All articles by Peta Hodge
-
Case StudiesEmployee ownership scheme boosts productivity at Gripple
He says: “A sense of pride exists among all our staff and has allowed employees to take control of the destiny of the [organisation], thereby creating a culture of working together for the benefit of each other.”Measures of success include attendance levels that are significantly better than the industry average ...
-
AnalysisThe impact of share ownership on company productivity
If you read nothing else, read this…Research suggests that employers with significant employee ownership tend to have higher productivity.Staff productivity appears to be higher where employee ownership is part of a wider employee engagement programme. The tax status of a share scheme has little impact on employee productivity. Productivity in ...
-
Analysis
The rise and fall of the company share option plan
If you read nothing else, read this…Employer support for company share option plans (Csops) is in decline.Csops cost the government £45 million in tax relief in 2012/13.The Finance Bill is expected to boost employers’ Csop take-up.The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) called for Csops to be abolished in its ...
-
Article
Buyer's guide to pension modelling tools
Getting staff to recognise this gap is a challenge, but employers can now call on interactive pension modelling tools to help get the message across.Tools vary greatly. Some are fairly simple, designed to provide a snapshot of one particular pensions issue, such as the Money Advice Service’s (MAS) automatic-enrolment toolkit, ...
-
Analysis
Pension schemes' impact on a business
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…Most employers with DB schemes expect a negative impact on the business’s financial performanceM&A activity and the ability to raise finance are being stifled by DB deficits.Auto-enrolment is expected to add to employers’ cost burden.An employer’s pension scheme, particularly if it offers defined benefits ...
-
Case Studies
Freshfields GP service reduces absence
The service, which offers two afternoon doctor clinics and two afternoon prescribing nurse clinics each week, was introduced to meet employees’ emergency/acute needs, which were not being met by their own doctors, often because of delays in getting an appointment.The law firm has seen an increasing number of international employees ...
-
AnalysisIn-house doctors can help reduce sickness absence
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS…An in-house doctor service may reduce short-term sickness absence by offering staff earlier GP intervention.An in-house doctor service is particularly useful for employees who have long commutes to work.Good communication between employers and local doctors can positively impact sickness absence levels.Job cuts and recruitment ...
-
Analysis
How does pensions auto-enrolment fit with flexible benefits?
If you read nothing else, read this…Under auto-enrolment, the main purpose for offering flex must not be to induce staff to opt out of a scheme.The communication and design of a flex scheme and the contribution structure of a pension scheme will be key to determining what is acceptable.An employee ...
-
Case Studies
Case study: E.On empowers staff through financial education
Energy firm E.On has used the government-backed Money Advice Service (MAS) (see interview with Stuart Bailey of MAS) to provide various types of financial education for its workforce for around four years.Ant Donaldson, senior specialist employee benefits UK, says: “I think it is a great resource. It is very low ...
-
Analysis
Financial Education: Back-to-basics guide to financial education
If you read nothing else, read this . . . Financial worries can reduce an employee's effectiveness at work. Employers need to be aware that different methods of communication suit different types of employee. Workplace financial education works best when it is focused on a particular event or financial concern. ...
-
Analysis
Health cash plans: What are the key elements of a health cash plan?
If you read nothing else, read this… A health cash plan reimburses members for the full or partial cost of health services such as dental, optical, physiotherapy and employee assistance programmes. In the past, cash plans were paid for by the employee, but there is a growing trend for employers ...
-
Case Studies
Case study: Kids Allowed staff get helping hand from cash plan
Last June, Cheshire-based childcare firm Kids Allowed set up an employer-paid cash plan for its 200 staff.Carla Rodgers, HR manager at Kids Allowed, says: "We do not pay sick pay, but we wanted to look after the wellbeing of our staff. It is a strenuous job."The organisation pays £1 per ...
-
Article
Buyer's guide to group personal pensions
Focus on factsWhat is a GPP?A group personal pension is a contract-based pension scheme that is arranged by the employer, but each member holds a personal pension contract directly with the provider.What are the origins of GPPs?GPPs came in on the back of individual personal pensions, which were introduced in ...
-
Analysis
Does a health risk management strategy pay off?
If you read nothing else, read this...Using health risk management to measure return on investment on health perks is a new idea in the UK.The idea is to invest in health and wellbeing benefits to improve both employees’ health and the cost of benefits provision.Measuring the effects of healthcare benefits, ...
-
Case Studies
Case study: Telegraph reports tangible benefits from health strategy
Over the last five years, Telegraph Media Group (TMG) has developed a health and wellbeing strategy that has delivered measurable outcomes.Its key results include a significant fall in the number of sickness absence days taken; increases in gym usage; and sizeable reductions in private medical insurance premiums, due to its ...
-
Analysis
Pensions governance: Contribution levels must be right
If you read nothing else, read this... The average employer contribution to a defined contribution pension scheme is 8%. Most DC schemes now offer matched contributions and this trend is likely to increase. Most employers are not expected to level down contributions for existing employees as a result of the ...
-
Case Studies
Case study: Arup engineers matching pension contributions
When engineering firm Arup set up a new group personal pension (GPP) plan last June, it decided to offer a matched contribution to staff.The matches on offer range from a minimum 2% employee contribution which attracts 4% from the employer, up to a maximum 6% employee contribution which attracts a ...
-
Case Studies
Case study: National Grid stays offline for total reward statements
National Grid, which has offered total reward statements for over five years, decided against moving online when the statements were relaunched in 2010.The relaunch was part of a wider strategy to enhance the employer brand after a staff survey indicated a lack of understanding of the total package.Online statements were ...
-
Analysis
Total reward statements: Is online or paper best?
If you read nothing else, read this…The decision to offer online or paper-based statements can depend on the size, nature and demographics of a workforce, and the available budget.Online is typically the most popular method, but some employers are moving back to paper statements.Online statements can be cheaper and updated ...
-
Case Studies
Case study: Yorkshire Water goes back to paper total reward statements
Yorkshire Water, which first introduced total reward statements in 2006, tried issuing them online in 2007 but hassince returned to paper.Its change of heart followed lower-than expected logins achieved by the online statements, which it put down toemployees needing to remember to log in – a particular issue for its ...