlePWC launches return-to-work programme
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has launched a return-to-work programme to encourage talent back into the workplace.The 12-week ‘Back to Business’ programme includes a week-long induction duirng which participants will receive training and support to help with the transition back into work. Those taking part will be assigned to a dedicated manager who ...
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Article87% adapt pension schemes to suit millennials
Almost four in five (87%) respondents have adapted their workplace pension scheme to suit the needs of millennial workers (aged 16-35), according to research by Aegon UK.Its survey of 508 employers found that 23% use digital tools to help younger workers manage their pension contributions.The research also found that:More than ...
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Article63% have no financial provision for the future
Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents have made no financial provision for the future, according to research by Equiniti Employee Services.Its survey of 1,189 UK employees found that less than a third (32%) of respondents save regularly.The research also found:More than a quarter (27%) try to save but monthly financial commitments ...
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ArticleParliamentary committee urges Pension Wise improvements
The government should publish, and require providers to publish, take-up statistics for the Pension Wise service and the advice and pensions markets on a quarterly basis, according to a report by the Work and Pensions Committee.Its Pension freedom guidance and advice report has deemed the government’s reticence on publishing figures ...
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ArticleRygor launches voluntary benefits scheme
Commercial vehicle dealer group Rygor has launched a voluntary benefits scheme to reward its 354 employees.The programme, provided by Perkbox, gives staff access to benefits that can be redeemed via an online platform or smartphone app.These include discounts at retailers, restaurants, theatre tickets and attraction day passes, as well as ...
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Article70% return to work early with workplace stress
Nearly three-quarters (70%) of respondents return to work early when suffering with workplace stress, according to research by LV=.Its survey of 2,005 working-age adults found that 35% of this group return to work early because they are concerned about what colleagues might think and 38% do so because they feel ...
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Article6, small box: Same-sex spouse loses equal pension bid
The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling against a retired employee in his bid to see his civil partner, now husband, receive the same pension pay-out in the event of his death as a spouse of the opposite sex.In the case of Walker vs Innospec and others, in which ...
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Article
5: Top 10 most-read stories online in September/October
1. Employee Benefits Live 2015 speaker slidesRecap the conference sessions you attended at Employee Benefits Live 2015 or catch up with those you missed by looking through the speaker slides from the two-day event. http://bit.ly/1OKEivh 2. Former BT employee is entitled to sick payThe Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld a case ...
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Article
5: Top 10 most-read stories online in September/October
1. Employee Benefits Live 2015 speaker slidesRecap the conference sessions you attended at Employee Benefits Live 2015 or catch up with those you missed by looking through the speaker slides from the two-day event. http://bit.ly/1OKEivh 2. Former BT employee is entitled to sick payThe Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld a case ...
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Articlep3: Pensions research leader column
Almost a third (30%) of respondents to the Employee Benefits/Close Brothers Pensions research 2015 say the most frequent concern that staff have around retirement is a lack of knowledge about how much they need to contribute into their pensions in order to achieve their retirement goals.If an employee reaches their ...
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ArticleAltmann puts defined ambition and automatic transfers on hold
Pensions minister Ros Altmann has announced that plans to impement defined ambition pensions, collective benefits and automatic transfers (also known as pot follows member) have been put on hold.In a statement to the House of Commons, the pensions minister (pictured) said that the timing was not right to ask the ...
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ArticleNAPF rebrands as Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has rebranded as the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA).The change is designed to allow the association to broaden its reach and account for the different ways in which people save for retirement.Joanne Segars (pictured), chief executive of the PLSA, announced the change ...
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Articlep2 Close Brothers Sponsor's Comment: The pension reforms and some surprising benefits
Who knew that the pension reforms introduced in April 2015 would have so much impact? Well, in truth, lots of people – pension experts, employers, advisers, providers and, we suspect, the government all knew this would be seismic, with providers and employers bearing the brunt of the change and individuals ...
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ArticleKingfisher develops pensions app to engage staff
NAPF 2015: Retail group Kingfisher has developed a brand-specific app to engage its 36,000 staff who are members of the Kingfisher pension scheme.The employer’s communications and financial education strategy around pensions began as a way of informing its staff about auto-enrolment, explained Dermot Courtier, head of group pensions at Kingfisher, ...