All articles by Nic Paton – Page 5
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AnalysisHow to align pensions provisions with a wider benefits strategy
Need to know:Pensions should be positioned as a vital part of an overarching benefits package, rather than a separate and often distant concern.Employers should package pensions within a wider financial planning provision, promoting it alongside a range of other benefits that can help employees with short- and long-term stability.Focusing on ...
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Case StudiesNationwide demonstrates the role of workplace pensions within wider package
To engage its 18,500 employees with their retirement savings, Nationwide Building Society provides a dashboard through which staff can view all of their pension information in one place, uses nudges to promote behavioural change, and runs competitions during which, for example, employees can design posters illustrating their personal retirement dreams.Currently, ...
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AnalysisHow benefits can open up the talent pipeline to promote diversity and inclusion
Need to know:Pay transparency encourages the clarifying and codifying of progression structures, and allows for merit and value to be rewarded free from unconscious bias.Effective use of data analytics, as well as staff input and open dialogue, can help employers to better understand the priorities of a workforce, rather than ...
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Case StudiesPinsent Masons adopts a multi-faceted approach to creating inclusive talent pipeline
For international law firm Pinsent Masons, which employs nearly 3,000 people globally, diversity and inclusion is an agenda item that must be tackled from multiple directions, with honesty and an appreciation of the journey yet to go.For example, the firm concedes that, much like the legal industry as a whole, ...
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Case StudiesUK Power Networks clearly communicates salary sacrifice rules to employees
When it comes to salary sacrifice, electricity distribution organisation UK Power Networks has traditionally been risk averse from a tax perspective, according to Steve Remnant, head of reward and HR services. This means that the government’s moves to limit salary-based benefits have had limited day-to-day impact.“I think that, overall, employers ...
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AnalysisHow to help employees manage their take-home pay when in a salary sacrifice scheme
Need to know:Automation and payroll tools can flag if an employee is at risk of falling below the minimum wage because of salary sacrifice, but employers should be wary of becoming overly reliant on such technology.Employee communications must illustrate clearly what the effect of salary sacrifice will be on pay, ...
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AnalysisHow to measure the return on investment of financial wellbeing strategies
Need to know:The links between financial wellbeing and employee health, productivity and engagement are increasingly well recognised by employers.Hard and fast return on investment (ROI) for financial wellbeing strategies can be difficult to evidence, but employers can study employee engagement surveys, absence and presenteeism levels, changing take-up of financial benefits ...
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Case StudiesCarlsberg uses staff feedback to gauge success of financial wellbeing strategy
Brewery giant Carlsberg launched a proactive financial wellbeing programme in January 2018 for its 700 UK employees, ranging from head office staff, brewery production, sales teams and contact centres.Activities within the programme include on-site mortgage sessions and one-to-one independent mortgage advice, pension presentations, access to payroll loans, a home rental ...
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AnalysisHow technology is shaping the future of employee reward
Need to know:The delivery of benefits is becoming more mobile-optimised, with new technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain waiting in the wings.Data and data analytics is playing an increasingly important part in the personalisation of reward.Communication, security and transparency remain key, especially amid concern and publicity ...
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Case StudiesNorthumbrian Water streamlines benefits access with single sign-in portal
Northumbrian Water has streamlined access to benefits with a single sign-in portal, making data security a key issue for the organisation.The water organisation has 3,100 employees spread across the north east of England (where it trades as Northumbrian Water) and Essex and Suffolk (where it trades as Essex and Suffolk ...
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Case StudiesKeolis Nottingham drives benefits engagement among remote staff with mobile app
Around 80% of the 294 employees at Keolis Nottingham, formerly Nottingham Trams, work remotely, whether as drivers, engineers, maintenance staff or roving revenue officers.Trevor Stocker, operations manager, says: “Drivers, for example, sign in, are given the keys and away they go [for] four to five hours out in the tram. ...
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AnalysisHow can employers reach a remote workforce with employee engagement initiatives?
Need to know:Employers need to ensure that engagement initiatives reach and resonate with remote workers through effective communication.For a widely dispersed workforce, employers should communicate every day.Personalised and multi-channel communications can help engage a remote workforce with engagement initiatives.With rail fares rising by 3.4% for 2018 and two-hour daily commutes ...
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OpinionMatthew Morris: Blockchain will have a major impact on employee benefits
Blockchain. It has become a buzzword in fintech. Blockchain first rose to prominence as the platform on which the digital money Bitcoin runs, but the essence of blockchain technology has now progressed to smart contracts, which has huge implications for the world of HR and employee benefits.A blockchain is a ...
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AnalysisHow will blockchain technology impact employee benefits?
Need to knowBlockchain technology allows transactions to be exchanged securely and transparently within peer-to-peer networks, and can automate a range of processes.It could streamline areas such as recording education, skills and performance, cross-border payments, VAT administration, payroll, pensions, and private medical insurance.However, it is still in its infancy within HR ...
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Case StudiesPurley Park Trust takes action based on employee engagement scores
Charity Purley Park Trust, which employs 150 staff and provides care services to people with learning difficulties via eight care homes and a domiciliary agency, has moved away from using a staff satisfaction survey to monitor and measure employee engagement.Larry Grady, chief executive, says: “They take forever to put together, ...
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AnalysisHow to gauge a return on investment on employee engagement initiatives
Need to know:Measuring the return on investment (ROI) on employee engagement initiatives needs to be about much more than carrying out an occasional staff satisfaction survey.Employee key performance indicators (KPIs), staff turnover, absence statistics, exit interviews, customer feedback, evidence of collaboration and employee participation can all be valuable measures to ...
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AnalysisWhat will company car schemes of the future look like?
Need to knowThe government is investing in both electric vehicle (EV) and autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies and infrastructure.However, electric vehicles will not take off until concerns about the distance these are able to travel between charges is fully overcome and employees also accept a change of driving mindset.There are a ...
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Case StudiesPanasonic provides electric company cars and free charging points to employees
Almost 20% of electronics manufacturer Panasonic’s 170-strong UK company car fleet is made up of hybrid or electric vehicles (EVs), supplied through provider Alphabet on a contract hire or salary sacrifice basis.Yet, while very much an evangelist for electric vehicles, Jason Plummer, senior manager at Panasonic, concedes electric is not ...
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ArticleWhat impact will the Autumn Statement changes have on engagement with ultra-low emission vehicles?
Need to know:From April 2017, current tax and national insurance advantages for some company car salary sacrifice schemes will be removed, with the exception of arrangements relating to ultra-low emission vehicles.Pre-existing car salary sacrifice arrangements in place before April 2017 will be protected until April 2021.There will be new tax ...
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AnalysisHow can benefits be utilised to improve employee engagement?
Need to know:Rather than thinking of benefits as a financial or insurance perk, employers should consider how to relate these to what employees need, want or aspire to on a day-to-day level.Employers should promote support services, such as access to an employee assistance programme (EAP), or additional services or tools ...