All articles by Nicola Sullivan – Page 4
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Article
Alton Towers staff receive contortionist training to combat claustrophobia
Alton Towers is offering its employees training sessions from a contortionist to help them deal with the dark and cramped conditions of the park’s newest attraction.Staff working on the Nemesis Sub-Terra, which features a network of catacombs, tunnels and dark cramped cages, have complained of claustrophobia.Alton Towers has therefore hired ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: McDonald's Restaurants wins Grand Prix at Employee Benefits Awards
McDonald’s Restaurants, Merlin Entertainments, BT and Kraft Foods were among the big winners at this year's Employee Benefits Awards, which took place at the Artillery Garden at The HAC on 31 May.McDonald’s Restaurants took the coveted overall Grand Prix prize, plus the category award for ‘Most effective alignment of reward ...
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Towry forms committee to highlight value of total reward
Towry is taking steps to ensure its staff grasp the value of their total reward, including pay, pension, bonuses and other benefits.The independent financial advice firm has created a committee comprising non-HR staff from all levels of the business to look at how these reward elements are perceived by its ...
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EXCLUSIVE: Capital One highlights Men's Health Week
Capital One will offer health checks and raise awareness about testicular cancer during Men’s Health Week, which takes place on 13-19 June.The credit card company has teamed up with an NHS medical practice near its Nottingham head office to offer free blood pressure and cholesterol checks, plus information on mental ...
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News analysis: Is shareholders' revolution justified?
Shareholders’ revolts against executive pay have rocked some big companies recently, but do they really understand the issues? Nicola Sullivan reportsAviva, Barclays and Trinity Mirror are on a growing list of companies that are bowing to shareholder pressure on executive pay. But such high-profile examples of shareholder revolt have raised ...
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EXCLUSIVE: Ann Summers reviews providers ahead of pension reforms
Ann Summers is conducting a review of pension providers ahead of its staging date for auto-enrolment and compliance with the forthcoming pension reforms.The retailer, which has identified 640 staff to auto-enrol and 250 that could soon reach the eligible age or earnings level, is seeking providers that meet its needs ...
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Analysis
Who is the right target market for pre-paid cards?
If you read nothing else, read this…Older employees welcome discounts to make savings on the cost of everyday living, including supermarket shopping and fuel.Younger employees are more likely to use discounts to buy big-ticket and memorable items.Cashback features on pre-paid cards can make them more appealing to a larger proportion ...
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Analysis
DHL Supply Chain moves to streamline benefits
Case study: PMI provides express delivery of careSteve Henshaw, a general manager at DHL Supply Chain, says private medical insurance (PMI) is one of his most valued employee benefits provided by the organisation.Henshaw, who works at the organisation’s Bedford warehouse on behalf of Sainsbury’s, is responsible for dispatching clothing to ...
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Case Studies
Informa gets the auto-enrolment message straight
Media company Informa spent the start of this year creating a strategy outlining its auto-enrolment objectives to ensure it is fully prepared for the reforms.Informa’s official staging date is June 2013, but it will comply with the legislation in January 2013, when the first salary sacrifice deductions are made for ...
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Analysis
How to get the most out of providers and advisers in the run up to auto-enrolment
If you read nothing else, read this…Employers need an auto-enrolment roadmap outlining their objectives before reviewing providers’ services.Employers should compare their pensions, HR and payroll providers’ services with the market to ensure they are most suitable for their organisation.Test providers on how they will: identify staff to be auto-enrolled, communicate ...
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Pensions Management Institute launches qualification for advisers affected by RDR
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has launched a diploma in regulated retirement advice, which is fully compliant with the retail distribution review (RDR).The diploma provides advisers affected by RDR with the opportunity to gain the necessary accreditation they need to continue to provide advice.The diploma comprises three modules under the ...
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Buyer's guide to childcare vouchers 2012
Focus on factsWhat are childcare vouchers?These are a government-backed scheme to help working parents afford quality childcare. Depending on their income, parents can take up to £243 a month in childcare vouchers from their employer, free of tax and national insurance (NI) contributions. Vouchers can be used for a wide ...
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Vauxhall staff stopped from watching Euro 2012 due to health and safety
Vauxhall has had to balance on a tightrope between employee motivation and health and safety after some staff complained that they could not watch the Euro 2012 football, despite the car manufacturer sponsoring the English team.Production line workers feature alongside England stars, such as Steven Gerrard and Joe Hart, in ...
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HSBC shareholders approve directors' pay
The majority of HSBC shareholders have approved the bank’s executive remuneration package, bucking the trend for shareholder backlash over top-level pay awards.At HSBC's annual general meeting, more than 89% of shareholders voted in favour of the bank’s directors’ remuneration report for 2011. This came despite recommendations from research and advisory ...
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Age-old tradition of elevenses eroded by modern working practices
As the country prepares to celebrate the best of British for the Queen’s Jubilee, a study has found that the age-old tradition of elevenses has been eroded by modern working practices.The survey, conducted by juice producer PomeGreat, found that 54% of British workers now favour a mid-morning snack by 10:30 ...
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Barclays Corporate and Employer Solutions appoints Katharine Photiou head of workplace savings
Barclays Corporate and Employer Solutions has appointed Katharine Photiou head of workplace savings.Photiou, who has 20 years of experience in the employee benefits industry, joined from Mercer, where she was responsible for building its workplace savings platform.She has also worked in a number of senior roles at Friends Provident.Richard Phelps, ...
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Fidelius acquires Future Solutions Financial Group
Wealth management and employee benefits firm Fidelius has acquired employee benefits consultancy Future Solutions Financial Group.Alan Phillips, co-founder and managing director at Fidelius, said the acquisition supports the firm’s growth plan to acquire complementary organisations that fit its business service ethic and allow it to extend its geographic reach.The acquisition ...
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Banking executives learn how to tackle challenges of the corporate jungle in luxury spa
It is hard to imagine that the serene and peaceful environment of a luxury spa would provide the setting to teach a group of hard-nosed executives how to be more effective in the corporate jungle of high finance.This was the tactic of Lloyds Banking Group, which sent a group of ...
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Five-year-old artist earns thousands
A five-year-old girl Australian girl who has already earned more than £100,000 from her paintings, may have unrealistic expectations of the future benefits packages she will receive from employers.However, the money Aelita Andre earns is being put in a trust fund, meaning the youngster has already experienced the concept of ...
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Lakeshore TolTest enhances medical assistance for overseas staff
Construction and environmental firm Lakeshore TolTest has enhanced the medical care provided to its network of more than 300 overseas employees.It has appointed Healix International to provide medical assistance, which includes evacuation services, to Lakeshore TolTest employees based in a number of countries, including Afghanistan and Iraq. Healix International was ...