All articles by System Administrator – Page 117

  • Article

    Engineering firm launches DC plan

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    British engineering firm CB&I John Brown has launched a new defined contribution pension plan. It has appointed Investment Solutions to provide both multi-manager investment and administration services to the new scheme. HR manager Andy Braddel said that the deal, which also lets staff view their portfolio online, will allow staff ...

  • Article

    Council launches home PC scheme

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Wokingham District Council has launched a home computing scheme for its 5,000 employees. The council will offer the salary sacrifice scheme, set up by home computing provider Futuremedia, to all staff including people at its parish councils and schools. Paul Turrell, deputy chief executive of Wokingham District Council, said that ...

  • Article

    Building on voucher results

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Building firm Saint Gobain has found that childcare vouchers were the most popular benefit in its recently launched flex scheme. The company, which owns brands such as Jewson, launched the flexible benefits scheme in October but options took effect from January. David Sweeney, compensation and benefits analyst at Saint Gobain, ...

  • Article

    Grateful boss surprises staff with Caribbean Holiday

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The incentiveEmployees at hotel toiletry supplier Pacific Direct were rewarded with an all-expenses paid holiday to Barbados when the firm's profits exceeded a projected £1 million target. The trip, which took place in January and cost £50,000, included accommodation in a five-star hotel, food and drink, spending money and activities ...

  • Article

    PPF likely to boost pension funding

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Employers are expected to increase contributions to their pension deficits following the introduction of the pension protection fund (PPF) next month. Previously, organisations with defined benefit (DB) pension arrangements had less incentive to use any spare cash to help plug the gap. But Tim Keogh, partner at Mercer HR Consulting, ...

  • Article

    Hewlett-Packard's procurement teams aid perks

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Hewlett-Packard has improved its worldwide benefits offerings by working with its procurement teams. Euan Hutchinson, international benefits manager EMEA at the technology firm, said that by partnering with procurement teams across the world it has managed to make significant savings on benefits such as company cars and risk benefits. He ...

  • Analysis

    EB Comment: Can you afford to help fund Brown's windfall on A-Day

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    It is unlikely that any employer in the UK is going to escape untouched by the law changes. Even if you expect your advisers to take care of the technical pensions side, you will need to work out which of your staff you need to talk to, and find out ...

  • Article

    RHM acts to limit deficit

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    RHM Group has introduced a number of pension changes in a bid to keep its defined benefit plan despite a significant deficit. The food firm, known for its Hovis and Mr. Kipling brands, has a pension scheme deficit of over £500m. The introduction of the Pension Protection Fund next month ...

  • Article

    Crux of pensions switches is about risk reduction

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Pensions and reward strategies are the two key issues facing benefits decision- makers this year - according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The race to shut down defined benefit (DB) schemes is set to continue in the private sector, with one-third of firms planning to close ...

  • Article

    HBOS flex relaunch sees 44% take up

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Just over 2% of employees at HBOS have taken up childcare vouchers as part of its latest flexible benefits relaunch. The high street bank saw 44% change their benefits because it also introduced a salary sacrifice wine arrangement and a number of new retail voucher offerings. Private medical insurance is ...

  • Article

    International Supplement 2005 News - BSkyB gives driving lessons to crews

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    BSkyb is introducing driving lessons for television crews on assignment abroad, including correspondents on the ground in Baghdad and Afghanistan. Mark Sayer, group head of health and safety at the news organisation, said: "The foreign driving policy is designed to try and ensure that, where people are going to environments ...

  • Article

    International Supplement 2005 News - EU pension plan softens borders

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    European workers are being encouraged to take their pensions with them as they work across EU states. The European Commission has issued a new social agenda plan that will make it easier for employees to transfer their pension credits, the move is aimed at increasing labour mobility. The Commission's report ...

  • Article

    Research news – A third of large companies with free fuel schemes stopped offering the benefit in 2004.

    2005-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The number of employers with fleets of over 500 vehicles that are providing free fuel dropped from 18% to 12%. The report also found that 51% of firms have a written fuel policy.For a copy of Arval's Fuel audit please call 0800 018 7767.

  • Article

    Pensions Management Institute offers new qualification

    2005-02-10T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Management Institute is offering a new training certificate for pension managers.The Pension Plan Executive Certificate (PPEC) is aimed at showing that managers have the necessary level of knowledge to run a scheme.

  • Article

    Government offers grants to payroll givers

    2005-02-10T00:00:00Z

    The government has launched a grant to encourage more small businesses to take up payroll giving. Any employer with less than 500 staff is eligible for a cash incentive of £500 when they set up a scheme. As an additional incentive, the government will match the first £10 donated by ...

  • Article

    Time and Knowledge starts new concierge service

    2005-02-10T00:00:00Z

    Time and Knowledge has launched a new concierge service for employees. The service is aimed at time strapped staff, who can access a 24 help telephone helpline and website. Features include domestic emergency call outs; car breakdown; legal helpline; and utilities bill check.For more information visit www.hand.uk.net

  • Article

    News update - Rathbone opts to outsource

    2005-02-01T00:00:01Z

    Rathbone Brothers has outsourced the management of its company car scheme to provider Inspire. The investment management firm, which mainly offers perk cars on prestige brands, will use the service to provide help with buying the vehicles, allowing employees to book services for their cars, breakdown recovery, daily rentals and ...

  • Article

    Fitness First gets help with fleet

    2005-02-01T00:00:01Z

    Fitness First has appointed Custom Fleet to supply, fund and manage its fleet in a bid to cut costs. The health club firm, which is switching its 250 cars from Toyota to Volkswagen and Audi models, is also outsourcing vehicle maintenance, accident management and driver records as part of the ...

  • Article

    News update - Cost cutting drive

    2005-02-01T00:00:01Z

    The BBC has announced it spends £33,000 a day on taxis for staff and guests. Over the last five years the corporation has spent £60 million on taxis, with a taxi bill of £11.4 million for the year to April 2004. All BBC staff who live within a 30 mile ...

  • Article

    Feature - The new corporate manslaughter laws

    2005-02-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read this ... Proposed corporate manslaughter laws will complement existing laws, not replace them. Under existing rules, you should apply the same risk assessment and risk reduction to work-related driving as you do to the rest of your business. It doesn't matter who ...