All articles by Nicola Sullivan – Page 44

  • Article

    Public sector HR professionals urged to review policies to cope with cost efficiency drive

    2009-11-19T15:19:07Z

    Public sector HR professionals have been urged to review job roles, strategies and processes to cope with cuts in public expenditure and deliver savings outlined in the government’s cost cutting agenda.Addressing delegates attending the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) annual conference in Manchester, Gillian Hibberd, president of the ...

  • Article

    Simon Cowell is highest-paid man on US prime time TV

    2009-11-12T16:25:34Z

    In the television world, it is sometimes baffling how celebrities who display what some might consider as deplorable traits are so generously compensated.This couldn’t be truer than in the case of Simon Cowell, who has been named the highest-paid man on American prime-time television, after raking in $75 million (£45 ...

  • Article

    Bumper pay packets for partners at law firms

    2009-11-12T10:27:53Z

    Partners at leading law firms earned close to £900,000 this year despite an average decline in profits for the top 100 firms of 30%, according to research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).PWC's survey shows that average profits per partner of the top 10 firms at £872,000 were almost twice that of ...

  • Article

    Motorised bed used to motivate staff

    2009-11-06T15:50:52Z

    Even the most dedicated employees' loyalty to their employer hangs in the balance during those critical few minutes after the alarm clock goes off, when staying in bed over earning a living can seem like a viable option.Now employers can recognise the daily challenge of getting up in the morning ...

  • Article

    Truro and Penwith College implements web-based HR and payroll system

    2009-11-04T14:10:25Z

    Truro and Penwith College has signed a seven-year deal with NorthgateArinso to implement a web-enabled HR and payroll system.Prompted by changes with its current bureau service and the desire to achieve an integrated HR and payroll system, the college has chosen the ResourceLink Aurora service to provide a more efficient ...

  • Analysis

    The impact of Obama’s healthcare revolution on private medical insurance

    2009-11-02T15:17:27Z

    The US president’s proposed reforms could have big consequences for employer-provided medical insurance, says Nicola SullivanIf you read nothing else, read this..President Obama’s health reforms are still proposals, but they will impact employers.Employers could be fined for each employee they fail to insure. Organisations with 25 or fewer staff would ...

  • Analysis

    Motivating staff during the festive season

    2009-11-02T15:05:00Z

    After a difficult year, the festive season offers an ideal opportunity for employers to reward their workforce, says Nicola SullivanAfter a year spent battling the effects of recession, it would be understandable if employers’ attitudes towards rewarding staff at Christmas had more in common with Ebenezer Scrooge than Father Christmas.But ...

  • Article

    GlaxoSmithKline moves EAP provider

    2009-11-02T15:04:43Z

    Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has switched its employee assistance programme (EAP) providers to give staff greater access to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).The firm has switched from Ceridian to PPC, and its 16,000 employees can now access face-to-face CBT counselling, as well as an online service, where they will be asked ...

  • Article

    McDonald's online move

    2009-11-02T14:57:44Z

    McDonald's is considering adding its compensation and talent management processes to its established self-service and HR software.The fast-food chain is looking at adding the services to its online system to increase the efficiency of annual salary reviews and bonus payments. With the current system, managers make recommendations about what performance ...

  • Article

    Friends Provident focuses on financial behaviour

    2009-11-02T14:54:44Z

    Friends Provident is to launch a financial education service that incorporates behavioural science techniques.The development of its My Money and Me service has been influenced by behavioural economic theory, which seeks to explain what lies behind people's decisions to spend, invest, save and borrow money. This is designed to overcome ...

  • Article

    Equity Insurance aligns perks policy for expatriates in UK

    2009-11-02T14:53:55Z

    Equity Insurance is aligning its UK expatriate policy with that used by its parent company in Australia around issues such as benefits.The policy, likely to be finalised early next year, will make it easier to transfer staff from Insurance Australia Group to the UK to work. Australian expatriates are currently ...

  • Analysis

    Tackling depression in the workplace

    2009-11-02T14:41:10Z

    Employers must take steps to check and help their workforce's mental wellbeing, says Nicola Sullivan.If you read nothing else, read this...The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends employers conduct stress audits. A basic stress audit involves asking staff, either throughout an organisation or in a particular department, to answer key ...

  • Case Studies

    Voluntary benefits report 2009: profile on IBM

    2009-11-02T13:25:00Z

    Computer giant IBM UK is making full use of state-of-the-art technology to maximise staff take-up of voluntary benefits, says Nicola SullivanAchieving higher-than-average employee take-up levels for a voluntary benefits scheme is no mean feat. But by using the latest technology, a robust communications strategy and offering an extensive range of ...

  • Article

    Women given extensive maternity leave are less likely to get top jobs

    2009-11-01T00:00:01Z

    Women who are given long periods of maternity leave could be damaging their careers, according to research conducted by the Research Institute of Industrial Economics in Stockholm, Sweden.Why Are There So Few Top Female Executives in Egalitarian Welfare States? showed women from Anglo-Saxon countries, where maternity leave is less generous ...

  • Article

    More than half of business drivers support hands free driving

    2009-11-01T00:00:01Z

    More than half (59%) of business drivers are supportive of a new system that would cut fuel consumption and allow them to travel down the motorway hands free on auto-pilot, according to research conducted by Lex Autolease.The Road Train system, aimed at drivers who cover long distances for work, would ...

  • Article

    Parents will reconsider working if childcare voucher tax break is cut

    2009-11-01T00:00:01Z

    More than 60% of parents using childcare vouchers will reconsider working if tax relief on the scheme is phased out.A poll of 1,800 parents conducted by Computershare Voucher Services also found that 57% of parents would not be able to maintain their existing childcare arrangements without the vouchers.Almost all (98%) ...

  • Analysis

    News analysis: Childcare crisis looms

    2009-11-01T00:00:01Z

    The government's decision to withdraw tax and national insurance relief on childcare vouchers could have major repercussions, says Nicola SullivanThe future of employers' childcare provision for staff has been cast into doubt after the government announced that the tax exemption on childcare vouchers would be abolished.Many employers are concerned they ...

  • Article

    Alphabet warns drivers about unfair wear and tear charges

    2009-11-01T00:00:01Z

    Fleet funding firm Alphabet has launched a new guide to put company car drivers in the picture about unfair wear and tear charges.According to Alphabet the search for cost reductions is leading more fleets to impose fines or recharges on drivers if their cars incur de-hire charges. Industry average de-hire ...

  • Article

    InterGlobal allows customers to buy private medical insurance online

    2009-10-30T10:57:38Z

    International private medical insurer (PMI) InterGlobal has enhanced its website to allow clients and brokers to buy international PMI products online.The new transactional capability is being rolled out in stages. From the outset intermediaries and expatriates wishing to buy InterGlobal’s individual Ultracare and International Student plans can buy online. Further ...

  • Article

    Lazy postman raises questions about staff motivation

    2009-10-30T09:41:00Z

    Royal Mail’s HR team could be forgiven for thinking it has one of the toughest jobs going as it attempts to manage militant postal strikes over pay.However, they should spare a thought for the employer of a postman in Poland, who took so long to deliver letters to a village ...