All articles by Nick Golding – Page 7
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BBC to add retail vouchers to voluntary plan
The BBC is to add discounted high-street retail vouchers to its voluntary benefits scheme next month.The vouchers, which can be used by its 34,000 employees at stores such as Debenhams, Sainsbury’s and brands in the Arcadia Group, enable staff to make savings of up to 8% on purchases.The scheme is ...
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Comet launches voluntary benefits scheme
Electrical retailer Comet has launched an online voluntary benefits package for its 10,000 employees.The scheme offers staff savings on products such as holidays, gym membership, broadband, mobile phones and also free eye tests.†Comet will also use the new website to advertise its existing core benefits, which include a 10% in-store ...
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Engaging staff can help to reduce turnover
Employers can drive down labour turnover and improve productivity by engaging and recognising employees at work. This is according to Sophie Jenkins, European consumer services director at Lego, speaking on improving business performance at the Human Resources Forum, held last week. Lego conducts regular staff surveys to identify how employees ...
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Analysis
The latest salary sacrifice perks
Salary sacrifice arrangements are growing in popularity and employers are looking to add new tax-efficient perks to those that are already widely offered to staff, says Nick GoldingEmployers have plenty of choice when it comes to tax-efficient benefits that can be offered through salary sacrifice arrangements. But some are looking ...
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Analysis
Providers are designing products to suit SMEs
The small and medium-sized market is seen as rich pickings by providers which are designing products to suit firms' needs and pockets, says Nick GoldingHistorically, the main areas of the benefits playground were open primarily to the heavyweights - larger employers that had the spending power to afford whichever perks ...
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Standard Life to boost payments to pensions plans
Standard Life is to increase contributions into its defined benefit (DB) and group personal pension (GPP) schemes from June, when staff make additional salary sacrifice payments through its flexible benefits plan.The bank will add an extra 10% of the amount employees sacrifice on top of the tax and national insurance ...
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Computacenter launches new benefits
Computacenter has launched a range of new benefits to maintain its competitiveness as an employer in the IT industry.These include critical illness cover, dental care, health screening and retail vouchers, which are all offered through salary sacrifice arrangements. Perks which are not eligible for government-supported tax and national insurance breaks, ...
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Lloyds TSB undertakes benefits communications audit
Lloyds TSB has begun a four-month long investigation into how it communicates its benefits package to staff.As a number of its benefits are currently offered under different branding, it is concerned that its existing communications strategy could be confusing for employees to understand. Its company cars, flexible benefits scheme, voluntary ...
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KPMG pilots alternative therapy offering
KPMG is to launch an alternative therapy service to encourage employees to take control of their own health and wellbeing while at work.The accountancy firm will initially run a month-long pilot scheme for its 500 Watford-based staff. This is likely to take place within the next two months, to identify ...
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Analysis
Alternatively secured pensions, an alternative to annuities?
Alternatively secured pensions enjoyed a brief period of popularity as a different option to annuities, before the government limited the way they can be used by imposing high tax charges, says Nick GoldingUK employees slogging away to build up their pension pots through an occupational scheme raised a small smile ...
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Manchester Airport launches pensions newsletter
Manchester Airport is to launch a pensions newsletter to encourage staff to save for retirement.The newsletter, which is due out within the next two months, will complement information about the organisation’s closed defined benefit and group personal pension schemes contained in its staff handbook.John Hampton, head of group reward and ...
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Corporate Rewards launches pre-pay card
Corporate Rewards has launched a pre-pay card to help employers motivate staff.Employers can load cash amounts onto the Corporate Rewards Card to reward or incentivise staff, who can then spend the credit at any outlet that accepts MasterCard.Sean Wilkinson, managing director at Corporate Rewards, explained: "Employers can load on money ...
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Bucks Council looks for provider to develop reward concept
Buckinghamshire County Council has developed a reward concept that links to its organisational values and is now looking for a benefits provider to produce software for the motivation scheme with a view to also offering it to other employers.Under the planned scheme, staff will be able to log into an ...
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Analysis
Benefits in India
In India, training programmes are engrained in the culture of employers, while skilled workers in tight recruitment markets are being wooed with private health insurance, says Nick GoldingIf you read nothing else read this…It is common for many employers in India to pay INR 15,000 (around £170) to help staff ...
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Employers help staff quit smoking in response to ban
Leading employers, including Asda and The Carphone Warehouse, are taking steps to help staff quit smoking in response to the workplace ban which came into effect in Wales on 2 April and which goes live in England in July .Under the terms of the Health Act 2006, smoking will be ...
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Analysis
Gaining a return on inventment on childcare perks
Costing the return on childcare provisions is complex, but employers have an added impetus if staff take bogus absences to look after kids, says Nick GoldingCase study: Getty ImagesArticle in fullChildcare benefits frequently top the lists of employers' most commonly-offered perks. According to the Employee Benefits/Towers Perrin Flexible benefits research ...
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Analysis
Administering contract hire schemes
Putting a fleet out to contract hire is popular because the chosen leasing firm takes on the day-to-day administration and contact issues with employees, but be sure to have policy input, says Nick GoldingIf you read nothing else read this...A contract hire scheme is where a company hires a car ...
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Bacs' technical problem means 400,000 are not paid on time
Due to a technical error at financial transaction firm Bacs, up to 400,000 employees will not be paid today.The Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP) is encouraging employers to communicate the problem to employees and support staff who have missed out on their monthly payment.Alison Ward, director at the IPP, explained: ...
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Linda Holbeche to leave the Work Foundation for CIPD
Linda Holbeche is to join the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) as research and policy director in June.She will move from the Work Foundation, where she has been director of leadership and consultancy for the past 18 months. She previously spent 12 years as director of research and ...
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American Embassy considers launching EAP
The American Embassy is considering launching an employee assistance programme (EAP) to its 400 London and Belfast-based employees later this year, following a benchmarking exercise.Although the final decision on whether to go ahead is dependent on overcoming current financial restraints, the firm believes that such a move would bring it ...