All articles by Nick Martindale – Page 2
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ArticleHow to upscale a benefits strategy to align with business growth
Need to know:As businesses grow, it is vital that their employee benefits strategies also evolve.Employers may start with a few core products but then expand into other areas, including wellbeing, lifestyle discounts and changes to working patterns.A more mature strategy is likely to include an element of choice so employees ...
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Case StudiesVinciWorks supports working parents with self-managed holiday policy
With around half its workforce made up of parents, e-learning organisation VinciWorks took the decision back in 2017 to offer employees the ability to self-manage their holiday policy, without having to formally book time off work.Josh Goodhardt, chief executive officer of VinciWorks, says: “The idea is that the more freedom ...
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AnalysisHow can employers support working carers through the school holidays?
Need to know:Employees are set to struggle with juggling work and childcare as the annual school summer holidays approach.Employers can help by offering flexible work arrangements, discounted leisure and dining vouchers, and signposting staff to government support.Employers that can be seen to help will benefit from more productive and motivated ...
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AnalysisHow can a benefits proposition support different faiths in the workplace?
Need to know:Employers need to think about ensuring workers from all faiths can thrive if they want to engage and retain talent.Measures that could help might include flexible leave policies for religious festivals, prayer rooms and tolerant dress codes.Benefits professionals will need to ensure they offer suitable pension investments and ...
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Case StudiesSThree ensures it offers multi-faith support in the workplace
With a diverse workforce, recruitment firm SThree has taken steps to ensure it is able to support staff from different faiths.During Ramadan, employees who are fasting can take advantage of the organisation's flexible-working policy, which means people can choose both the hours they work and where they work from. Gemma ...
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AnalysisWill automation and AI revolutionise the world of benefits in 2023?
Need to know:The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in employee benefits is growing.This can help employees receive personalised recommendations.Employers can also benefit from greater insight around benefit schemes.Artificial intelligence (AI) and greater automation are infiltrating almost every area of business, and employee benefits is no exception. It is ...
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Case StudiesSnowflake measures success of automated benefits programme
As a rapidly growing international cloud computing business, Snowflake knew it could no longer rely on a manual benefits system and started to look for a digital alternative.Jennifer Burnett, director, US benefits, says: “We wanted a platform that could be a single point of truth for employees; one place for ...
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Case StudiesBailie Group uses employee feedback to inform benefits proposition
Agencies and consultancies body Bailie Group employs around 400 people, and has an older demographic, although it also hopes to appeal to younger workers, including apprentices.Lynne Poole has been its head of people for two and a half years. When she joined, the organisation offered benefits including pensions, life insurance, ...
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AnalysisHow can employers use data to personalise a benefits proposition
Need to know:Data is helping organisations understand the needs of employees.Information can come from HR systems, surveys or employee-listening exercises.Employers can use insight to deliver personalised benefit offerings for individuals or generations.The use of data to help shape benefits strategy and decisions is becoming increasingly important as employers strive to ...
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Case StudiesIpsos supports culture of financial wellbeing with suite of savings schemes
With a background as a pensions consultant, Michaela O’Reilly, head of reward, was keen to develop a culture of financial wellbeing when she joined market research firm Ipsos six years ago.Initially the focus was on pensions, with the employer hosting sessions to raise awareness among staff around the need to ...
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AnalysisHow can employers position the workplace as a first port of call for savings vehicles?
Need to know:The cost-of-living crisis has underlined the need to improve people’s level of savings.Workplace schemes such as the individual saving account (Isa), lifetime Isas and sharesave already exist, with trials underway for ‘sidecar savings’.But employers have to up their game when it comes to communicating with employees.According to research ...
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Case StudiesMoneypenny's leadership builds on authentic foundations
Telephone answering and outsourced reception organisation Moneypenny was set up by brother and sister Ed Reeves and Rachel Clacher in 2000, whose leadership established that authenticity should be at the heart of its operations.Joanna Swash, chief executive officer (CEO) of Moneypenny, says: “It comes from personality of leadership, and Ed ...
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AnalysisWhy is authentic leadership important in business?
Need to knowEmployees are increasingly demanding that their leaders act with authenticity and integrity as they re-evaluate their priorities post-pandemic.Authenticity demands a number of skills, from empathy to strategy, many of which can be coached and nurtured by businesses.Listening to employees and fostering the right culture are integral to survive ...
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Case StudiesAnglian Water addresses environmental impact with electric car salary sacrifice
Utility firm Anglian Water has introduced a salary sacrifice arrangement for electric vehicles for its 5,000 employees.The scheme went live in early May and in the first six weeks around 20 orders have already been placed. Sally Purbrick, head of reward at Anglian Water, says: “We wanted to support our ...
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AnalysisAre car schemes still a valued employee benefit?
Need to know:Company car take-up has fallen in recent years as overall tax levels have risen.Electric cars benefit from lower rates and are now the focus for many employers.These are increasingly being offered via salary sacrifice rather than on a company-paid basis.For many years, the traditional company car scheme was ...
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ArticleEnergy Assets case study
Energy Assets is a utility company which provides gas, water and electricity services and meter installations to newbuild properties.With large numbers of its 600-strong workforce working on-site, the business has around 300 vehicles, including 85 cars, which are provided on a company-paid basis. It recently made the decision to switch ...
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Case StudiesConnective3 uses perks to stand out from competition in talent market
Like many other organisations, marketing agency Connective3 finds itself in a highly competitive talent market.The business has grown from seven people in October 2019 to 80 today, working in offices in Leeds, Manchester and London. Much has changed during that time as a result of the pandemic, with a focus ...
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AnalysisWhat really motivates an employee to stay with an employer?
Need to know:With the Great Resignation underway, organisations are working out what really makes staff join and stay with a business.Flexibility, wellbeing and work-life balance are all highly prized by employees.A wider sense of organisational values and the ability to develop are also attractive.The emergence of the Great Resignation in ...
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Case StudiesHackajob backs employees looking to help Ukrainian refugees
Technical talent marketplace Hackajob has 85 employees, with 45 in the UK and the remaining 40 in Iasi, Romania. The office there is on the border with Moldova, and around 100km from Ukraine.When the war started, it became clear that many people in the Romanian office were involved in helping ...
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AnalysisWhat impact is the war in Ukraine having on benefits strategies?
Employee support during the war in Ukraine might include evacuating staff and providing flexible, practical support for those directly affected.Organisations should also remember the importance of mental health support for all employees, including senior managers.In addition to day-to-day considerations, businesses should understand the wider ramifications of world events on other ...