All articles by Robert Crawford – Page 40
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ArticleZodiac Seats UK sees 60% voluntary benefits take up
EXCLUSIVE: Zodiac Seats UK has seen more than 60% of its 1,200 employees sign up for its voluntary benefits scheme since it was launched in October 2013.The aerospace seating manufacturer launched the online benefits portal, Employee Savings Premium, to support staff financially.Through the scheme, which is provided by Edenred, employees ...
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ArticleHMRC loses NI contributions case
The Supreme Court has ruled against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in a national insurance (NI) test case, rejecting the argument that a single employer pension contribution to a funded unapproved retirement benefits scheme (FURBS) should have been subject to NI contributions liability.The case, HMRC v Forde and McHugh, is ...
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ArticleMothers who use surrogates not entitled to maternity rights
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that working mothers who have children by way of a surrogate are not entitled to maternity rights.The judgement resolves two earlier conflicting opinions from the Advocate General on the matter in the cases of Z v A Government Department ...
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ArticleStaff retirement income not a priority for employers
Only 15% of respondents said their main reason for providing a defined contribution (DC) pension scheme is to ensure their employees save for an adequate retirement, according to research by Towers Watson.Its DC pension strategy survey, which surveyed 126 employers, found that 65% of respondents cited market competition as their ...
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AnalysisWhat the new share scheme savings limits mean for employers
If you read nothing else, read this…Investment limits for sharesave schemes and share incentive plans will increase on 6 April 2014.To implement the new limits, employers should check if their scheme’s rules need changing.If an employer’s scheme’s rules are not linked to any change in legislation, it will need to ...
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ArticleTribunal rules post-natal depression dismissal not discriminatory
The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that a dismissal for absence caused by post-natal depression after maternity leave is not discriminatory.The judgement relates to the case, Lyons v Jobcentre Plus, in which the former employee was dismissed after her maternity leave had ended because of long-term absence. She claimed ...
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ArticleGovernment to guarantee free financial guidance for DC pension members
The governmentis to guarantee free face-to-face advice for all employees that retire in defined contribution (DC) pension schemes from April 2015.Chancellor George Osborne announced in the 2014 Budget that everyone who retires in a DC pension will be offered free, impartial, face-to-face advice on their choices at the point of ...
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OpinionDamian Stancombe: Will DC pension members have too much flexibility?
Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement has effectively turned DC arrangements into later life savings vehicles rather than a retirement vehicle.Employees are no longer required to use all or part of their pension pot to secure an annuity income until death.Instead, the government has, in my opinion, wrongly put full trust in ...
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AnalysisThe impact of the government's Health and Work Service on group health benefits
If you read nothing else, read this…The Health and Work Service aims to help employees on sickness absence to return to work.The service could help providers and employers to create new wellbeing initiatives.But conflict could arise when an employee goes through the referral process.The service aims to provide occupational health ...
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Case StudiesLeicester City Council’s car salary sacrifice scheme offers cost-effective benefit
The scheme, operated by Tusker, includes motor insurance, servicing and maintenance, roadside assistance, tyres and glass, plus protection against redundancy, resignation and maternity leave .Before implementing the scheme, the organisation wanted to reduce the cost of its employee benefits, having previously offered a central user allowance for employees to travel ...
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ArticleHay Group reviews benefits to fund auto-enrolment
EXCLUSIVE: Hay Group has undertaken a full review of its employee benefits to help fund the cost of auto-enrolment.The global management consultancy, which has around 350 employees, reached its auto-enrolment staging date on 1 February 2014.Charlotte Koch (pictured), head of HR at Hay Group, said: “Auto-enrolment allowed us to take ...
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OpinionNicola Kerr: Delay to extension of flexible-working arrangements
This legislation will give employees the statutory right to request a contract variation for flexible-working arrangements, and will require employers to consider the request in a reasonable manner.However, the right to request does not create a right to flexible working.As part of its strategy to create a modern workplace for ...
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ArticleAdvisers respond to global benefits trend
Employee benefits advisers are responding to the growing trend among employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), of pooling benefits to achieve global cost efficiencies. For example, Willis Group restructured its global benefits in January, combining its existing employee benefits and related consultancy practices. It did this to develop and ...
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AnalysisAll employers need to know about car salary sacrifice schemes
If you read nothing else, read this…Salary sacrifice car schemes are typically low-cost or cost-free for an employer to introduce.Low-emission cars are popular in schemes because of available tax breaks.Employers can put buffers in place to protect themselves from early termination fees and long-term absence of scheme members.Knowing how to ...
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AnalysisKey messages for staff about car salary sacrifice schemes
If you read nothing else, read this…Employers should tell staff about potential savings on income tax and national insurance.Employees need to know that company car tax bands will change every year until 2016-17, which could affect a scheme’s cost.Employees may incur early termination costs if they leave the scheme or ...
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ArticleCompany car tax rates to increase from 2017
Budget 2014: The government has increased the company car tax rates by two percentage points.In tax year 2017-18 and 2018-19 the appropriate percentage of list price, subject to tax, will increase by two percentage points (to a maximum of 37%) for cars emitting more than 75g of carbon dioxide per ...
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ArticleFuel duty to be frozen until 2015
Budget 2014: The government has confirmed fuel duty will remain frozen until spring 2015.Chancellor George Osbourne cancelled the fuel duty increase planned for September in his 2014 Budget. This was previously announced in the Autumn Statement.It means employees with company cars will save £11 every time they fill up their ...
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ArticleBuyer's guide to corporate eyecare 2014
The perk is not only popular with employees, but it helps them to look after their eyesight and other aspects of their health.A full eye examination can detect serious conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol at an early stage, which can help employers to cut their future healthcare ...
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ArticleJust 13% think staff save enough for retirement
EXCLUSIVE: Just 13% of respondents believe their employees are saving sufficiently for retirement, according to research by Wealth at Work.Its Generating income in retirement 2013 report, which surveyed 104 employers, found that only 14% of respondents are aware of the various retirement income options.Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents believe their ...
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Article
Top 10 most read stories this week 13-20 March
The top 10 most read articles on employeebenefits.co.uk from 13-20 March:1. Government increases cap on tax-free childcare2. Shared parental leave receives royal assent3. Aon to acquire Lorica Employee Benefits4. Employer-supported childcare vouchers to go5. More flexibility to be allowed when taking DC pension savings6. Expedia aligns flex and auto-enrolment7. How ...