All articles by System Administrator – Page 125

  • Article

    News update - Orange goes on safety drive

    2004-11-01T00:00:01Z

    Orange has launched a risk assessment programme to improve driver safety - employees who fail will have to return to the classroom.The mobile telecoms firm has introduced the online package, run by risk management provider Peak Performance, to ensure staff meet a certain standard. If they don't they will be ...

  • Article

    Feature - Employee car ownership shifts a gear

    2004-11-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read this ... An employee car ownership plan (Ecop) is an employee-based car ownership deal. Employers with large fleets, a high proportion of 40% tax payers, and a large number of drivers who do high mileage are most likely to benefit from switching to ...

  • Article

    News update - NU sale/lease back

    2004-11-01T00:00:01Z

    Norwich Union has implemented a sale and lease back on 500 company cars after it brought together all its cars through one deal. The insurance company previously purchased and self managed its fleet, but now all of its 2,500 cars will be on a full maintenance contract hire deal with ...

  • Article

    Events news - BBC Aecop reorder rated

    2004-11-01T00:00:01Z

    The BBC has hailed its all- employee car ownership plan (Aecop) as a careering success, with 95% of participating staff reordering at the end of their first-year's lease.The broadcaster scrapped its traditional company car scheme in favour of a structured personal ownership scheme available to all staff.Paul Farley, HR director, ...

  • Article

    Website Strawpoll

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Yes 24%No, but we are considering it 52%No, and we are not considering it 24%This time last year the number of employers that had introduced home computing schemes was negligible. The re-launch of the government's HCI initiative in January, which helped clarify the tax guidelines for schemes, has had an ...

  • Article

    In the news

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    The storyDrinks firm Diageo, which produces Guinness, has agreed to put £100m into its underfunded final salary UK pension scheme by March next year. It has made the contribution through transferring four million shares that it owns in US food firm General Mills. Diageo's 2004 annual report showed that its ...

  • Article

    News update - Microsoft staff can now sell leave

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Microsoft has introduced a wine club, AA membership and the ability to sell holiday time (previously staff were only able to buy leave) into its flexible benefits scheme. Mary Giles, head of compensation and benefits, said: "When we introduced flex, we chose to offer staff the chance to buy holiday ...

  • Article

    News update - Pru's Sip and home PCs are hits

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Prudential's share incentive plan (Sip) and home computing scheme are the most popular benefits introduced in the company's third flexible benefits roll-out. Russell Martin, HR director, said: "We need to make sure we have things that are relevant to all income groups and lifestyles." A concierge service and wine club ...

  • Article

    News update - Retailer helps out locals

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    John Lewis has used community volunteer work to help with its management training programme.Some 95 managers from its Peterborough store spent a day at a special needs school carrying out activities such as designing fashion and drama shows, creating activities such as treasure hunts for the children and organising a ...

  • Article

    News update -New perks to help morale

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Following a number of years of takeovers and acquisitions Southern Water has introduced a new benefits package to ensure staff stay at the company.It introduced a home computing scheme and childcare vouchers in October.Chris Tate, training and development manager at Southern Water, said: "Over the past few years because of ...

  • Article

    Outbox - Guest Opinion

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Should you offer an enhanced benefit package for your employees or should you move to a cash-only option? The change in demographics, technological advances, growth in flexible working styles and the increase in knowledge workers all mean new employment relationships, such as ‘portfolio careers’ or multiple employers for staff. These, ...

  • Article

    News update - Whitbread staff make payroll gifts

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Nearly 4,000 employees at leisure firm Whitbread have signed up to a payroll giving scheme. This is expected to allow the firm to donate £500,000 to UK charities over the year. Many employees chose to support multiple charities but the campaign showed that most staff favoured local charities. The scheme ...

  • Article

    News update - NAPF publishes pensions guide for firms

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has produced a guide to pensions simplification to help organisations get to grips with the subject.The body, which looks after pension issues on behalf of employers, introduced the 28 page guide to help those in charge of occupational schemes understand pension changes that ...

  • Article

    News update - Financial firm offers share plan

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Mourant has launched an employee share plan after reorganising its ownership structure from a partnership to a limited company. All employees at the financial services firm will receive share awards.

  • Article

    Feature - Global free share plans

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this ... Since planning is integral to success, do not underestimate the time required to set up a global free share plan. Communication is vital to achieve support, establish co-ordinators in every country, and above all, engage employees. Do a cost-benefit analysis after ...

  • Article

    Events news - Income protection pays off

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Redesigning its income protection scheme helped SG CIB to cut costs by approximately £150,000.Previously, the financial services firm did not communicate the scheme, because rising costs meant that it did not want employees to know about or use it.Speaking in a session entitled 'Effective and efficient benefits communication', Robert Potter, ...

  • Article

    Events news - Keep flex planning fluid

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Britvic has seen 93% of its workforce enrol in its flexible benefits scheme that it introduced in the summer.The soft drinks firm, which manufactures Pepsi and Tango in the UK, reported that employees were particularly impressed with offerings such as its home computing scheme.It also took advantage of tax and ...

  • Article

    Events news - Trust is key to work-life parity

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Trust is essential if employers are to create an organisation in which employees want to work.Speaking in the keynote session, 'Creating a great place to work - what do employees want?' Linda Holbeche, assistant director at charitable education trust Roffey Park Institute, said that with the boundaries between employees' home ...

  • Article

    Events news - On the road to PC totality

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    More than half of employees at Tibbett & Britten have taken advantage of the salary sacrifice benefits scheme it implemented earlier this year.The fact that the supply chain management firm was able to reclaim the VAT on all PCs purchased through its home computing scheme, as well as make tax ...

  • Article

    News udpate - Employers to be tax savvy

    2004-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Employers are being encouraged to review their entire pension arrangements for staff in time for legislative changes coming into effect in April 2006.The Finance Act 2004, which was given Royal Assent in July 2004, introduces a number of changes to the way occupational pensions are taxed.Ken Macintyre, pensions policy analyst ...