All articles by Sam Barrett – Page 6
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Case StudiesQuilter focuses on employees' mental and physical health during pandemic
Quilter is a financial services organisation providing advice, investments and wealth management in the UK and internationally. It employs around 4,500 people across its hubs in London, Newcastle and Southampton, but also in smaller offices throughout the UK and overseas.When lockdown was announced, employees’ health and wellbeing was a priority. ...
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AnalysisWhat does the future hold for the private medical insurance market?
Need to know:Demand for private medical insurance (PMI) has increased by up to 50% amid growing concerns about NHS waiting lists.Large claims, due to delays in diagnosis and a potential insurance premium tax (IPT) increase, are putting affordability under pressure.Digital services, such as virtual GP and triage support, could help ...
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Case StudiesTata Consultancy Services supports global workforce with remote wellbeing resources
IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services employs around 448,000 people around the world, of which 19,000 work across the UK and Ireland, based in the organisation’s offices and those of its clients. Ramkumar Chandrasekaran, HR director in the UK and Ireland, says: “When the threat of the pandemic started to ...
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AnalysisWhat does the Covid-19 pandemic mean for international benefit strategies?
Need to know:Digital benefits and online platforms are set to increase as more employees around the globe work remotely.International demand for health and protection benefits is up, with a focus on wellbeing and lower-cost options.Different experiences of the pandemic mean local benefits solutions are important.With the Covid-19 pandemic forcing much ...
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Case StudiesThames Water helps employees understand the bigger picture
Thames Water employs 6,400 employees across London and the Thames Valley. As well as staff based in its head office in Reading, it also has employees across many sites throughout the region as well as field-based engineers and technicians.Aimee Cain, occupational health and wellbeing manager at Thames Water, has seen ...
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AnalysisHow are employees’ expectations shaping benefits strategies?
Need to know:Employees are increasingly seeking out organisations that share their values.Employers must demonstrate their commitment to their values, embedding them in everything from the facilities to policies and benefits.Providing employees with a pot of money and allowing them to select how they spend it can support a more diverse ...
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AnalysisHow can occupational health data inform corporate wellbeing strategies?
Need to know:Analysing data from occupational health questionnaires and absence services can identify health issues and trends in the workplace.Employee consent must be obtained if an employer wants to use data collected by occupational health services.Employers should use as broad a range of employee health data, including occupational health insight, ...
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Case StudiesKyocera Document Solutions uses occupational health data to support staff wellbeing
Kyocera Document Solutions employs around 500 people across its eight offices throughout the UK. As well as office-based staff, it also has a team of field-based engineers, in addition to sales people who support clients around the country.As part of its commitment to look after the health and wellbeing of ...
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AnalysisShaping benefits strategy for a future workforce
Need to know:Both the nature of work and the demographics of the workforce are changing, so a benefits strategy must be fit for future purpose in order to attract and retain talent.Generational differences are causing diverse wants and needs to emerge, which must be taken into account. However, some strategies, ...
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Case StudiesCurve shapes its benefits provision around business growth
Fintech organisation Curve has grown significantly since its launch in 2015; having started with a headcount of just six, it is about to hire its 250th employee. Kate James, head of people operations at Curve, was employee number seven. “Growth was always a factor for the business, so we knew ...
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AnalysisHow to help employees overcome auto-enrolment apathy
Need to know:Group presentations alongside online calculators and pension modellers can help employees see whether their retirement savings are on track.Consolidating pension pots can make retirement savings easier to understand and manage, making it more likely that employees will engage with saving for retirement.Financial incentives, such as matching contributions and ...
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Case StudiesDWF engages employees with pensions through enhanced matched contributions
Legal services firm DWF employs around 2,300 staff across 11 offices throughout the UK and Ireland. In April 2019, it launched a new self-invested personal pension (Sipp) plan, to encourage employees to engage more with their retirement savings.Stephen Jones, head of reward at DWF, says: “We’d offered matched contributions based ...
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AnalysisHow to create an employer brand fit for the modern workforce
Need to know:As both competition and transparency increase, employers would do well to look at their brand values and how these fit with the expectations of the modern workforce.Flexbility, sustainability and opportunities to learn and grow are all increasingly important, particularly as employees continue to blend work and life.The positioning ...
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Case StudiesDotty about Paper reinforces employer brand through social media
Having a strong employer brand is important to Bridgnorth-based stationery organisation Dotty About Paper, which was originally called Card Gallery when it was launched in 2004.Lisa Forde, owner of Dotty About Paper, explains: “We were struggling to reach out to potential employees and customers, so we decided to rebrand in ...
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AnalysisDigital stressors: Supporting wellbeing in a switched-on world
Need to know:Technology facilitates a more flexible work culture but, if not managed properly, an always-on environment can lead to physical and mental health issues.Drastic techniques, such as blanket bans and even legislation, have grown in popularity, but senior managers have a key role to play in setting everyday expectations.Technology ...
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Case StudiesAGY47 encourages employees to switch off outside work
Over 17 years, digital marketing agency AGY47 (formerly Silverbean) has progressed dramatically, from being based out of its founder’s bedroom to employing 56 people in offices in Newcastle, Teeside, and, as of this year, Sydney.Damian Hall, chief operating officer, is keen to ensure that staff are supported as much as ...
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AnalysisHow mental health approaches can be targeted to workforce demographics
Need to know:Various factors, such as age, gender and job role, can influence the amount and type of mental wellbeing support needed by employees. Some influences, such as the impact of home working, might be less obvious.Offering a wide variety of support systems can help reach more employees, but will ...
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Case StudiesLothian's occupational health service provides valuable employee data
Lothian is the UK’s largest municipal bus firm, carrying around 120 million customers per year. It is one of Edinburgh's biggest employers, with more than 2,500 staff, around 1,800 of whom are drivers.In 2018, Lothian started working with Health Shield’s occupational health service. From the outset, the organisation saw the ...
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AnalysisHow to measure the value of occupational health initiatives
Need to know:In addition to reducing absence and meeting legal requirements, occupational health interventions can benefit many things, including turnover, productivity and employers’ liability insurance.Using data from a wide range of sources, organisations can map positive changes that show the value of their occupational health programme.Hidden factors should also be ...
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AnalysisHealthy habits: Reaping the benefits of health-related resolutions
Need to know:There are many options employers can offer to help support healthy resolutions, including gym memberships, health cash plans and free fruit.Buy-in from senior management can create a supportive culture and ensure the success of a programme.Support for employees’ health improvement in the new year should be part of ...