News – Page 89
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ArticleJM Smucker Company enhances paid leave benefits for 7,000 staff
US-based food manufacturing business The JM Smucker Company, also known as Smucker’s, has enhanced its paid leave benefits for more than 7,000 employees, effective 1 January 2020.The package of enhancements includes providing all new parents, whether by birth, adoption or fostering, with up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave; ...
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Poll: 70% of organisations do not help employees improve sleep habits
Employee Benefits poll: Seven in 10 (70%) Employee Benefits readers do not actively support employees in improving their sleep habits or getting a healthy night’s sleep.A straw poll of www.employeebenefits.co.uk readers, which received 33 responses, also found that less than a third (30%) of organisations offer flexible working arrangements in ...
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ArticleTeam building organisation pays clowns £100 an hour to scare staff for Halloween
Something for the weekend: London-based team building organisation Team Tactics is seeking to hire 10 clowns across the UK, paying £100 an hour to prank unwitting employees for Halloween.Team Tactics wishes to hire 10 individuals who can impersonate famed clowns such as Pennywise, from horror author Stephen King’s novel It, ...
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ArticlePure Planet commits to offset employees’ commuting carbon emissions
Renewable energy supplier Pure Planet has launched a new initiative to offset the carbon emissions created by its employees’ daily commutes.The Zero Commute policy, implemented in October 2019, aims to underline the organisation’s commitment to building a more sustainable and green environment. The programme also aligns with Pure Planet’s Zero ...
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ArticleBarclays, John Lewis and Royal Mail sign new mental health commitment
Utilities organisation Anglian Water, banking business Barclays, retailer John Lewis Partnership, postal service Royal Mail and financial services firm Virgin Money are among 30 employers that have signed the new Mental Health at Work Commitment.Developed in conjunction with mental health charities, employers and trade organisations, the commitment aims to improve ...
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ArticleOutsourced UCL staff to receive same pay, pension and annual leave as employees
Around 900 outsourced members of staff working at educational institution University College London (UCL) will receive the same pay, pension arrangements and annual leave entitlements as directly employed staff who perform the same roles.The deal, negotiated with trade union Unison, means that from 1 December 2019, outsourced porters, security staff ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: 91% want healthcare providers to improve employees' mental health
EXCLUSIVE: Most respondents state they would like their healthcare provider to improve either their employees’ mental health (91%) or their physical health (84%), according to research by Employee Benefits.The Employee Benefits/Health Shield Healthcare research 2019, which surveyed 202 HR decision makers and influencers, also found that a high proportion of ...
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ArticleAn Post reports a 3.71% mean gender pay gap across 9,290 employees
State-owned postal organisation An Post, based in Dublin, Ireland, has reported a 3.71% mean gender pay gap as at October 2019.Currently, it is not a legal requirement for employers in Ireland to report on gender pay gaps within their businesses. However, the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 was published ...
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ArticleEdam Group rolls out wellbeing programme for 400 staff
Credit hire and post-accident services organisation Edam Group has rolled out a new wellbeing programme for its 400 staff, seeking to improve employees’ mental health.The Minding Edam programme launched fully in October 2019, following an initial trial period that began in conjunction with Learning at Work Week in May 2019. ...
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ArticleChannel 4 introduces menopause policy to tackle stigma and support female staff
Media organisation Channel 4 has introduced a new menopause policy for its 800 UK-based staff, aiming to support employees with menopausal symptoms, as well as to provide guidance to managers and colleagues on how to assist others.The new policy, which launched today (Friday 18 October 2019) in conjunction with World ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: 69% believe healthcare benefits show them to be a caring employer
EXCLUSIVE: Being seen as a ‘caring’ employer has returned to the top of the list when respondents consider what their healthcare benefits programmes have been successful in achieving. Almost seven in 10 (69%) said this was the case this year, compared to 60% last year and 74% in 2017, according ...
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ArticleDentons and Network Rail commit to Mindful Business Charter
Law firms DAC Beachcroft and Dentons, financial organisation Nationwide Building Society and transport business Network Rail are among the 17 employers that have signed the Mindful Business Charter (MBC) in October 2019.The MBC was established in October 2018 by law firms Addleshaw Goddard and Pinsent Masons, alongside financial organisation Barclays. ...
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ArticleQueen’s Speech confirms Pension Schemes Bill and CDC pensions
The Queen has confirmed that the implementation of the Pensions Schemes Bill will be brought forward, legislating for the introduction of pensions dashboards as well as collective defined contribution (CDC) pension schemes.The Bill was one of the measures announced in the Queen’s Speech, delivered on Monday 14 October 2019 to ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: 32% do not actively measure sickness absence levels
EXCLUSIVE: Overall, 32% of respondents are either unsure of, or do not actively measure, their organisation’s sickness absence levels, according to research by Employee Benefits.The Employee Benefits/Health Shield Healthcare research 2019, which surveyed 202 HR decision makers and influencers, also found that a further 65% either do not know or ...
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ArticleMore than two-thirds of employees would value access to mental health first aiders
More than two thirds (69%) of UK employees, and 80% of those aged between 18 and 24, would value having mental health first aiders at their office, according to research by Thomsons Online Benefits.The survey of 2,000 UK employees also found that 64% would value access to 24/7 counselling services; ...
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ArticleDreams launches sleep action plan to support 2,000 UK-based employees
Bed and mattress retail and manufacturing business Dreams has launched a new action plan to help its 2,000 UK-based employees improve their sleep.The Sleep Better Programme, implemented in September 2019, provides managers with sleep health training and incorporating conversations about sleep into annual reviews.Staff will also be able to access ...
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ArticlePearl Abyss pilots matchmaking membership allowance for single staff
Something for the weekend: Korea-based game development organisation Pearl Abyss has launched a matchmaking membership allowance to support single staff looking for love.The new benefit, which launched in September 2019, is being piloted with five anonymous employees; each individual will receive up to 3 million won (£2,049.49) to allow them ...
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ArticlePoll: 77% of organisations do not have a strategy to address the menopause
Employee Benefits poll: More than three-quarters (77%) of Employee Benefits readers do not have a strategy in place at their organisations to address the menopause, or to support female staff who may be experiencing menopausal symptoms.A straw poll of www.employeebenefits.co.uk readers, which received 33 responses, also found that 15% have ...
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ArticlePublicis Groupe UK gives 5,000 staff the day off for World Mental Health Day
Public relations organisation Publicis Groupe UK has given its 5,000 UK-based employees the day off today (Thursday 10 October 2019) in recognition of World Mental Health Day.The day of leave aims to encourage staff to concentrate on their personal health and wellbeing.The initiative forms part of the organisation’s ‘Headline: Let’s ...
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ArticleContinuum Attractions trains mental health first aiders ahead of wellbeing month
Visitor attraction organisation Continuum Attractions has trained 16 mental health first aiders as part of its new mental health awareness strategy.The mental health awareness strategy, which launched this month (October 2019), aims to incentivise Continuum Attractions’ 450 employees to be aware of their own and each other’s mental health. This ...