All Opinion articles – Page 72
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OpinionDavid Noble: Employers must map priorities for benefits providers
Once an employer has written its project specifications, tender documents, undertaken some research and considered the providers it already knows about, what should it do next when approaching a new project?Well, now is the time for the organisation to evaluate its business needs and objectives and clearly define them. Using ...
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OpinionTobin Murphy-Coles: The employer conundrum that won’t go away
Organisational chaos and disruption is something everyone in the HR and benefits industry has felt as a result of the economic downturn, and its effects rumble on as business leaders continue to scrutinise their costs.But one positive effect of this disruption is that it makes organisations stop and think about ...
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OpinionDavid Williams: Workplace support for cancer sufferers is key
Group risk providers are now offering much-needed support for the growing number of people surviving cancer in the UK and wanting to return to the workplace. This is because cancer survival rates are increasing all the time. According to charity Cancer Research UK, 50% of adult cancer patients diagnosed between ...
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Opinion?Katharine Moxham: Group life assurance gives employees peace of mind
They are primarily valued for providing financial protection for employees and their families, but they can support both employers and employees with far more than that.Group life assurance gives peace of mind that families will be financially looked after if the worst happens. Any bereavement support offered alongside the policy ...
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OpinionTop discussions on LinkedIn last month
In her monthly column in Employee Benefits, deputy editor Debbie Lovewell-Tuck (pictured) asked: Can an organisation’s approach to executive pay impact its corporate reputation?Yes, but not just executive pay. Any disputes over pay, whether shareholders voting down executive pay or bonuses, or strikes or other prolonged pay negotiations with other ...
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OpinionJill Flint-Taylor: How to prevent workplace burnout
Employees get worn down by shifting goalposts, unrealistic targets and uncertainty about what is expected of them.Managers that want to keep their teams strong and prevent burnout need to pay attention to these factors: work demands, sense of control, change, resources of information and work relationships.In a difficult economic climate, ...
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OpinionJenny Davidson: How can a reward strategy drive employee engagement?
In the past, pay and benefits have tended to be described as a ‘hygiene’ factor, with little impact on employee engagement. More emphasis was given to career development and employees’ relationship with their manager (leadership).The employee’s perception of pay and benefits, and how fairly they are rewarded within the organisation, ...
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Opinion
Steve Sims: How to gamify your workplace
An organisation gamifying their internal HR practices can have a tremendous impact on its success, morale, talent acquisition and HR processes.In fact, adding behaviour-motivating techniques from traditional and social games to HR workflows and programmes can significantly boost employee take-up, participation and engagement, and help an organisation get the most ...
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OpinionMatthew Kelly: The effects of equal pay legislation
Pay refers to any contractual entitlement bonus, holiday and pension, not just basic salary.The effects of equal pay legislation have recently hit the higher education sector, with 23 male workers who were caretakers and tradesmen at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David suing for sex discrimination, claiming they were ...
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OpinionJohn Weld: How to engage staff in dental healthcare
If you read nothing else, read this…Oral health is an important aspect of general health.Good dental hygiene can help to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and some cancers. An employee-friendly organisation should encourage staff to brush their teeth at work. Personal oral care is often neglected or is perfunctory at ...
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OpinionLovewell's Logic: Five generations driving reward agenda
Differing life experiences, advances in technology, shifting consumer trends and a changing economic environment mean each of these generations will have very different expectations of their employer.Listening to employers’ experiences while at the Summit, it became clear that this is having a fundamental impact on reward. Expectations in benefits are ...
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Opinion
Ruth Patel: Recognition strategy needs to create a positive feeling
Really forward-thinking employers understand where recognition sits in their overall people strategy. They think through the purpose of recognition and under what circumstances it will be most effective before determining the manner in which it will be delivered.Understanding how employees turn their intentions into behaviour is essential to putting in ...
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Opinion
Liz Wood: Contract-based pension schemes versus master trusts
Contract-based DC schemes and master trusts have both been around for years, despite the recent rebranding of master trusts. Both types of scheme are seeing a surge in popularity, spurred on by the arrival of auto-enrolment. The obvious appeal of both contract-based schemes and master trusts for employers is the ...
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Opinion
Oliver Gray: Do workplace health checks give employers value for money?
Do workplace health kiosks really create change and improve employee wellbeing? Is health screening the best use of employers’ wellbeing budget? In my experience, the answer is no to both these questions.The number one objective for any employee wellbeing activity is to improve the health and wellbeing of staff. So ...
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Opinion
Emma Mamo: How to manage workplace depression
If you read nothing else, read this…Depression affects more than 2% of people.Employees experiencing depression may struggle with motivation.Many organisations are now tackling the causes of poor mental health.Depression and anxiety combined is the most common mental health problem, affecting one in 10 people, while depression alone affects more than ...
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OpinionIan McKenna: How employers can use data better
Big data is transforming the way many organisations work, from retail to healthcare, enabling unprecedented insight into a wide range of areas. Employee benefits should not be exempt from this process because the benefits can be just as significant for HR as they can for sales and marketing.Such information can ...
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OpinionLynda Shaw: Employers should understand employees' responses to financial stress
If you read nothing else, read this…It is very easy for employees to get into debt.Debt can increase stress hormones, such as noradrenaline and cortisol, and adversely affect ’feelgood’ neurotransmitters.Employers should offer all staff access to financial education.Most employees think they are doing well if they are in the black, ...
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OpinionIoana Piscociu: Can PMI cope with chronic health conditions?
If you read nothing else, read this…31 million working days were lost to musculoskeletal conditions in the UK in 2013.The most common musculoskeletal disorder is back pain.Inclusive PMI schemes can give staff access to physiotherapy or specialist care.Absence levels in the UK are higher than ever, with employers losing millions ...
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Opinion
Helen Ball: Spotlight on pensions governance
Every employer will be making an important decision when it chooses a pension provider. Many scheme members are not engaged in looking after their pension savings, which increases the pressure on employers to make sure employees are protected properly. How can employers be sure they are doing the right thing?There ...
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Opinion
MC Schraefel: How employers can reduce staff absence caused by chronic workplace pain
If you read nothing else, read this…Workplace pain is a familiar experience to most people.Employers should offer staff opportunities to move about throughout the day.Organisations have to commit to embedding wellbeing practices into their culture to optimise their success.Pain is a vicious cycle that often causes people to become more ...