research – Page 53

  • Article

    Swiss Re research: Group risk market shows signs of recovery

    2011-04-19T09:55:45Z

    In-force sums assured have grown in excess of premiums across group death benefits, critical illness and long-term disability income benefits, according to the latest Group Watch from Swiss Re.The report found that overall, in-force group risk premiums fell by 1.8% compared with 2009. However, the results indicate the beginning of ...

  • Article

    Punter Southall research: Employers unprepared for 2012 pension reforms

    2011-04-19T09:42:53Z

    More than two-thirds of employers have not begun to prepare for the 2012 pension reforms, according to research conducted by Punter Southall.Out of the 243 respondents to the Punter Southall DC Survey, 69% have not started to look at the changes, which stipulate that eligible employees are auto-enrolled into a ...

  • Article

    European Federation of Employee Share Ownership research: Employee ownership has increased

    2011-04-18T09:30:46Z

    Employee ownership has continuously progressed across Europe since the financial crisis, according to the Economic Survey of Employee Ownership in European Countries in 2010 conducted by the European Federation of Employee Share Ownership.The number of employee owners was nearly 10 million in 2010 in large European organisations. The number of ...

  • Article

    Morgan McKinley research: One third of financial services staff satisfied with bonus payments

    2011-04-18T09:28:28Z

    One-third (36%) of financial services staff in London were satisfied with bonus payments in 2010/11, according to the latest Bonus Satisfaction Survey conducted by Morgan McKinley.The survey found that 79% received a bonus. In addition, 39% received a higher payment in the 2010/11 bonus round compared to the 2009/10 round.The ...

  • Article

    Hays research: IT workers want better benefits

    2011-04-14T09:06:08Z

    A quarter of employees working in IT are dissatisfied with their benefits package, and 61% think their employer could be more generous with its benefits provision, according to research conducted by Hays.Out of the 315 workers surveyed, 40% report that they never receive a pay review and 35% are not ...

  • Article

    Barnett Waddingham research: Funding level of university pensions has improved

    2011-04-13T09:25:00Z

    The average FRS17 funding level of university pension schemes has improved by 3% between 2009 and 2010, according to the second annual Survey of University Self Administered Trusts (SATs) conducted by Barnett Waddingham.The survey is based on data in the published accounts of universities with financial years that ended on ...

  • Article

    Croner research: Total pay rises have fallen by a third

    2011-04-12T08:59:45Z

    Total pay rises, including bonuses and overtime, have fallen by a third, and basic earnings increases have more than halved since January 2011, according to the latest Croner Reward Index.The index also found that both basic and total pay movement figures for managers are stable in comparison to the first ...

  • Article

    Baker Tilly research: Large pension schemes report higher levels of fraud

    2011-04-11T09:36:32Z

    Over one in 10 (12%) of UK pensions scheme have suffered from incidents of fraud in the last 24 months, with large schemes, (more than 10,000 members) being the worst hit, according the Baker Tilly Pensions Fraud Risk Survey.The survey, which was conducted among over 170 trustees and pension scheme ...

  • Article

    Axa Wealth research: Seven-year gap between expected and actual retirement ages

    2011-04-08T09:40:12Z

    The gap between expectation and reality when it comes to retirement age is seven years, according to the Axa Wealth Pension Index.The average age that employees in the UK would like to retire is 58. The average age that employees expect to be able to afford to retire is 64. ...

  • Article

    Treasury cracks down on tax avoidance relating to overseas pensions

    2011-04-07T10:06:14Z

    The Treasury is closing a loophole to prevent tax avoidance on qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes (Qrops).The measure, affecting UK residents transferring pensions overseas, will be introduced in the Finance Bill. Previously, tax could have been avoided by moving pension savings to certain overseas countries.David Gauke, exchequer secretary to the ...

  • Article

    Friends Life research: Middle earners view pensions saving as more important than ever

    2011-04-07T09:39:49Z

    Nearly 60% of middle income households, classified as the Coping Classes by a Friends Life report, believe it is more important than ever before to invest in a pension.†The Coping Classes report found that middle income earners (£25,000 to £50,000) are now focused on reducing debt to stave off the ...

  • Article

    Round-up of tax and legislation changes coming in today

    2011-04-06T09:30:09Z

    A number of the government’s tax and legislation changes that come into effect from today, 6 April, will have an impact on benefits.Phasing out of the default retirement age (DRA):From 6 April, the removal of the DRA means employers will not be able to issue notifications for compulsory retirement using ...

  • Article

    Freshfields research: Employers fear changes to retirement age will damage economic recovery

    2011-04-05T10:12:00Z

    UK employers believe the removal of the default retirement age (DRA) will have a bigger impact on business than other legislative changes, according to research by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.In a survey of HR directors from the UK’s largest employers, the law firm found that 63% of respondents argue that the ...

  • Article

    Debi O'Donovan, editor of Employee Benefits: Tax and NI merger plan debate will run and run

    2011-04-04T10:30:00Z

    At first glance, last month’s Budget did not contain any unexpected major announcements.Most points had been heavily trailed or confirmed what we already knew. However, there were a few new nuggets that could have broader ramifications over the coming years and decades, depending on how they play out.The idea of ...

  • Article

    News analysis: Osborne's tax conundrum

    2011-04-04T08:30:00Z

    A proposal to integrate tax and national insurance was the most significant measure affecting reward in the Chancellor’s Budget, says Nicola SullivanChancellor George Osborne’s Budget report last month contained a number of measures affecting pensions, pay and other benefits.One of the most significant announcements was a consultation over the government’s ...

  • Article

    Aviva Health research: A third of employers have no key health benefit

    2011-04-04T08:30:00Z

    Over a third (37%) of employers have no key health benefit in place, according to Aviva UK Health’s 360 Degree Absence Management study.The research, which polled 688 employers, found that 7% of respondents intend to introduce cover in the coming year.The research also found that if employers could introduce any ...

  • Article

    The Big Question: Should pensions tax relief be removed to create a flat society?

    2011-04-03T23:00:00Z

    This question sparked off a heated debate at the Employee Benefits Pensions Summit 2011. Two of the fiercest debaters elaborate on their opposing views. Express your view here.Michael Johnson, research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies:Up-front tax relief on pension contributions costs some £30 billion a year, paid predominantly ...

  • Article

    Aviva research: Employers believe in joint responsibility with staff to help return to work

    2011-04-01T00:00:01Z

    The majority of employers (63%) believe they have a joint responsibility with employees to help staff back into the workplace after sickness absence, according to new research from Aviva UK Health.In its 360 Degree Absence Management study, which polled nearly 700 employers, Aviva found that 21% of respondents believe it ...

  • Article

    Aon Hewitt research: Most employers offer over 20 DC pension investment options

    2011-04-01T00:00:01Z

    The majority (63%) of employers offer over 20 investment options to defined contribution (DC) scheme members while only 12% offer no default investment option.The Aon Hewitt Employee Benefits and Trends Report, which surveyed 485 employers on various issues relating to employee benefits and pensions, warns that this array of investment ...

  • Article

    Aon Hewitt and TIGA research: Salaries rise in the UK games industry

    2011-03-31T09:11:54Z

    The UK games industry saw increases of 3% in base salary over the last 12 months, about 0.5% above UK general industry in the same period, says the 2010/2011 Games Software Developers’ Salary Survey from Aon Hewitt and TIGA, the trade association representing the software development industry.Median graduate base salaries ...