All articles by Nicola Sullivan – Page 67

  • Article

    UK’s largest DB pensions schemes in reduced surplus

    2008-05-06T16:10:06Z

    The UK’s largest defined benefit (DB) pensions schemes were facing a reduced surplus at the end of April and uncertainty over how the Pensions Regulator will exercise its increased powers to make sponsoring companies contribute where a corporate transaction could threaten members’ pensions.The Aon200 Index, which tracks the the UK’s ...

  • Analysis

    Cash or non-cash staff rewards

    2008-05-05T23:00:00Z

    A number of factors will determine whether cash or non-cash rewards best suit a workforce, says Nicola SullivanThe large cash bonuses given to workers such as investment bankers and City traders often make headline news. The attention these receive can create the impression that cash reward is the ultimate form ...

  • Article

    Buyers guide to Total reward statements

    2008-05-05T23:00:00Z

    Total reward statements outline the value of financial benefits, as well as perks with a less tangible value, says Nicola SullivanTotal reward statements are documents which are used by employers to demonstrate the value of an employee’s total reward package in order to raise awareness of the value of the ...

  • Article

    Buyer's guide to healthcare cash plans

    2008-05-05T23:00:00Z

    A range of wellbeing and sickness absence issues might be accounting for growing employer purchasing of healthcare cash plans, says Nicola SullivanThe focus in the healthcare cash plan market remains fixed on the corporate sector as providers aim to grow their business by capitalising on employers' interest in reducing sickness ...

  • Article

    Asda goes into overdrive with staff health promotions

    2008-05-05T23:00:00Z

    ASDA employees are to be provided with health and fitness advice, health checks and healthy food options during the supermarket chain's three-week health programme.The first week of the programme, starting on 9 June at all of Asda's 329 stores, will introduce retail workers to healthier snacks and meals made available ...

  • Article

    Arup scores on flex take up rate

    2008-05-05T23:00:00Z

    Three-quarters of Arup's 4,000 UK-based employees have taken up flexible benefits after the scheme was implemented in April.Staff at the global engineering, design and business consultancy can now select benefits from a variety of options that include holiday trading, dental insurance, critical illness insurance, childcare vouchers, bikes for work, a ...

  • Article

    More than half of companies outsource share plan admin

    2008-05-05T23:00:00Z

    Outsourcing employee share scheme administration is a route undertaken by more than half of companies, according to a global survey conducted by Buck Consultants and Global Shares.Of the 318 company representatives that responded to the Global stock plan administration survey, 52% said that they outsource all or part of their ...

  • Article

    Cost of managing pensions schemes continues to soar

    2008-05-02T17:36:11Z

    The cost of managing pension schemes continues to soar according to findings released from the Annual Pension Scheme Administration Survey from Capita Hartshead.Out of the 271 occupational schemes that responded to the survey, which will be published in full in June, 71% report that the cost of managing their pension ...

  • Article

    Government to extend right to request flexible working

    2008-05-01T00:00:01Z

    Prime minister Gordon Brown has announced that the government will extend the right to request flexible working arrangements to parents of older children.During Prime Minister's question time, Brown said the government would move forward with recommendations contained in Imdela Walsh's review, which is due to be published tomorrow. The government ...

  • Analysis

    Pressure on employers to review green fleet options

    2008-05-01T00:00:01Z

    As pressure mounts on employers to crack down on environmentally-unfriendly vehicles, there are a number of models and alternative fuel sources on the market they should consider, says Nicola SullivanAs the government cracks down on gas-guzzling cars, employers are faced with boosting the green credentials of their fleet. The pressure ...

  • Article

    Government under pressure on vehicle excise and fuel duties

    2008-05-01T00:00:01Z

    The government has indicated it may retreat from its plans to increase fuel duties and change rates for vehicle excise duty on motorists, following pressure form rebel MPs.It has been reported that chancellor Alistair Darling's team said he was listening carefully to MPs and others who have spoken out against ...

  • Article

    HR Show: Employers advised on how to tackle absence

    2008-04-30T12:22:04Z

    Employers wanting to crack down on absence need to integrate benefits and services and assess the role line managers play in tackling the problem, according to speakers at the HR Show.Speaking in the conference session Conquering absenteeism in the workplace, Vicki Broadhurst, manager of the health matters programme at PricewaterhouseCoopers, ...

  • Article

    HR Show: Employers told flexible working boosts productivity

    2008-04-30T09:11:58Z

    Employers have been told that flexible working can help boost productivity and efficiency and attract talent at the HR Show in Manchester on Tuesday. Speaking in a conference session on flexible working, Peter Knowles, business development director at BT, explained to employers about the benefits of allowing staff to work ...

  • Article

    Rok announces high take up of flex

    2008-04-28T09:28:40Z

    More than a third of employees have taken up flexible benefits at building firm Rok after its scheme went live at the beginning of April.Of the 3,300 employees eligible for flex around 1,300 have taken up the benefits, and although calculations are not yet complete, holiday trading is the most ...

  • Article

    Attracting business is a challenge for group risk industry

    2008-04-24T13:24:26Z

    The biggest challenge facing the UK's group risk industry is getting more employers to take up group death benefits and income protection schemes.Swiss Re's report, Group Watch 2008, which received contributions from 14 individuals working for product providers and 21 people working for intermediary firms, says that more should be ...

  • Article

    Worst affected by 10p tax rate abolition could receive compensation

    2008-04-23T11:20:50Z

    Chancellor Alastair Darling has announced that those who have been worse hit by the abolition of the 10 pence income tax rate could receive compensation.In a letter to John McFall MP, the chairman of the Commons Treasury Select Committee, Darling said he plans to assess the loss to pensioners aged ...

  • Article

    PMI coverage of employees on the increase

    2008-04-23T09:48:52Z

    The number of people covered by private medical insurance (PMI) has reached more than six million people for the first time in five years partly due to an increase the amounts of corporate policy holders. According to the latest figures from the Association of British Insurers, a total of 6,004,000 ...

  • Article

    Employers fail to manage reward provision

    2008-04-22T11:39:16Z

    Establishing a documented reward strategy and obtaining a budget for reward provision are still outside the reach of a number of employers.Just 29% say that they have a documented reward strategy in place, while 45% have difficulty in obtaining a reward budget, according to Employee rewards watch by Thomsons Online ...

  • Article

    IPC expands health perks

    2008-04-06T23:00:00Z

    IPC Media is expanding the range of healthy lifestyle perks offered to staff by opening an on-site gym and introducing dental insurance.Around 100 of IPC's 2,000 employees have already signed up for the dental insurance, provided by Cigna Healthcare, as a voluntary benefit. The option comes into effect this month.IPC ...

  • Article

    Punch Taverns to reward environmentally-aware staff

    2008-04-06T23:00:00Z

    Punch Taverns is to reward staff working in its managed pubs for environmentally-friendly behaviour that helps to reduce the firm's carbon footprint.The firm will use its existing recognition scheme to reward staff, in its 800 pubs managed by its Spirit Group division, for environmentally-friendly acts with scratch cards that have ...