Opinion – Page 4
-
OpinionLovewell's logic: Time to celebrate
Today (Friday 14 June) sees one of my favourite events of the year take place: the Employee Benefits Awards and Summer Party.Even though it feels like summer is yet to truly arrive this year, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work and achievements of so many ...
-
OpinionVicky Schollar: What is the potential impact of changes to the fit note system?
It was announced in April that GPs may no longer be required to sign off fit notes and that responsibility will be passed to an unspecified healthcare specialist. What do the possible legal implications of this look like and what will be the impact on employees?A sick note, or fitness ...
-
OpinionYvonne Gallagher: Striking the balance: the effect of industrial action on pay and benefits
The most powerful tool at the hands of the employee is the withdrawal of their labour, without which the business cannot function.Typically, industrial action takes place in relation to disputes over pay and benefits, but as we have seen in a number of disputes in the last year or two, ...
-
OpinionConfessions of a benefits manager: Candid has problems getting an invoice paid
You might remember we recently implemented a new recognition platform. Early on, the supplier was organised enough to send a sample invoice so we could set up any necessary purchase orders. Well, you do not keep dogs and bark yourself, so I gave that task to my colleague Lazy Susan. ...
-
-
OpinionBeth Brown: How does the lifetime allowance abolition impact employers?
The abolition of the lifetime allowance (LTA) in April came with implications that employers will want to be aware of. When the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the overhaul of the LTA in the 2023 budget, pension experts suggested it was unlikely the change could happen in the ...
-
OpinionLovewell's logic: Engaging employees with sustainability
How engaged are employees with your organisation’s sustainability strategy? What role do they have to play in helping to achieve targets?Last week, we reported on Lego’s move to link a portion of its salaried employees’ bonus payments to annual emissions. Lego plans to expand this over time in order to ...
-
OpinionHelen Watson: BBC equal pay case: implications for settlement agreements and discrimination claims
The BBC once again made the HR headlines following the news that four female presenters have lost their bid to take legal action against the corporation on grounds of equal pay. For employment law professionals, the case certainly poses an interesting challenge, with it being revealed that equal pay issues ...
-
OpinionRena Magdani: How does flexibility help with recruitment and retention in a challenging climate?
With recruitment difficulties set to continue, businesses need to attract applicants and retain staff as best they can. Embracing flexible working could make a business more attractive in a difficult climate. Flexible working is one element employers can control in terms of the talent pool; the time to act is ...
-
OpinionLovewell's logic: How can we further open up conversations around mental health?
As Mental Health Awareness Week draws to a close, what can we take away from this?Events of the last few years, such as the cost-of-living crisis, have impacted many individuals’ mental wellbeing. Research published this week by financial wellbeing platform provider Wagestream found that 54% of the employees surveyed said ...
-
OpinionAndy Williams and Chelsea Feeney: Looking after employees’ mental wellbeing at work
The turbulence of the last four years has caused an increase in mental health issues. This has translated into employers seeing rising numbers of employee absences due to poor mental health. This is why it is more important than ever for employers to not only recognise when an employee is ...
-
OpinionSamantha Dickinson: How to build and support a healthy workforce
Stress is an inevitable part of life. In the workplace it can build resilience, pushing individuals to adapt and perform under pressure, which leads to personal growth. However, when stress becomes overwhelming it leads to decreased productivity, burnout and debilitating health problems. Recognising and managing employee stress levels is crucial ...
-
OpinionBeth Brown and Danyal Enver: What did the Spring Budget mean for pensions?
The Spring Budget built on the Mansion House speech in many ways. The Chancellor announced powers that would be given to both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) in legislation slated for as early as 2027, enabling them to enforce the value for money regime.The new ...
-
OpinionConfessions of a benefits manager: Candid joins a webinar on will writing
One of the things I most like about our voluntary benefits platform is the education that comes with it. Every month one of our providers runs a webinar on their specialism. As well as providing information, these webinars remind employees of all the benefits we offer, increasing ...
-
OpinionJulian Outen: Tips on parental and carers' leave law for employers
As of 6 April, draft regulations extend further the current right of employees on maternity, adoption and shared parental leave who are at risk of redundancy, to be offered suitable available employment in preference to other employees who are also at risk, but not on such leave.The protection will apply ...
-
OpinionClaire Brook: Can employers require employees to return to the workplace?
Over the past few months, various businesses have shifted their stance on flexible working to require employees to return to the workplace. But, following four years of homeworking for many triggered by the Covid-19 lockdown, what are the types of things employers must consider when enacting changes like this?Employees should ...
-
OpinionRicardo D'Ash: Are employers right to recall employees back to the office?
We have come along way since the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a clear argument that Covid actually accelerated remote working by several years but only for certain jobs; key workers come immediately to mind where in the main it is not possible to work remotely.I believe it is all about ...
-
OpinionClaire McCartney: Are employers right to recall employees back to the office?
Flexibility around time, scheduling and place of work can be transformative in opening up opportunities for people to get into and stay in work, especially those who have health conditions, caring responsibilities, or other life choices they want to make. With an aging population, and rising levels of economically ...
-
OpinionLovewell's logic: Is the government right to reform the fit note?
What is your view of the government’s plans to reform the fit note system?In a speech on 19 April, prime minister Rishi Sunak announced that the government will take steps to transform the sick note culture in a bid to reduce the number of individuals that are deemed unfit for ...
-
OpinionNick Hurley and Annie Green: The impact of dropping the real living wage pledge
Earlier this year, Brewdog announced that due to trading losses and financial instability, it will drop its real living wage pledge from April onwards. While many employers will have suffered similar financial difficulties as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, the business’ decision to pull out of the real living ...