All articles by Robert Crawford – Page 15
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ArticleObesity ruling could lead employers to make 'reasonable adjustments'
This could be an alarming cause for concern for employers given that more than 64% of adults are classed as being overweight or obese in the UK, according to the Overseas Development Institute.The ECJ found in the case of Karsten Kaltoft v Billund, in which a childmider who weighed 25 ...
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OpinionAlastair Kendrick: Are the rules about to change on taxation of travel and subsistence?
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has been asked by the government to visit these rules and update the guidance to meet the way in which employees presently work. We await the issue of its updated guidance.These rules set out what is considered an employee’s ‘base’ for tax purposes. It ...
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ArticleBT to pay £1.5bn to cut DB pension deficit
BT is to pay £1.5 billion into its defined benefit (DB) pension scheme by April to tackle its £7 billion deficit.The telecommunications firm will also increase the contribution rate for future benefits of active members from 13.5% to 16% from 1 April 2015 through to June 2017.The figures were announced ...
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ArticlePension Wise website goes live
The online version of the government-backed guidance guarantee service, Pension Wise, has gone live.The Treasury-designed website, pensionwise.gov.uk, showcases six steps users should take in deciding how to use the new pension flexibilities, as well as get the best possible outcome in retirement from their pension pot.The six steps are:Checking the ...
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Video
Easy steps to pensions flexibility
brightcove.createExperiences();This three-minute video tutorial above covers:What are the new options for employees around pensions?What are the key issues that employers need to consider?What are employers doing with their existing scheme rules?What can employers do to help staff identify what changes are ...
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ArticleDWP publishes pot follows members update
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published more details on its plans to introduce automatic transfers of small pots when pension scheme members move jobs.Its Automatic transfers: A framework for consolidating pension savings report includes how the government will role out the programme and which schemes are in ...
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Video
Relaxing retirement rules: Five decisions for employers and trustees
brightcove.createExperiences();This six minute video tutorial above covers:Is lack of knowledge about the new pensions flexibilities an issue?What decisions do employees need to make?Is there an impact on people’s benefits structure?Will the pensions reforms increase administration?Will the Budget changes affect default investment ...
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ArticleJohn Lewis reviews DB and DC pension schemes
The John Lewis Partnership plans to halve the accrual rate for its final salary pension scheme and extend the defined contribution (DC) section of its hybrid scheme. The retail organisation, which employs 86,000 people across the John Lewis and Waitrose brands, will make the amendments effective from April 2015 for ...
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ArticleNAPF and PMI close merger discussions
The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) and The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) have announced that they will no longer pursue the opportunity to merge the two organisations. Ongoing discussions about the possibility of a merger were first announced in October last year.The combined organisation would have been aimed at ...
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Video
Putting the case for wellbeing
brightcove.createExperiences();This 12-minute video tutorial above covers:What is wellbeing in the workplace?What elements go into creating an effective wellbeing strategy?What are employees are looking for from their employers and how has this changed over the last few years?What are the biggest issues ...
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ArticleFinning UK to pilot government carers scheme
Finning UK is one of the first employers to roll out a government pilot scheme to help support employees with caring responsibilities.The organisation, which distributes plant, complementary equipment and power systems from manufacturers including Caterpillar, will use the pilot to expand its current scheme run by The Dove Service and ...
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Video
How to introduce a successful car salary sacrifice scheme
brightcove.createExperiences();This three minute video tutorial above covers:What are the key issues to look for when designing a car salary sacrifice scheme?What are the attributes of a well-designed scheme?What trends are emerging in car salary sacrifice schemes?What makes a successful scheme?How will ...
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ArticleGovernment lays out final regulations on charges cap
Draft regulations to cap defined contribution (DC) pension scheme charges at 0.75% have been put before Parliament alongside additional governance requirements.In April, scheme charges will be capped at 0.75% unless employees have specifically chosen a more expensive option.According to figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the cap ...
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ArticleGE and Close Brothers to discuss pension reforms
Employers should provide communications and financial education support to employees approaching retirement to engage and respond to the government changes to defined contribution pensions.Speaking in a session titled ‘Responding to government changes in pensions’ at Employee Benefits Connect, Jeanette Makings (pictured), head of financial education services at Close Brothers Asset ...
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ArticleCarlsberg UK revamps employee benefits package
EXCLUSIVE: Carlsberg UK has undertaken a full strategic review of its employee benefits, resulting in it relaunching its flexible and voluntary benefits schemes, and consolidating its company car provision.The brewery organisation, which employs more than 40,000 people globally, launched the review in order to simplify its benefits administration and to ...
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Video
Maximising the value of your protection, health and wellbeing benefits
brightcove.createExperiences();This five-minute video tutorial above covers:What is the value for employers in auditing their protection, health and wellbeing schemes?Might maximising the use of benefits increase premiums?Should employers should review their benefits individually or collectively, and what are the advantages?How will the ...
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Video
Building a benefits strategy that supports your business strategy
brightcove.createExperiences();This seven-minute video tutorial above covers:How an employer can ensure it has the correct benefits strategy.The issues employers should be thinking about.What employers should consider in terms of benefits communication.Whether employers think that employees know about protecting their pension.How employers can ...
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ArticleEmployers not always liable for adjustments in absence cases
An Employment Appeals Tribunal has upheld an Employment Tribunal decision that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) did not have a duty to make reasonable adjustments while an employee was unfit to return to work.Doran v DWP is a useful reminder that an employer’s duty to make reasonable adjustments ...
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Article
96% believe pension flexibilities create need for financial education
Some 96% of employers think that the new pension flexibilities creates a need for more financial education in the workplace, according to research by Jelf Employee Benefits. Its research among 250 employers also found that nearly three quarters (73%) believe workplace financial education should be employer funded.Of this 73%, more ...
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Article68% of over-50s would retrain to work longer in retirement
More than two-thirds (68%) of over-50s would consider retraining to work longer in retirement, according to research by MetLife. Its research, which surveyed more than 2,500 employees, found that financial pressures and a lack of sufficient retirement savings are the drivers behind employees working longer.Just over half (55%) of respondents ...