All articles by Sam Barrett – Page 17
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Analysis
Create engagement with wellbeing
Providing employees with access to wellbeing benefits such as exercise classes, health checks, free fruit and information on nutrition and relaxation can reduce absence, improve staff morale and drive up productivity. But, with wellbeing still being a relatively new concept in benefits, gaining management and employee buy-in isn't always guaranteed.Management ...
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Analysis
Early intervention services offer an alternative to group risk
A number of new services in the healthcare market are aimed at curbing long-term absence, so providing an alternative to group risk perks, says Sam BarrettTraditional group risk benefits such as group life cover and group income protection may have a long history, but new healthcare products and services now ...
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Analysis
New welfare reform will impact group risk benefits
The government's Welfare Reform Act 2007, which received Royal Assent in May is the latest piece of legislation to affect group risk benefits, says Sam BarrettChanges to legislation and government strategy around issues such as age discrimination and welfare reform are resulting in evolution in the group risk benefits arena, ...
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Analysis
Weighing up options when picking critical illness and income protection
There's a host of considerations in picking critical illness and income protection, says Sam BarrettWith a variety of group risk products on offer, it can often be difficult for employers to decide which should be included in their employee benefits package.Two products that are commonly considered alongside one another are ...
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Analysis
Affordable healthcare products improve employer options
Healthcare product development means employers can offer more at little extra cost, says Sam BarrettAdvances in medicine, new technology and customer demand have resulted in a flood of new, innovative healthcare products coming on to the market, many of which can bolster an employer's benefits offering.One of the key areas ...
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Analysis
Dental perks for employees' families
With NHS dentists becoming increasingly difficult to access, employers can offer staff the opportunity to cover dependants for a range of treatments through dental perks, says Sam BarrettFinding an NHS dentist is becoming increasingly difficult. As a result, dental insurance, for employees and their families, is becoming a popular benefit.Kirsty ...
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Analysis
Wellbeing events can pay off
Wellbeing events can help employers to raise employees' awareness of key health issues, which may positively affect productivity, says Sam BarrattA growing number of employers are organising wellness days, weeks and even months to help employees improve their health and productivity. But while these events have their merits, it is ...
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Analysis
Employee paid cash plans still appeal to staff
Promoting the merits of a healthcare cash plan to staff can be uncomfortable if they are footing the bill, but many employees will still regard the offering as a substantial perk, says Sam BarrettPromoting an employee-paid healthcare cash plan can feel uncomfortable, especially as it can deliver benefits to employers ...
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Analysis
Employee engagement: Health packages pep up organisations and staff
Company-provided healthcare benefits and wellbeing programmes can aid employee engagement if communicated well and can boost an organisation’s profits too, Sam Barrett reportsHealthcare and wellbeing benefits can bring advantages to both employees and employers by reducing sickness, cutting absenteeism and increasing productivity.Medical insurance, for example, gives employees access to private ...
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Analysis
A buyer's guide to income protection
Insurers are looking to new product designs and additional benefits to help boost the group income protection market, says Sam BarrettAfter market penetration figures stalled at around 11% in the 1990s, group income protection insurers have been looking for ways to stimulate demand and respond to changes in the employment ...
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Article
Buyer's guide to healthcare cash plans (April 2007)
Healthcare cash plans are enjoying burgeoning popularity, and with a string of add-ons are becoming ever more bespoke, says Sam BarrettArticle in fullOnce a benefit that was rarely seen outside of the manufacturing and public sectors, healthcare cash plans are gaining broader appeal as schemes are now being taken out ...
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Article
Employee assistance programmes
The use of employee assistance programmes is on the increase as the prices fall and providers become competitive over business, says Sam BarrettArticle in fullBeing able to look after employees' wellbeing, deliver a valued benefit and exercise a duty of care for staff for as little as £3 per employee ...
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Analysis
Employee Benefits Wellbeing Supplement 2005 - Stressed out
With fewer than 10% of companies having a policy to tackle stress, it's little wonder the condition is proving to be a blight on British industry as organisational apathy continues to subject staff to serious health risks, says Sam BarrettCase Study: London UndergroundArticle in fullStress is the disease of the ...