All articles by System Administrator – Page 2

  • Article

    BASF, Crest Nicholson and Merck awarded Pension Quality Mark

    2012-07-27T09:40:00Z

    Chemical company BASF, housebuilding firm Crest Nicholson and pharmaceutical firm Merck are the latest employers to be awarded the Pension Quality Mark (PQM) for their workplace pension schemes.The PQM, which was launched by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) in 2009, recognises employers that offer pension schemes with good ...

  • Article

    A quarter of private sector staff are in workplace pensions

    2012-07-27T09:38:00Z

    Only a quarter (26%) of private sector employees are active members of their employers’ pension scheme in the UK, according to research by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).The research, Employers’ pension provision survey 2011, also found that only 31% of private sector organisations currently offer pension provision for ...

  • Article

    Court of Appeal rules on holiday entitlement during long-term sick leave

    2012-07-26T09:14:00Z

    The Court of Appeal has ruled that an NHS Leeds’ employee is still entitled to paid annual holidays, despite being off sick for the whole of that year.The court ruled that NHS Leeds’ clerical worker Janet Larner is entitled to her paid leave for the year 2009/10, even though she ...

  • Article

    Pitmans Trustees launches pensions governance committee training initiative

    2012-07-26T08:29:00Z

    Pitmans Trustees has launched a governance committee training initiative for newly-formed and existing defined contribution (DC) governance committees.The independent trustee firm’s training includes:Information on the background on the necessity for governance committees.The structure of a committee.The roles and responsibilities of committee members.The terms of reference and responsibilities specific to a ...

  • Article

    London Fire Brigade relaunches bikes-for-work scheme

    2012-07-25T09:21:00Z

    EXCLUSIVE: London Fire Brigade has relaunched its bikes-for-work scheme with a series of roadshows throughout July.The scheme is available to more than 6,000 firefighters and support staff in London.More than 2,700 bikes have been purchased since the scheme was launched with provider Cycle Solutions in 2008.The contract also allows other ...

  • Article

    Early start to retirement saving is best

    2012-07-25T08:48:00Z

    The majority (89%) of respondents said starting to save for retirement under the age of 25 is advisable, according to research by Friends Life.The research, which surveyed 160 of the pension provider’s corporate pension scheme members, also found that 49% of respondents began paying into their pension before the age ...

  • Article

    Low Pay Commission launches consultation on accommodation offset as part of review

    2012-07-25T08:08:00Z

    The Low Pay Commission has launched a public consultation on the accommodation offset, the only benefit-in-kind that can count towards payment of the national minimum wage.The benefit, which is currently set at a daily limit of £4.73 (£33.11 a week) and is designed to act as a protective measure, to ...

  • Analysis

    Employee Benefits group risk supplement 2012

    2012-07-01T23:00:00Z

    Download a PDF of the Employee Benefits/Friends Life Group Risk supplement 2012Sponsor’s comment: Declan White of Friends LifeWhat to do when rebrokingHow providers give added valueStrategies for managing long-term absenceGroup income protection versus life insurance

  • Article

    Employee Benefits Awards 2012

    2012-07-01T23:00:00Z

    The Employee Benefits Awards celebrates UK employers’ reward and benefits strategies. We would like to congratulate our worthy finalists and winners!Download a PDF of the Employee Benefits Award Winners 2012†(Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4)Click on each category below to view winners and finalists.Grand PrixEmployee benefits professional ...

  • Article

    Employee Benefits Awards 2012: Meet the Judges

    2012-07-01T23:00:00Z

    Panel chairDebi O’Donovan is editor of Employee Benefits and is responsible for editorial strategy across events, web and the magazine.Panel chairDebbie Lovewell, deputy editor of Employee Benefits, is an award-winning journalist who is responsible for news and features across the magazine and website.Panel chairDev Raval is director of reward at ...

  • Article

    David Noakes: Are default funds the best option for the majority of staff?

    2012-07-01T00:00:01Z

    The default funds selected by some pension schemes seem to have been chosen using a path of least resistance, to minimise possible employee comeback. This is not to be confused with less risk, although unfortunately it often is.This approach typically identifies an equity-biased, index-tracking fund as the default option. Tracking ...

  • Article

    Employees want flexibility around workplace savings and pensions

    2012-07-01T00:00:01Z

    Employees want more flexibility around their savings and pensions options, but employers are not catering for their needs, according to research by Mercer.Its research, which analysed the defined contribution (DC) pension schemes of more than 300 UK organisations, found that, on average, 58% of employee respondents ranked pensions as the ...

  • Article

    BT introduces online affinity fleet scheme

    2012-07-01T00:00:01Z

    BT has introduced an online affinity fleet scheme.The scheme will provide employees and former employees access to ex-BT Fleet cars through a website created by CD Auction Group.Zenon Witkowski, head of car sales at BT Fleet, said: “This new online affinity sales scheme will offer an improved service to our ...

  • Article

    HSCIC report: NHS sickness absence rates continue to decrease

    2012-07-01T00:00:01Z

    NHS employees in England had a sickness absence rate of 4.12% in 2011/12, slightly lower than the two previous years, according to a report by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).The report presents sickness absence information recorded by the English NHS for the last three financial years and ...

  • Article

    24% of respondents to implement flexible working during Olympics

    2012-07-01T00:00:01Z

    Less than a quarter (24%) of respondents said their organisation will implement a flexible working policy for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to research commissioned by networking and virtualisation technology firm Citrix Systems.The YouGov survey, which polled more than 500 senior decision-makers at small and medium-sized enterprises ...

  • Article

    Buyer's guide to bikes-for-work schemes 2012

    2012-07-01T00:00:01Z

    Focus on factsWhat are bikes-for-work schemes?These are tax-free loans to employees that can be operated through salary sacrifice arrangements. Employers buy a bike and safety equipment for the employee and deduct the cost from their gross pay in equal instalments. This arrangement results in tax savings for the employee and ...

  • Article

    Employee Benefits Summit 2012 - slides

    2012-06-25T10:12:00Z

    To view a presentation from Employee Benefits Summit, which was held at the Penha Longa Hotel, Portugal, 20-22 2012, please click on the link next to the sessions below..Reducing the Cost of Sickness to Employers, Taxpayers and the Economy - Download PDF of slidesDavid Frost, CBE Co-chair of ‘Health at ...

  • Article

    Workplace Savings Quarterly News

    2012-06-05T23:00:00Z

    A round-up of the latest news, case studies and research around workplace savings:Workplace Savings News: Retirement bridge helps to solve annuity dilemmaWorkplace Savings News: Pensions fear for over-50sWorkplace Savings News: You really do get what you pay for in a DC planWorkplace Savings News: JLT Investment Solutions launches new growth ...

  • Article

    The Big Question: Is a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) scheme a good idea?

    2012-06-05T23:00:00Z

    Charles Black, chief executive officer, Nasstar:Allowing employees to bring their own devices to use at work is increasingly popular. It is a great development for employees, and it is also a great development for employers.Employees like it because they prefer their own devices. It is easy to understand why. First, ...

  • Article

    Employee Benefits Workplace Savings Quarterly – June 2012

    2012-06-05T23:00:00Z

    Download a PDF of the Employee Benefits Workplace Savings QuarterlyNewsViewpoint: Padraig Floyd of Workplace Savings QuarterlyViewpoint: Mark Polson of Lang CatViewpoint: Frances Corbett of the National Association of Pension FundsCover story: Can DC pensions shape up to meet employees’ future needs?Corporate Isas: Winning betShare schemes: Twin charmsEmployer profile: L’Oreal gives ...