All articles by Louise – Page 13
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ArticleEmma Hart: How can organisations spread festive cheer in the workplace?
In the run-up to the festive season, it is important for organisations to consider how to engage and involve their employees during this time. It is understandable that while work still carries on, the more engaged the workforce is during this time, the more productive staff will be. While the ...
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ArticleClaire Huish: How can organisations spread festive cheer in the workplace?
More often than not employees are working longer and harder over the festive period, and they’re doing all this while also trying to find time to catch up with friends and family. It is tempting for business owners to think they have done all that is needed to keep staff ...
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ArticleSteve Foulger: How can organisations spread festive cheer in the workplace?
There are a wide variety of ways that festive cheer can be spread across a business. Efforts should be focused at an individual and team level, as well as at a business-wide level and externally to the business.Of course you should still expect colleagues to work hard, but I recommend ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: 73% have conducted a pensions communication exercise in the last year
EXCLUSIVE: Almost three-quarters (73%) of employer respondents have carried out a pensions communication exercise within the last year, according to research by Employee Benefits and Close Brothers.The Employee Benefits/Close Brothers Pensions research 2016, which surveyed 250 employer respondents, also found that 18% of respondents have undertaken a pensions communication exercise ...
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ArticleGovernment limits tax-efficient salary sacrifice arrangements
Autumn Statement 2016: From April 2017, the government will significantly limit the range of benefits that attract tax and employer national insurance (NI) advantages when offered through a salary sacrifice arrangement.Pensions and pensions advice, childcare, bikes-for-work schemes, and ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) will be exempt from the changes.Arrangements in place ...
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ArticleGovernment to reduce money purchase annual allowance
Autumn Statement 2016: Chancellor Philip Hammond (pictured) has announced that the money purchase annual allowance is set to be reduced to £4,000 from April 2017.The money purchase annual allowance applies to those who have accessed their pension savings through the pension flexibilities and then make further defined contribution (DC) pension ...
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ArticleTax-free personal allowance to rise in line with inflation
Autumn Statement 2016: From 2020, the tax-free personal allowance will rise in line with the Consumer Price Index rather than the national minimum wage.During his Autumn Statement speech, Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed that the tax-free personal allowance will increase to £11,500 in April 2017 and £12,500 by the end of ...
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AnalysisHow to use benefits to boost engagement and motivation during a busy Q4
Need to knowReward and recognition schemes can motivate staff to meet quarterly and year-end targets.Employers should think about what benefits would help employees in the last few months of the year.Physical, financial and mental wellbeing benefits can provide support for staff during a busy fourth quarter.For sectors such as retail, ...
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Article
P9: Close Brothers Industry Insight: Five ways to navigate financial education and financial wellbeing
With a growing interest in financial wellbeing and financial education, more providers are entering this market and others are now using it as a wraparound descriptor for their services. But with increased choice there can be confusion, so here are five ways to navigate the market noise.Address the biggest risk ...
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Article
2: Sponsor's Comment: A simple measure of the value of financial education
I’m often asked two questions when discussing the need for a financial education programme: ‘We already have a lot of information on our website and in our pension communications, why isn’t that enough?’ and ‘What kind of value will you add for employees and employers if you deliver financial education?’These ...
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OpinionCatrina Smith: Sex discrimination case places spotlight on shared parental leave
In the Snell v Network Rail Infrastructure case, a male employee has succeeded in his claim for sex discrimination against his employer, Network Rail, and has been awarded nearly £30,000. His claim was based on the fact that while he would receive only statutory pay for any period of shared ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: 33% do not plan to offer a workplace lifetime Isa
EXCLUSIVE: A third (33%) of employer respondents do not plan to introduce the lifetime individual savings account (Lisa) as a workplace savings tool, according to research by Employee Benefits and Close Brothers.The Employee Benefits/Close Brothers Pensions research 2016, which surveyed 250 employer respondents, found that just 7% plan to offer ...
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ArticleLouise’s lowdown: Flexible working forms a key piece of the retention puzzle
According to the Workingmums annual survey, published by Workingmums.co.uk in October 2016, almost a fifth (18%) of working mothers have been forced to leave their job because a flexible-working request has been turned down. Among respondents currently on maternity leave, 41% would not return to their job because of their ...
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OpinionKaren Ovenden: How can SMEs approach family-friendly working?
Flexible working has become a bit of a buzzword. But, for me, this is where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should start if they want to support family-friendly working.When I say flexible, I really mean agile, working patterns that can scale up and down when both the individual and business ...
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OpinionSean Nesbitt: Uber by numbers – what next for worker status?
The Uber judgment is only the end of the beginning for the gig economy and the debate on worker status. You would need an algorithm to track the implications. Here are some:3-4: Months for an appeal to get to the Employment Appeals Tribunal. A speedy hearing is possible, but up ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: 56% cite uncertainty around how best to access pension benefits as a retirement concern
EXCLUSIVE: More than half (56%) of employer respondents believe uncertainty about how to make the best decisions when accessing pension benefits is an area of concern for employees, according to research by Employee Benefits and Close Brothers.While this continues to top the list of retirement concerns affecting respondents’ workforces, it ...
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ArticleThe Pensions Regulator begins enforcement action over BHS pension scheme
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has formally commenced enforcement action against parties it believes to be liable to support the British Home Stores (BHS) pension scheme.TPR has sent warning notices to Sir Philip Green, Taveta Investments, Dominic Chappell, and Retail Acquisitions. These notices comprise arguments and evidence as to why TPR ...
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Case StudiesFletchers Solicitors embeds core values in benefits strategy to engage staff with business goals
Over the last two years, Fletchers Solicitors has grown from 90 employees to more than 340. To support this growth and engage staff with the organisation’s values and goals, Fletchers has defined its core values and developed a reward and benefits strategy that embodies and celebrates these.The law firm has ...
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AnalysisHow to engage staff with long-term business growth
Need to know:A cultural change may be needed to shift employees’ focus from short-term goals to longer-term organisational objectives.Building a narrative around benefit strategies and illustrating how this ties into an organisation’s values can help engage staff with long-term business growth.Benefits that demonstrate employers have a long-term commitment to staff ...
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ArticleTribunal rules Uber drivers are entitled to workers’ rights
The London Central Employment Tribunal has ruled that Uber drivers are employed as workers and are entitled to the national minimum wage and holiday pay in a preliminary hearing.In the case of Aslam and Farra v Uber, the drivers contended that they were workers rather than independent contractors, and were ...