All articles by Nick Golding – Page 5

  • Article

    Otto UK outsources fleet management

    2007-11-01T00:00:01Z

    Otto UK has outsourced the management of its company cars for the first time in an effort to reduce the amount of administration involved in running a fleet.The mail-order company, which trades as Grattans and Freemans, has 300 company car drivers that will be moved to a contract hire scheme.Howard ...

  • Analysis

    Fleet software all very well but personal touch is vital

    2007-11-01T00:00:01Z

    The development of fleet software is all very well, but employers should not use this at the expense of human interaction, particularly for driver training and accident reporting, says Nick GoldingThe plethora of technology-based fleet management tools available today are enough to persuade even the most diligent of managers to ...

  • Article

    Deloitte adds identity theft protection to flex

    2007-11-01T00:00:01Z

    Deloitte has revamped its flexible benefits package by adding identity theft protection and Bupa health assessments to its scheme, following a successful trial of the two perks.The identity theft protection benefit is an online credit assessment programme that is designed to help employees at the accountancy firm take control of ...

  • Article

    Moray Council launches voluntary benefits

    2007-10-30T15:34:00Z

    Moray Council has launched a voluntary benefits scheme for its 5,500 employees.The voluntary benefits programme was chosen because it gave enough variety of perks for a diverse workforce. It includes a range of regional retail discounts. Julie Benson, senior personnel advisor at Moray Council, explained: “We wanted to do something ...

  • Article

    Croydon Council prepares to launch salary sacrifice perks

    2007-10-29T09:55:02Z

    Croydon Council will complete its benefits survey and series of staff benefit workshops at the end of November, and plans to roll out salary sacrifice schemes to its 10,500 employees on a monthly basis in the new year.The results of the surveys and workshops will help to shape the new ...

  • Article

    RPM boosts pensions take up with online tools

    2007-10-24T09:05:05Z

    RPM has increased the number of employees contributing to its group personal pension scheme (GPP) from 22% to 72% after introducing software that enables them to manage their fund online. Previously, employees were sent annual pension reports for the marketing agency's GPP but they now have complete control over when ...

  • Article

    Pre-Budget report: New capital gains tax rate could increase sharesave tax

    2007-10-10T09:58:32Z

    The increase in capital gains tax (CGT) to a flat rate of 18% in April 2008, has been welcomed by employee share experts, even though it could result in higher rates for some employees in sharesave plans.Currently, individuals who have been shareholders in company sharesave schemes for more than two ...

  • Article

    Conference news: RBS segments workforce to help communicate benefits

    2007-10-03T09:58:18Z

    The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) believes workforce segmentation is key to effectively communicating messages to staff.Speaking in the session on Increasing awareness and understanding of benefits through effective communication, on day two of the Employee Benefits Exhibition and Conference 2007, Jim Cowan, senior consultant, remuneration and benefits at the ...

  • Article

    Pre-Budget report: Company car fuel benefit charge to be increased

    2007-10-01T00:00:01Z

    The figure on which the company car fuel benefit charge is based is to be increased from £14,400 to £16,900 from April 2008, in a bid to reduce the number of employers that encourage drivers to be frivolous with fuel.The company car fuel benefit charge is the fee that both ...

  • Analysis

    Employees need to trust in EAPs for effective stress busting

    2007-09-30T23:00:00Z

    EAPs may be affordable and help employers tackle employee stress, but staff need to fully trust the service, says Nick GoldingAdvice lines that are set up for staff to call for help when they are suffering stress or bullying at work are an attractive proposition for employers as they cost ...

  • Article

    Aon makes it easier for staff to qualify for DC contribution

    2007-09-30T23:00:00Z

    Aon is to reduce the amount some employees must contribute to its defined contribution (DC) plan to qualify for an employer contribution, with the aim of making the scheme more attractive to staff.From January 2008, all employees, regardless of age or seniority, will only have to contribute 2% of their ...

  • Analysis

    Choosing between electronic and paper motivation vouchers

    2007-09-03T14:00:31Z

    When deciding whether to use paper or electronic motivation vouchers employers must consider a host of issues including discounts, public recognition and theft, says Nick GoldingThere is no question that use of electronic motivation vouchers by employers has become more widespread. Although electronic formats still lag some way behind traditional ...

  • Article

    Punch extends Sip to former Spirit Group staff

    2007-09-03T09:47:00Z

    Punch Taverns is to extend its share incentive plan (Sip) to Spirit Group employees following its acquisition of the group last year.From October, former Spirit Group staff will be able to purchase shares in the same way that Punch Tavern employees have been able to, on a buy-one-get-one free basis ...

  • Article

    PricewaterhouseCoopers lays on staff perks webcasts

    2007-09-03T09:46:00Z

    9PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is to webcast presentations on financial education and flexible benefits for staff at the consulting firm.PwC's window for flex closes in mid-September and employees can log onto webcasts and view presentations on various flexible benefits. A trio of flex webcasts has been created for specific groups of employees, ...

  • Article

    Interview with Dev Raval: group head of reward at BSkyB

    2007-09-02T23:00:00Z

    Dev Raval, group head of reward at BSkyB, explains how the media firm has adopted an environmental-friendly stance and aligned perks with business strategyLike so many others working in the benefits profession, Dev Raval, group head of reward at BSkyB, fell into the field more by accident than design.When he ...

  • Analysis

    How to go green with fleet beyond choosing greener models

    2007-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Switching company cars for greener models is not the only way that organisations can reduce the carbon footprint of their fleet, as driver training and a review of private fuel can also help, says Nick GoldingThe desire to adopt a more environmentally-friendly approach to company cars by reducing CO2 emissions ...

  • Article

    Yorkshire offers green car cash back

    2007-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Yorkshire Building Society has devised an environmentally-friendly company car scheme that offers drivers 15% of their total monthly car allowance back, if they opt for vehicles with low-carbon emissions of 120 grams per kilometre or less.Caroline Gibson, travel co-ordinator at Yorkshire Building Society, said: "This is going to be a ...

  • Analysis

    Measuring staff happiness

    2007-08-05T23:00:00Z

    Accurately assessing employee engagement levels can be a complex task, says Nick GoldingEmployers that invest time and money on benefits for staff will inevitably expect to reap the rewards, particularly in areas such as increased employee engagement.Towers Perrin's Global workforce study 2005 identified pay and benefits as the fifth most ...

  • Article

    Deloitte to install sickness management programme

    2007-08-05T23:00:00Z

    Accountancy firm Deloitte plans to introduce an absence management programme to better co-ordinate employees’ use of its healthcare perks.The new programme, which is due to be launched by the end of the summer, will help the firm to manage employees who are taking sick leave at the earliest opportunity, and ...

  • Article

    T-Mobile plans to swap benefit deals with other employers

    2007-08-05T23:00:00Z

    T-Mobile plans to team up with other employers to swap its employee deals on mobile phones for equivalent staff discounts offered on these firms' own services or products.The mobile phone company is hoping to strike a deal with other companies within six-to-nine months, and claims to be the first organisation ...