All articles by Sam Barrett – Page 16
-
Analysis
Balancing the need for both health and wellbeing perks
The Increase in wellbeing products has made it harder for employers to work out how best to spend their healthcare budget, says Sam BarrattFor years, offering a healthcare benefits package has meant either providing staff with private medical insurance (PMI) that gives them access to treatment faster than on the ...
-
Case Studies
Case Study : O2
Telecommunications company O2 implemented a flexible benefits scheme in the summer of 2007 to enhance the benefits that it offers to its 11,000 employees in the UK. Colin Watt, head of reward, explains: "We introduced the scheme to offer more to our employees in terms of their total reward package ...
-
Article
Obtaining financial sign-off for flex in tough economic conditions
Obtaining financial sign-off for flex can be tricky, but there are a number of factors that can build a persuasive business case, says Sam Barrett.Obtaining the financial sign-off necessary for making significant changes to employee benefits packages can be tricky at the best of times, but with the continuing economic ...
-
Analysis
Tax anomalies around healthcare benefits
There are a number of anomalies in the taxation of healthcare benefits, so it is essential for employers to check the rules, says Sam Barrett.Tax was never designed to be simple, but the rules surrounding some healthcare benefits are littered with anomalies, with the tax treatment depending on the benefit, ...
-
Analysis
Rebroker health insurance benefits for a keener price
Executive Summary Life assurance is price driven, so to reduce the premium look for a more competitive deal every couple of years. Private medical insurance premiums can be reduced by removing psychiatric cover, alternative therapies, maternity cover, exclusive hospitals and by adding an excess. Switching providers can also ...
-
Analysis
The role of healthcare perks in recruitment
The most attractive and effective health and wellbeing packages are those that have been carefully tailored by employers to suit the profile of their workforce, argues Sam BarrettEmployers are tapping into the UK's obsession with health and fitness, putting together benefits packages with healthcare perks, such as private medical insurance, ...
-
Analysis
Best practice claims management for group risk perks
Incidences of long-term absence are few and far between, but the way a claim is managed can make a significant difference to the outcome for all concerned.The groundwork for claims management is often put in place long before a claim occurs. Simon Bailey, head of marketing for employee benefits at ...
-
Analysis
Providing group risk benefits through flexible benefits plans
No two employees are alike, with family commitments, lifestyle requirements and personal taste making it unlikely all staff will appreciate the same benefits.Flexible benefits schemes address this, allowing employers to offer a range of benefits that employees can pick and choose from to suit their needs and staff to vary ...
-
Analysis
The evolution of group risk benefits
Over the last 20 years or so, the working world has changed dramatically. But while staff no longer expect their employer to look after them from the cradle to the grave, group risk benefits have hardly evolved accordingly. Brian Morgan, business development director at Heath Lambert, says: "Many companies have ...
-
Analysis
Restructuring bonus arrangements
Once seen as an incentive primarily for sales staff, bonuses are now given much more widely to reward everything from attendance and service to performance and company profitability.Duncan Brown, director of HR services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, says: “About 90% of organisations have some form of bonus scheme. Employers like the concept ...
-
Article
Buyer's Guide to occupational health
Impending government measures are helping to focus employers’ minds on the need for efficient occupational health services, says Sam BarrettOccupational health is fast becoming one of the most desired workplace tools, with take-up now extending far beyond its traditional market of large companies and manual workforces.Wayne Pontin, business development director ...
-
Analysis
Benefits for low paid staff
Finding benefits that appeal to and motivate employees on low wages without busting either their own budgets or that of their organisation can be a challenge.For this reason, many employers have been guilty of overlooking the needs of this group. Tobin Coles, head of flexible benefits at Jelf Group, says: ...
-
Analysis
Supporting staff in times of crisis with perks
Financial, health or family-related crises can affect employees at work, and employers need to have support mechanisms in place, says Sam BarrettThe impact of the credit crunch on businesses has been well documented, but the problems it raises for employers could go much further than their bottom line. Many employees ...
-
Case Studies
Case study: Coventry Building Society takes steps to limit employee stress
Coventry Building Society employs 1,300 people across the Greater Midlands region including at three head offices in Coventry. A couple of years ago it overhauled its employee benefits programme to help look after the health of its workforce.Tina Jones, HR project manager at Coventry Building Society, says: “Stress is a ...
-
Case Studies
Case study: Kellogg's offers support to staff in times of crisis
With its roots in improving health through diet, it is perhaps not surprising that Kellogg’s is committed to supporting its employees as much as possible in times of crisis.Jacqueline Grainger, UK HR director, says: “We believe it is important to create an environment where work and life commitments can be ...
-
Analysis
Running an international benefits strategy
Globalisation is making international organisations take a much broader approach to how their businesses are run. But while this can result in greater consistency as well as cost savings, when it comes to implementing employee benefits, there can be some serious downsides.On paper, the concept of an international benefits strategy ...
-
Analysis
Monitoring raises privacy issues
The very nature of some perks means there is often a fine line between employers providing a benefit to employees and using it to monitor staff behaviour, as Sam Barrett investigatesNews that Microsoft is developing software that can measure an employee's productivity, and physical and mental wellbeing raises concerns about ...
-
Analysis
Tropical health threats
The threat of serious diseases is a major consideration for staff travelling abroad on business, and employers should ensure that they are adequately covered against them, says Sam BarrettSending employees overseas is a good way to win, and conduct, international business but, if the right health precautions aren’t taken, staff ...
-
Article
Keep global perks at a healthy level
While travel and trade arrangements have made it easier to work just about anywhere in the world, differing healthcare legislation and state provision can cause nightmares for any employer with staff working abroad.Andrew Apps, global sales and business development director at Goodhealth Worldwide, says: "We all like to moan about ...
-
Article
Buyer's guide to Employee Assistance Programmes
Employee assistance programmes continue to develop as uncertainty around their tax status fuels slower market growth, says Sam BarrettEmployee assistance programme (EAP) providers might end up being the biggest users of their own services this year following wranglings with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) over the tax status of EAPs.Services ...