All articles by Marianne – Page 15
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: Callcredit uses communication to boost staff engagement with flex
EXCLUSIVE: Callcredit has boosted employee engagement with its flexible benefits package by offering a wider choice of benefits for selection and running a multimedia communications campaign.Almost nine in 10 (89%) of the consumer data management agency's 1,000 employees logged onto its flexible benefits website over an 11-day enrolment period. The ...
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ArticleShould employers wake up and smell the bacon?
Something for the weekend…The Employee Benefits team has received some off-the-wall press releases in its time, but one release landed in our inbox this week to top them all.The press release, from J&D’s Foods, announced the launch of a product that “offers the support of briefs, the freedom of boxers ...
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ArticleTop 10 most read stories this week
The top 10 most read stories on www.employeebenefits.co.uk on 19-26 November 2015: Asda increases share plan take up by 45%Diesel supplement to remain in company car tax to 202134% believe pets in workplace boost healthGovernment to gather evidence on salary sacrificeAuto-enrolment contribution rate rises to coincide with tax yearEXCLUSIVE RESEARCH: ...
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ArticleThe Autumn Statement’s impact on employee benefits
On 25 November, chancellor George Osborne delivered the 2015 Autumn Statement and Spending Review. Below is a summary of all the key announcements impacting employee benefits:Osborne announced that the next two phases of minimum pension contribution rate increases under auto-enrolment will be pushed back to coincide with the tax year.The ...
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Article60% of housing associations offer defined contribution pensions
Almost two-thirds (60%) of housing association respondents offer staff a defined contribution (DC) pension scheme, according to research by EMA Business and Management Consultancy.Its 2015 Total rewards survey, which is based on responses from 94 UK housing associations, found that the average contribution rates for DC schemes was 7% for ...
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Case StudiesDeloitte creates quality culture for working parents
Deloitte aims to create an inclusive culture to support its working parents, particularly when it comes to emergencies.It intends to keep its childcare costs low for its mobile and versatile workforce and the organisation. Caroline Hunt, director of HR and head of client service HR at Deloitte, says: “Of our ...
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AnalysisHow to deliver a cost-effective emergency childcare strategy
If you read nothing else, read this… Employers must carefully communicate emergency childcare benefits to staff. Making employees aware of their emergency childcare options is pivotal to cutting costs. Emergency childcare provision can support employees with childcare commitments and help organisations to retain talent in the workplace.Emergency childcare services can ...
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ArticleDiesel supplement to remain in company car tax to 2021
Autumn Statement 2015: The government will retain the diesel supplement in company car tax.There will be a 3-percentage point differential between diesel cars and petrol cars from April 2016 to 2021, when EU-wide testing procedures will ensure new diesel cars meet air quality standards under strict real world driving conditions.The ...
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ArticleGovernment to maintain pension triple lock
Autumn Statement 2015: Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed that the government will keep the triple lock, with the basic state pension rising to £119.30 a week from April 2016.The single-tier pension rate has been set at £155.65 a week. This will be available to those reaching pensionable age from April ...
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ArticleShare scheme tax rules to be simplified
Autumn Statement 2015: The Finance Bill 2016 will introduce measures to simplify the tax rules for employee share schemes.These technical changes will streamline and simplify aspects of the tax rules for tax-advantaged and non-tax-advantaged employee share schemes. The move is aimed at providing more consistency, including putting beyond doubt the ...
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ArticleGovernment to gather evidence on salary sacrifice
Autumn Statement 2015: The government will continue to consider what action, if any, will be taken around salary sacrifice arrangements.It will gather further evidence, including from employers, to inform its approach to salary sacrifice arrangements.In the Spending review and autumn statement 2015 policy paper, the government expresses its concern at ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: Danwood introduces holiday purchase scheme
EXCLUSIVE: Danwood has introduced holiday buying as a benefit for its 1,140 employees.The printing services organisation is offering the benefit on a voluntary or salary sacrifice basis after its 2014 employee engagement survey revealed that 69% of its staff were interested in purchasing additional holiday. Staff can now purchase up ...
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ArticleThe Pensions Regulator consults on new defined contribution code
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published a new draft defined contribution (DC) code of practice for consultation.The new code aims to raise standards of governance and administration in defined contribution (DC) pension schemes.It sets out the standards of conduct and practice the regulator expects trustee boards to meet in complying ...
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ArticleStay up-to-date with the Autumn Statement
Chancellor George Osborne will unveil the Autumn Statement at 12:30pm today (25 November). Stay tuned to the Employee Benefits website for the latest news and updates from the Statement. These will cover all announcements impacting employee benefits, from pensions and pay to childcare and salary sacrifice arrangements. We will also ...
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ArticleWiggins Teape scheme agrees pension buyout
The Wiggins Teape pension scheme, established for UK employees of paper manufacturers Wiggins Teape and Arjo Wiggins Appleton, has entered into a £400m buyout arrangement.The £400m bulk annuity transaction with Scottish Widows covers around two thirds of the pension scheme’s liabilities for the 4,000 members of the defined benefit (DB) ...
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Article77% say it is employers’ role to support pension scheme members
Over three-quarters (77%) of respondents believe it is the role of employers to communicate with, educate and support staff who are members of their pension scheme, according to research by Aon shows.Its DC survey 2015, which is based on 330 responses from pension scheme managers, trustees and sponsors, found that ...
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AnalysisHow to cut the cost of flex without cutting corners
If you read nothing else, read this… It can be tricky for employers to find the balance between overspending on flex and not offering suitable benefits. Employers can utilise technology to enhance their flexible benefits. Flexible benefits reviews can help organisations ensure their benefits package remains competitive.Cost is often cited ...
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Case StudiesInterfleet keeps flex costs low with increased staff engagement
International rail consultancy Interfleet keeps the cost of providing flexible benefits low by ensuring that it gives staff what they want.The organisation, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, benchmarks its flex package and its 480 UK employees’ engagement with this, using the Great Places to Work questionnaire. In 2014 responses ...
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OpinionPeter Roberts: Cutting costs not corners
Flexible benefits have long been seen as playing a vital role in employee engagement. It is arguably one of the keys to unlocking productivity, as well as attracting and retaining talent.The reduction in pension commission is coupled with continuing pressure on health insurance costs, an increasingly competitive market for talent ...
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Article99% of junior doctors vote in favour of industrial action
Junior doctors in England have voted in favour of industrial action over changes to their contracts, including pay and working hours.Some 99% of the 76% of junior doctors who took part in the ballot are prepared to take industrial action short of a strike, while 98% are prepared to take ...