Opinion – Page 34
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Where does the employer's duty towards staff end?
Since news of the death of television presenter Caroline Flack broke over the weekend, the issue of mental health has barely left the headlines. Among the numerous tributes, attributions of blame and calls for an end to online bullying and trolling, I read a couple of articles stating that, as ...
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OpinionAlice Honeywill: The value of additional contributions in closing the gender pension gap
While we await government reforms on pension policy and wider industry change to tackle the gender pension gap, I find myself asking one question: what action can be taken right now?More specifically, what steps can employers be taking to make small, yet potentially effective, changes?The most widely discussed initiative is ...
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OpinionKate Gardner: What does the landmark veganism ruling mean for employers?
In a major step forward in employment law, a tribunal has ruled that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief, meaning that an employee could rely upon veganism as one of the nine protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010.While this is great news for employees, how will it affect ...
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OpinionCharles Cotton: Aligning employees takes careful planning and investment
There are a whole range of approaches employers can take to reward their staff, which can be both financial and non-financial: a bonus, pay rise, holiday and recognition of work are just a few examples.Such variety indicates that no one approach can suit every circumstance, and employers must tailor their ...
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OpinionStephen Perkins: Benefits management involves knowing employees' needs
A single cash award may seem the simplest method of reward, and one which allows employees to control what they do to benefit from their earnings, but benefits have become part of an expected package.How does an employer offer benefits that employees want and value, compared with cash? How can ...
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OpinionClaire Goodby: Ministry of Justice ruling could have significant impact on pensions
In December 2019, the Supreme Court upheld part-time judges’ claim for equal pensions treatment, a ruling that could have a financial impact on schemes and sponsoring employers.Prior to this case, claims for unfavourable treatment towards part-time workers needed to be brought within three months of the end of the part-time ...
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OpinionSimon Richardson: Employers must convey the value of benefits to staff
In these days of internet and telephone banking, most of us check our balance each day, perhaps even more just before payday. However, we do not check the value of our pension statement, which is especially important if we are in a defined contribution (DC) plan subject to the vagaries ...
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OpinionMark Witte and Sarah Robson: 2020’s biggest benefits trend might not be benefits
With Madonna on tour again and bum-bags making a fashion comeback, it feels like 2020 is history repeating itself. Nevertheless, although Aon's UK benefits and trends survey 2020, published in January, showed a lot of consistency, it also indicated some clear trends and changes, including an increasing interest in value-on-investment ...
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OpinionKsenia Zheltoukhova: To meet real staff needs, give them skills for the future
This week, Nesta is shining a spotlight on the future of work and skills, and has commissioned the UK’s first ever survey of people working in the jobs that are most at risk of being automated in the next decade. Shockingly, the results show that two in three of those ...
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OpinionPaula Bailey: Planned employment law changes in 2020
2020 is set to be another year of change from an employment law perspective, with contracts, the employment relationship and pay likely to continue to dominate the agenda, together with the new immigration requirements that the government plans to introduce post-Brexit.We have already seen a number of interesting Employment Tribunal ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Moving into a post-Brexit world
Love it or loathe it, 31 January 2020 is an historic date for the UK, as the country finally officially departs from the European Union (EU). With an 11-month transition agreement in place to last until 31 December 2020, and a number of negotiations still to take place, Brexit day ...
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OpinionSian Fisher: What are the unseen issues affecting financial wellbeing?
Talk and action to tackle the gender pay gap is headline news, but as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and chair of the Insuring Women’s Futures initiative, I am aware there are many more unseen issues facing female financial wellbeing.Insuring Women’s Futures is a programme ...
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OpinionDavid Gallagher and Eleanor Duhs: Brexit and pensions
Last December's election seemingly showed a clear mandate to 'get Brexit done'. As the date draws near, those who have responsibility over pensions within their organisations will need to be aware that Brexit will have a number of effects.Product regulation for sales in the UK/EUIf an organisation has a traditional ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Can you put a price on mental health support?
As we move past Blue Monday (20 January) and on towards Time to Talk Day on 6 February, the issue of mental health remains firmly at the top of the agenda for many. Of course, this issue is not confined to the winter months, but the role of such events ...
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OpinionMichelle Cracknell: Is pensions consolidation always the right choice?
Employers have to provide a workplace pension and, with the average person having 11 jobs in their lifetime, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), this could lead to millions of dormant or lost pension pots. Keeping track of multiple pensions is hard and will continue to be ...
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OpinionChintan Gandhi: Employers can help inform staff about pensions consolidation
The Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) welcomes the continued drive towards consolidating smaller occupational defined contribution (DC) schemes and members' pension pots. At a scheme level, it is widely recognised that better member outcomes can often be achieved in larger schemes with stronger governance, well-designed and diversified investment strategies, and ...
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OpinionPhil Hall: Will a higher living wage damage UK SMEs?
The government has confirmed it will raise the national living wage from £8.21 to £8.72 for those aged 25 and over, with effect from April 2020. Increases for those under 25 and apprentices have also been promised.The move is not as political as many commentators have suggested, given that these ...
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OpinionEmily Hodgson: What can employers do to improve social mobility?
You are 24 times more likely to be a doctor if you have a parent who is a doctor, and 17 times more likely to become a lawyer with a parent who is a lawyer. In 2020, what your parents did, where you grew up and where you went to ...
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OpinionKim Field: Employers must go above and beyond with inclusive benefits for carers
There is no doubt that maternity leave has progressed. Employed new mothers can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, and 39 weeks of statutory maternity pay. However, polices around paternity leave are lagging, with fathers and same-sex partners only able to take two weeks of leave. This archaic ...
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OpinionPip Hulbert: Mental health support needs a year-long focus
Mental health is rightly becoming a priority for every kind of business, yet conversations around the topic are still too often shrouded in stigma.That has got to stop. Talented people are the beating heart of business, and we want everyone to feel that it is okay to raise their hand ...