All articles by Sam Barrett – Page 9
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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AnalysisBuyer’s guide to employee assistance programmes
The facts:What are employee assistance programmes (EAPs)?An EAP provides confidential information, support and counselling to employees with personal or work-related issues. The service is available around the clock by telephone or online, with a comprehensive EAP also providing access to face-to-face counselling where necessary.An EAP can also support an employer. ...
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Case StudiesOracle introduces rehabilitation helpline for managers
Supporting the health and wellbeing of its UK employees is important to technology organisation Oracle. To help achieve this, in November 2015, it introduced a vocational rehabilitation helpline, Swift, for managers in collaboration with Unum, alongside its existing portfolio of healthcare and wellbeing benefits.This acts like a triage service, says ...
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ArticleHow to maximise the value of rehabilitation support
Need to knowInsurers are keen to provide rehabilitation support as early as possible because this can reduce absence and improve the outcome for the employee.Robust absence procedures will ensure that cases suitable for rehabilitation are identified as early as possible.Communication is essential to enable early intervention and maximise the value ...
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AnalysisHow to create a workplace programme to incentivise healthy behaviour
Need to knowAn employer should pick a broad range of healthy behaviours to reward to avoid alienating groups of employees.Short challenges can help to improve behaviours but a continual programme will encourage more employees to adopt healthy habits for the long term.An employer should select rewards and incentives carefully; for ...
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ArticleVictrex uses segmentation to assist financial education
Global high-performance polymer manufacturer Victrex employs around 600 people in the UK in roles ranging from manufacturing to management. When Sally Knill joined as head of reward in 2013, it soon became apparent that a financial education programme was needed. “There was limited appreciation of the benefits on offer,” she ...
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AnalysisHow to align financial, physical and emotional wellbeing
Need to know:Financial worries can affect sleep, increasing the risk of mental and physical health problems, pushing up absence and potentially causing safety issues.Segmenting a workforce can make financial education more targeted and effective.Employers should not overlook simple changes, such as making it easier to claim expenses or promoting the ...
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Case StudiesA-one+ advocates sun safety through summer health campaign
Integrated highways service and solutions provider A-one+ employs more than 1,000 people carrying out maintenance, incident response and engineering projects on behalf of Highways England. With so many of its employees working outdoors, it launched a summer health campaign in 2015. Emma Hughes, network intelligence technician and lead health advocate ...
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AnalysisWhat to include in a workplace summer health campaign
Need to knowEmployers can promote sun safety and help employees hydrate; dehydration causes headaches, dizziness and can affect performance.Employers can take advantage of the good weather to encourage employees to get active outdoors.They can flag up country-specific advice and GP helplines to help employees stay healthy on holiday.Warmer weather, longer ...
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AnalysisKey trends in workplace health and wellbeing
Learn more about the key trends in workplace wellbeing at Employee Benefits Live 2016 on 11-12 October at Olympia National, LondonWorkplace health and wellbeing programmes aim to make employees healthier, happier and more productive. But, as well as evolving to reflect the latest thinking in health and wellbeing, these programmes ...
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Case StudiesKPMG raises awareness of eating disorders with wellbeing events
Accountancy firm KPMG employs more than 13,000 staff across 22 locations in the UK. It is committed to supporting its employees and set up its Be Mindful Network in May 2015 to help improve mental health across the organisation. Jessica Carmody, head of Be Mindful at KPMG, says: “We run ...
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AnalysisHow can employers support staff with eating disorders?
Need to know:Eating disorders affect more than 725,000 people in the UK, with the number increasing at an average of 7% a year since 2009.Warning signs include weight loss or gain, marked changes in behaviour such as an obsession with food or exercising, mood swings, lack of concentration and increased ...
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AnalysisWhat impact has medical inflation had on international private medical insurance policies?
Need to know:An average increase of 9.1% is on the cards for international private medical insurance schemes according to Aon Hewitt’s 2016 Global Medical Trend Rates report.Insurers have developed strategies including hospital networks and claims management to control treatment costs.Employers should consider tiered cover, varying the level of cover and ...
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Case StudiesAlstom uses exercise challenge to improve staff health
Engineering firm Alstom UK and Ireland, which employs more than 2,500 people in a variety of manual and office-based roles, identified it was facing potential health problems as a result of an ageing workforce.Claire Sallis, occupational health and wellbeing manager at Alstom UK and Ireland, says: “We wanted to encourage ...