All Opinion articles – Page 84
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Opinion
Financial Education: Sponsor's comment: Education holds the key to realising full value of savings
Employees need to be made aware of all their financial options in preparing for retirement, says Jonathan Watts-Lay, director of Wealth at WorkIn these challenging economic times, with the introduction of many new regulations such as pensions auto-enrolment, the removal of the default retirement age and enhanced options at retirement, ...
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Opinion
Financial Education: Interview with Stuart Bailey of the Money Advice Service
The Money Advice Service at a glanceThe Money Advice Service (MAS) began life as part of the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA’s) financial capability division. In April 2010, it was rebranded as the Consumer Financial Education Body, before becoming the MAS in April 2011. It is independent and gives free, unbiased ...
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Opinion
Health cash plans: Sponsor's comment: Cash plans can bridge the gap
This article was supplied by HSF Health PlanHealth cash plans offer a flexible and cost-effective alternative to private medical insurance, says Lee Andre, marketing manager at HSF Health PlanThe popular desire for private medical insurance (PMI) can hardly be underestimated. Of course, most employees would, if they could, opt into ...
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Opinion
Chris Coyne: Should employers provide healthcare perks for older workers?
A quick look at the facts is interesting. In 1995 there were nine million people in the UK aged over 60; in 2030, just 19 years away, it is estimated there will be 13 million. And the trend continues for women to have children later in life. The abolition of ...
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Opinion
Ben Wells: Will higher student debt affect employers' reward strategies?
The Browne Review essentially suggests an increasingly commercial approach to higher education. With new levels and horizons of student debt, the value of higher education has gone up and is now a significant investment choice for young people and their parents.Is university the right investment? If it is, what return ...
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Opinion
Michael Rendell: Will higher student debt affect employers' reward strategies?
Increased student debt is likely to have an influence on graduates’ degree and career choices, and employers need to respond accordingly. Pay levels and potential career progression are likely to become an even greater priority for students. Raising salaries may not be an option for many employers, but they can ...
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Opinion
Carl Gilleard: Will higher student debt affect employers’ reward strategies?
Past experience does not suggest employers will take increasing levels of graduate debt into account when determining reward strategies. From 2006, when tuition fees were first introduced, starting salaries have barely risen (2% in 2006 and 2.4% in 2007) and in the past couple of years they have not increased ...
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Opinion
Hazel James: Will this month's Equality Act make a difference to equal pay?
I would love to think that publishing pay details will have a positive impact on the gender pay gap, but I am afraid that as the Equality Act stands, the effect will probably be limited.Gathering, analysing and benchmarking information on pay is always a valid and valuable task, and something ...
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Opinion
Stuart Hyland: Will this month's Equality Act make a difference to equal pay?
You have to applaud the intent behind the incoming legislation, but I am less excited by the potential impact that I expect it to have, although I would love to be proved wrong.The requirement to disclose details of pay differences between men and women will be voluntary, although it could ...
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Opinion
Sheila Wild: Will this month's Equality Act make a difference to equal pay?
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. While the film Made in Dagenham highlights the heroic struggle of the Ford sewing machinists to be paid the same as their male colleagues, many people will wonder why - nearly four decades later - the full-time pay gap ...
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Opinion
Financial education: Sponsor's comment: Wide strategy needed to get the financial message across
Jonathan Watts-Lay, director of Wealth at Work, says all employees must be made aware of their financial needs and opportunitiesInsufficient retirement savings, over-indebtedness and lack of knowledge are all factors creating the need for financial education, but what are the considerations and benefits for an organisation in providing financial education ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: Richard Scase, Emeritus professor of organisational behaviour, Kent Business School
The rise of China and India as economic powers means large employers need to find new ways of motivating and inspiring staff, but smaller firms may have the answers they are looking for, says Richard Scase, Emeritus professor of organisational behaviour, Kent Business School, University of KentArticle in fullThe world ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: Ivan Robertson, managing director of Robertson Cooper and Emeritus professor at the University of Manchester
What employees crave is to feel good and their psychological wellbeing can result in greater commitment and energy, particularly if bosses know how to use it to its greatest effect, says Ivan RobertsonArticle in fullAll enterprises want to get the best possible results. They do this by directing and sustaining ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: Barry Hoffman, head of human resources, Charteris
When looking to motivate and reward professional services staff, it can be easy to subscribe to some with common misconceptions - the trick is to avoid doing so by looking to individuals’ value, says Barry HoffmanArticle in fullIf you believe all the tabloid hype, then the City is awash with ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: Talent management. By Duncan Brown, assistant director general, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
The merit of talent management is a hotly-contested debate but does it really lead to an over-emphasis on external recruitment and can individual stars prove to be counterproductive?Psychologist Carl Jung observed that "great talents are the most lovely and the most dangerous fruits on the tree of humanity: they hang ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: New laws may discourage retention of plus-65s
Certain terms and conditions around pensions and insured perks mean employers may be reluctant to retain staff over 65 years who they would otherwise have kept on, says James Davies, joint head of employment and incentives at Lewis Silkin.Article in fullAge discrimination laws are aimed primarily at tackling the premature ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: Align reward with business and staff
There is compelling evidence that badly-designed or poorly-installed HR policies are often more damaging in reducing employee commitment than having no policy in place at all.Article in fullEmployees are placing increasing importance on how their manager, and not just their organisation, rewards them. This poses several challenges for HR, not ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: Pensions white paper is a major deal
Government proposals could pose additional problems for employers particularly with the rising number of older employees, but greater transparency could make the market easier to regulate, says Professor Les Mayhew, director of the Risk Institute at Cass Business SchoolArticle in fullSet to cost industry an estimated £2.3 billion a year ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: Maximise use of technology to boost HR
I still remember my first encounter with computer technology - a small green cursor flashing insistently across a small black screen. At first I couldn’t find time to learn to use the computer, but soon enough I wondered how I’d ever done my job without it. Of course, back then, ...
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Opinion
Guest opinion: Merging pension schemes
Cost savings and risk avoidance can be enormous motivators in merging final salary pension plans and moving to career average earnings, but employers also need to take ethics into account says Nick Eyre, group secretary, the Co-operative GroupArticle in fullA-day brought about notable changes in the pensions market. For those ...