A number of employers are moving towards flexible benefits or salary sacrifice schemes. Penauille Servisair, a provider of aviation ground services, has introduced childcare vouchers, bikes for work, holiday trading and a range of voluntary benefits. It is also offering its 6,000 employees the option of salary sacrificing pension contributions. National Grid Wireless, meanwhile, will add perks such as a healthcare cash plan, retail vouchers, holiday vouchers and annual travel insurance to its Vebnet-provided flex scheme when it relaunches in December. Bruce Sayers, reward and policy manager, said: "We are hoping it will attract some people that weren't attracted by the benefits on offer first time around."
Defence, aerospace and electronics company Thales UK is looking to flex as a way of harmonising benefits for staff following a series of acquisitions. Alex Reeves, compensation and benefits manager, said a scheme could be launched by April 2007. Similarly, the Department of Constitutional Affairs has launched a procurement process to find a flex provider as part of a project to harmonise more than 50 sets of terms and conditions for its 24,000 staff. If the scheme receives internal sign-off, it is anticipated to launch by August next year.