All articles by Sam Barrett – Page 8
-
OpinionChris Curry: Employers can take a mixed approach to helping employees save for retirement
Automatic-enrolment has changed the landscape for workplace pensions in the UK, so now it is the norm for employees to be saving in a pension, with a contribution from their employer. But getting people saving is only the start; there is still plenty more that employers can do to make ...
-
Case StudiesAgeas Insurance uses a range of communication methods to engage employees with pensions
Ageas Insurance's journey to boost employee engagement with its pension scheme started back in 2013. Nick Cansfield, head of reward and policy at Ageas Insurance, explains: "We'd grown through acquisitions so there were lots of different schemes in place. With auto-enrolment approaching, we decided it would be simpler to have ...
-
AnalysisHow can employers create greater employee engagement with pensions?
Need to knowRather than focus on pensions, employers can teach concepts such as regular savings and stock market investment as part of broader financial education.An audience can be segmented by factors such as age, life stage, bonus and size of pension fund to make communications personal.Employers should ditch the jargon ...
-
OpinionDr Zofia Bajorek: Integrating health and wellbeing with good work can lead to employee engagement
Over the last decade, there is no denying that ‘employee engagement’ has become a buzzword in both the academic and business world. Not a week goes by where engagement is not mentioned in articles concerning employee wellbeing, productivity and what employers can do to improve methods through which they value ...
-
Case StudiesCentrica develops healthcare and wellbeing strategy around workforce issues
Energy and services firm Centrica employs around 30,000 people in the UK. Of these, roughly one-third are engineers, one-third work in its call centres, and the remaining third are in management and support roles.Its health strategy has evolved considerably since 1812, when it launched as the Gas Light and Coke ...
-
AnalysisThe evolution of health and wellbeing strategies
Need to know:Legislation and government policy has helped to shape workplace health and wellbeing strategies.Employers' approaches have shifted from reactive to proactive, with early intervention, prevention and education all key elements of today's strategies.Once seen as an executive perk, health and wellbeing strategies are now designed to support all employees.Health ...
-
AnalysisHow to use health and wellbeing benefits to engage employees
Need to know:Employers should offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits that suit all ages and life stages.They should ensure their culture supports the benefits it offers.Proactive communication with branding and positive messaging helps to drive up engagement.Providing a range of health and wellbeing benefits can drive up employee ...
-
Case StudiesRoyal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service offers a range of health benefits to support and engage staff
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) offers a range of health and wellbeing benefits to keep its 600 operational and support staff fit and healthy. Helen Morbin, fitness and health adviser at RBFRS, says: “Our employees are our number one asset: without them we couldn't deliver our mission to ...
-
AnalysisWhat does the rise in state pension age mean for employers' healthcare strategies?
Need to knowHealth risk increases with age, with 44% of people aged 50-64 having at least one long-term health condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer.As well as preventing health problems, a health and wellbeing programme can slow and stop the onset of many conditions.Policies such as flexible working, ...
-
Case StudiesHome Instead Senior Care supports the mental and physical wellbeing of its caregivers
Home Instead Senior Care provides care to elderly people in their own homes. Run as a franchise, it has 190 offices throughout the UK with around 9,000 people working for it.Across the organisation, more than 45% of its employees are aged 50 plus, with its oldest, an 83 year old ...
-
Article
Buyer's guide to health cash plans
The factsWhat are health cash plans?Health cash plans are a low cost way to provide employees with financial assistance towards the cost of everyday healthcare. Plans offer a set amount of benefit each year for items such as optical and dental care, physiotherapy and specialist consultations, with employees paying for ...
-
AnalysisWhy should employers be concerned with holistic employee wellbeing?
Need to know:Employee wellbeing can have a significant impact on the workplace, affecting everything from performance and productivity through to engagement, sickness absence, and staff turnover.Minor illnesses, such as headaches, can often mask more serious health and wellbeing issues, such as stress.Creating an open culture where employees feel their health ...
-
Case StudiesAccenture UK puts wellbeing at the forefront of its culture
Supporting the health and wellbeing of its more than 13,000 employees in the UK and Ireland is a key strategy for global professional services firm Accenture, with the employer aiming to be the most inclusive and diverse organisation in the world by 2020. Tony Horan, head of human capital and ...
-
AnalysisHow to control the cost of employee benefits provision
Need to knowThe cost of benefits is increasing due to changes such as those impacting pensions auto-enrolment contributions, salary sacrifice arrangements and insurance premium tax.A risk-based approach taking in everything from financing mechanisms to claims controls can help secure the optimum benefits package for an organisation.Communicating benefits pushes up employee ...
-
Case StudiesTen Group offers a range of benefits on a modest budget
Controlling benefits costs is a key challenge for the Ten (Transforming Education in Norfolk) Group, a federation of educational institutions in Norfolk, employing 1,400 permanent members of staff and a further 400 casual staff. Hilary Bright, director of HR services at the Ten Group, says: "We wanted to offer a ...
-
ArticleBuyer's guide to flexible benefits technology
The factsWhat is flexible benefits technology?This is a form of technology that enables employers to deliver their flexible benefits scheme to employees. Systems can operate in-house or through cloud-based servers and, as well as providing access to benefits and reward, many include interactive tools to increase employee engagement.What are the ...
-
Case StudiesHywel Dda University Health Board helps staff fund everyday health needs
Hywel Dda University Health Board is responsible for providing healthcare services to around 384,000 people across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. It also cares about the health and wellbeing of its 10,000 employees, having introduced a Health Shield-provided cash plan in 2013 to help staff fund their everyday health needs.Andrea Thomas, ...
-
ArticleWhat are the latest trends in the health cash plan market?
Need to know:Claims apps make it easier to use a health cash plan, pushing up claims volumes but delivering greater benefit to employees and employers.Virtual GP services are the latest benefit addition, responding to long waiting times to see a local doctor.Some cash plan providers have absorbed increases in insurance ...
-
Case StudiesCottage Delight switches payroll system to meet current and future business needs
From humble beginnings in 1974, when founder Nigel Cope developed a traditional recipe all-butter tablet fudge in his family kitchen, Cottage Delight now has a range of more than 700 speciality foods. This growth has seen its staffing levels increase significantly too, with the organisation now employing nearly 200 people, ...
-
AnalysisWhat are the key issues affecting payroll professionals in 2017?
Need to know:Employers must assess whether they are liable for the new apprenticeship levy, especially where they are part of a larger group.Employers should assess how they stack up ahead of the upcoming implementation of mandatory gender pay reporting.A review of data security internally and externally will help to protect ...