All articles by System Administrator – Page 67

  • Article

    HSE launches absence tool for SMEs

    2006-12-04T00:00:00Z

    The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to launch a system to help small and medium-sized employers (SMEs) reduce sickness absence levels.The software, which has been developed by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, helps employers build an employee sickness absence database, which can then be used to identify trigger points ...

  • Article

    Sherwood Forest Hospitals begin absence monitoring

    2006-12-04T00:00:00Z

    To combat long-term absence and stress issues Sherwood Forest Hospitals and the Nottinghamshire County Primary Care Trust has introduced an absence management scheme for its 4,000 staff.It also plans to launch an occupational health scheme in the near future.Anne Burton, staff and benefits co-ordinator, explained: "We are always looking at ...

  • Article

    Share scheme - definition

    2006-12-01T01:12:12Z

    Share schemes are a valued benefit among staff and can also help to tie employees into the company and make them work harder to help raise the company’s share price. Share plans that can be offered to staff include:Company Share Option Plan (also known as Csop)Share incentive plans (Sip)Sharesave plans ...

  • Article

    Occupational pension - definitions

    2006-12-01T01:04:02Z

    An occupational pension scheme is a retirement savings plan provided by an employer for its employees. Staff who are members of a company pension plan benefit from a favourable income tax and national insurance (NI) break on contributions. The defined benefit plan (final salary) used to be the most popular ...

  • Article

    Pay, bonuses & reward - definitions

    2006-12-01T00:55:35Z

    Many organisations determine rates of base pay through benchmarking according to the relevant industry. Pay may also be variable and dependent on productivity and performance.Bonuses can also be awarded on the basis of individual, team or departmental performance.Base payEqual payNational Minimum wagePerformance-related pay

  • Article

    Staff motivation - definitions

    2006-12-01T00:44:25Z

    Motivating employees is vital if employers are to achieve maximum performance and productivity. There are a wide variety of methods available for motivating staff, at prices to suit all budgets. These range from recognising employees' achievements by simply saying 'thank you' to more complex schemes which combine set targets with ...

  • Article

    International benefits - definitions

    2006-12-01T00:36:26Z

    Managing benefits on a global basis is complex due to different tax and employment legislation rules in different countries around the world. Each country has its own statutory benefits, while local employers will offer staff perks based on local wage and employment demands.†This complexity is heightened for international reward managers ...

  • Article

    Group risk - definitions

    2006-12-01T00:13:31Z

    Group risk benefits are designed to protect and insure employees and their families in the event of long-term illness or death while working for an organisation. Next to the pension, group risk benefits such as life assurance (a type of death-in-service benefit), group accident insurance, income protection (also known as ...

  • Article

    Flexible benefits - definitions

    2006-12-01T00:01:33Z

    This is a formal plan run for a set contract period whereby staff can opt into or out of employer-paid benefits, select employee-paid benefits or take cash. This is not the same as voluntary benefits which are discounted products made available through the employer and the contract is between employee ...

  • Case Studies

    John Lewis Partnership offers childcare to staff

    2006-12-01T00:00:01Z

    The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has offered childcare vouchers since April 2005. It has recently added a feedback facility for the scheme to its intranet for John Lewis and Waitrose staff.Gill Bowler, implementation manager of benefits projects at the partnership, says the feedback forum has revealed that employees are generally ...

  • Case Studies

    Childcare on offer at Cancer Research UK

    2006-12-01T00:00:01Z

    Cancer Research UK tested childcare vouchers on a pilot group of 12 staff in April 2005 after the tax and national insurance exemption on vouchers up to £50 a week was introduced. The tax-exempt limit has since been raised to £55 and the charity now offers the benefit to all ...

  • Analysis

    Affinity schemes offer employers vehicle buying power

    2006-12-01T00:00:01Z

    Through affinity schemes, employers can use their bulk purchasing power to negotiate discounts from manufacturers or through leasing companies, says Vicki TaylorIf you read nothing else, read this ...Affinity car schemes allow employees to purchase discounted cars through their organisation or a leasing company.Deals come at little cost to bosses ...

  • Article

    Benefits communication - definitions

    2006-11-30T23:29:57Z

    The communication of benefits is becoming increasingly important as organisations begin to realise that staff do not always understand the value of their benefits packages. Various methods can be used and tailored to meet different workforce demographics, these include: email, posters, leaflets, seminars, presentations, staff meetings, line managers, text messaging ...

  • Article

    Childcare and carers - definitions

    2006-11-30T20:22:23Z

    Employers have a number of different options open to them in order to create a family-friendly workplace for working parents. A childcare voucher system is an obvious choice, providing parents with a tax-efficient means of paying for child care. Some employers even have their own workplace nurseries or offer access ...

  • Article

    Benefits Administration - definitions

    2006-11-30T20:00:05Z

    Benefits are administered in a variety of ways, from Excel spreadsheets, through payroll systems, bespoke benefits technology and even all-encompassing HR information systems (HRIS). Benefits can either be administered in-house by the benefits or HR team; outsourced to a third-party provider which can supply the technology and administer the scheme(s) ...

  • Case Studies

    Rugby Football League offers health perks to staff

    2006-11-06T17:14:54Z

    The RFL is the governing body of Rugby League in the UK, and administers 450 clubs and 40,000 players. It employs 85 staff that referee, administer and help develop the sport.The RFL offers a private medical insurance policy, an employer-paid LHF healthcare cash plan and a bikes-for-work scheme. About 90% ...

  • Case Studies

    Britvic rethinks its earnings caps

    2006-11-06T00:00:00Z

    The principal aim for soft drinks company Britvic following A-Day has been to preserve members' pension entitlement and position.One way was by allowing all employees who could withdraw more than a 25% tax-free lump sum to continue to do so after A-day.Michael Mountford, head of compensations and benefits, explains: "For ...

  • Case Studies

    Norton Rose offers a more complex PMI scheme to staff to boost take up

    2006-11-06T00:00:00Z

    Law firm Norton Rose swapped its private medical insurance scheme to a provider offering additional benefits in June 2006. Although it had no qualms about the service or premiums of its previous insurer, Mandy Campbell, pensions and benefits manager, believes that the additional benefits offered by PruHealth will make the ...

  • Case Studies

    Body Shop International offers cash for staff to spend on skills and wellbeing

    2006-11-06T00:00:00Z

    Cosmetics firm Body Shop International offers its UK employees up to £100 a year to spend on learning new skills and activities which help them to stay fit and healthy for work. The company calls this 'Love' money, which stands for Learning is Of Value to Everyone. The cash can ...

  • Case Studies

    PricewaterhouseCooper harmonises benefits post-merger

    2006-11-06T00:00:00Z

    Accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was formed from the merger of Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand in 1998. Carolyn Wilkinson, senior benefits manager at PwC, explains that a year later, it implemented a flexible benefits scheme partly to "align benefits for all staff within the company and recognise the diversity ...