All articles by Robert Crawford – Page 25
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ArticleCourt rules employers are liable for lost pension rights
Employers could be liable to pay pension contributions to employees that are found to have been unfairly dismissed and have lost out on pension rights as a result.However, in such cases, employers must also be aware of the types of tribunal guidance on which such calculations can be based, the ...
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Article81% offer some form of flexible benefits
The popularity of flexible benefits plans has risen in the past ten years with 35% of respondents offering full flex compared to 11% in 2004, according to research by Staffcare.Its See the benefits: A whitepaper on the latest trends in flexible benefits and technology report, which surveyed 108 HR professionals, ...
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Case StudiesBNP Paribas opens flex windows during related events
Such events have included corporate social responsibility fairs and health and wellbeing fairs, which enable the organisation to communicate the flexible benefits on offer and open windows to help increase engagement and take-up.Its scheme, provided by Vebnet, allows staff to make changes to childcare vouchers, bikes for work, retail vouchers ...
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Case StudiesDanone opens flex window for lifestyle changes
The organisation, which won ’Most engaging benefits package’ at the Employee Benefits Awards 2014, opens benefits windows for such staff every month for certain benefits.These benefits include childcare vouchers, the pension scheme, retail vouchers, gym membership and access to its health cash plan.The monthly windows open for any employee who ...
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ArticleVirgin Money to award staff £1,000 share bonus
Virgin Money is to grant each of its 2,800 permanent employees £1,000 in shares at its initial public offering when the bank floats on the London Stock Exchange.With the exception of directors and senior management, the retail bank will award the shares to its employees a year after it floats, ...
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ArticleBelgian police performance dips in pensions protest
Something for the weekend…Police officers in Belgium may appear to be a little laid back at present as they protest over pensions.Staff performance has dipped with police officers waiving traffic fines for people driving over the speed limit, forgetting to buckle seat belts or parking illegally.It seems they are turning ...
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AnalysisPros and cons of moving away from annual flex enrolment windows
If you read nothing else, read this…More than one flexible benefits window could drive engagement and take-up.It can help to keep a flex scheme and its communications fresh.Employers must be aware that some benefits cannot be open more than once a year.Moving away from an annual window could complicate administration.Employers ...
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ArticleBazaarvoice extends global bonus plan
Bazaarvoice has extended its incentive programme to pay its entire workforce incentive compensation plans in multiple currencies.The consumer ratings and reviews network organisation launched the programme, provided by Xactly, when its manual compensation practices were not deemed to be at an acceptable level in terms of auditability and accuracy. Incentive ...
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OpinionHilary Aldred - Employers disagree obesity should be protected by disability law
A vast majority of 98% of respondents made it clear that almost no one wants obesity to be classed as a disability and 89% do not make any adjustments for obese or overweight staff.As the results were so clear, we are now reflecting on why employers think like this.I do ...
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AnalysisWhat are the new flexible retirement options?
If you read nothing else, read this…A number of changes announced in the 2014 Budget give pensions more flexibility.Employees can choose to take their pension wealth as a lump sum, drawdown or as an annuity.New tax rules will help provide greater flexibility.A guidance guarantee will ensure pension members get advice ...
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ArticleEmployers must prepare for shared parental leave requests
Under the new rules, which take effect from December 2014, parents will be able to share 12 months’ leave after the birth of their child.Employees who discover they are pregnant and are due to give birth after 5 April 2015 can start sending their employers a notice of eligibility and ...
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ArticleEmployee gains from sharesave schemes more than double
Employee gains from sharesave schemes have more than doubled in the last year, according to research by law firm Pinsent Masons.Its research found that profits made by employees at the conclusion of the scheme, either after three or five years, have increased by 141% from £360 million up to £870 ...
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ArticleCreating sustainable EU pension system a key priority
Creating a sustainable and adequate pension system across the European Union (EU) is a key priority, according to Gabriel Bernardino (pictured), chairman of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA).Speaking at the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) annual conference on 17 October, Bernardino also challenged pension scheme providers ...
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ArticlePSHPC launches dependants' life cover
Employees will now be able to cover their partner on a group life assurance policy through a dependant’s benefit provided by Punter Southall Health and Protection Consulting’s (PSHPC) new group life product, Havensrock, which is insured by Scottish Friendly.Traditionally, group life pays a lump sum to an employee’s chosen beneficiary ...
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ArticleConsultancies combine communications practices
Hymans Robertson and communication specialists Like Minds have created a new joint venture aimed at bringing together its communication practices.The joint venture will marry the two entities in a 50/50 partnership with the existing Hymans Robertson and Like Minds communication teams combining, working from offices in London and Kenilworth in ...
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ArticleEnding of colleague's contract not maternity discrimination
An employment tribunal has ruled that failure to inform an employee about the ending of a colleague’s contract does not result in maternity discrimination.The decision comes from the case Smith-Twigger v Abbey Protection Group, where the claimant had worked full-time but from April 2011 arranged, because of her childcare responsibilities, ...
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ArticleCivil Service staff to receive equal parental leave pay
All Civil Service employees will be entitled to full parental leave pay from April 2015, the government has announced today.Currently, only mothers are entitled to full pay when a couple chooses to share parental leave but under new reforms, fathers will also be given the same entitlements.Under the current system, ...
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ArticleCentrica to launch network for working fathers
EXCLUSIVE: Centrica is setting up a social dads network for its working fathers following a review into updating the organisation’s family-friendly policies.The energy organisation, which owns British Gas, decided to implement such a programme on the back of the shared parental leave legislation which comes into force in December.As a ...
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ArticleSouthern Water launches employer-paid health cash plan
EXCLUSIVE: Southern Water has launched an employer-funded health cash plan for its 2,000 employees.The scheme, ‘yourHealth Cash Plan’ provided by Bupa, has achieved more than 68% employee opt in since its launch in July.The organisation launched the scheme after research among employees found that staff wanted assistance with healthcare costs.More ...
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ArticleGuidance guarantee to be delivered under single brand
The government’s guidance guarantee will be delivered under a single brand rather than under the Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) or Money Advice Service (MAS) brands, confirmed the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) at the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) annual conference.The government announced in July that its guaranteed guidance on ...