All articles by System Administrator – Page 75
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Article
Sage Gateshead looks at childcare
The Sage Gateshead music venue has launched childcare vouchers and a HSF healthcare cash plan as voluntary benefits for its 440 employees. Helen Charlton, HR adviser, said the cash plan had received a good take-up from staff.
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Article
Less than quarter don't offer cash scheme
Just 23.8% of UK employers which provide a company car scheme for employees do not provide a cash alternative. Watson Wyatt's Company car/cash allowance report 2006 also found that 56.9% of employers offer staff a choice of both options, while a further 15.2% only offer a cash allowance.The UK topped ...
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Article
Childcare voucher relaunch at Primary Care Trusts
Dudley Beacon and Castle and Dudley South Primary Care Trusts have relaunched their childcare voucher schemes to coincide with National Childcare Week.The trusts, which are to merge later this year wanted to use the week, which ran from 5-11 June, to raise the profile of the perk among their 2,500 ...
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Analysis
Driver training adds value to cash allowance deals
Moving to cash allowance schemes could land employers with increased duty of care responsibilities which can be addressed with driver training, says Jamin RobertsonIf you read nothing else, read this ...Cash allowance providers are facilitating access to driver training to help bosses comply with duty of care obligations.Training should include ...
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Article
Legislation update - Pensions tax loophole to be reviewed
Proposals to close a loophole which enables employees to gain repeated tax relief on pension investments following pensions simplification changes has been brought before Parliament.Pensions simplification rules, which came into effect on 6 April, have been designed so that employees are able to withdraw a 25% tax-free lump sum from ...
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Analysis
Interview with Professor Malcolm Higgs
Professor Malcolm Higgs of Henley Management College is adamant that the use of line management to foster face-to-face exchanges is vital, and picking the right medium for an audience will add punch to employers’ messages, says Amanda WilkinsonArticle in fullEmployers may spend a small fortune on fancy pamphlets, sophisticated intranets ...
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Article
News update - T-Mobile's flex motors
Take-up rates for T-Mobile’s new flexible benefits scheme have exceeded the company’s initial expectations. Its My Choice scheme, which was launched in May, was originally predicted to receive take-up rates of between 1% and 2%.However, Karl Ward, reward manager said that interest from employees is already above this. “We have ...
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Article
Powergen fires up salaries
Powergen has boosted starting salaries by £650 per year and has introduced incentive pay as it seeks to recruit nearly 1,000 customer service advisers following its decision to wind up its India-based inbound call centres by the end of the year.The move has boosted the starting salary for call handlers ...
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Article
Final salary plan worth part of pay
The majority of employees are prepared to give up a portion of their pay to keep their final salary pension scheme open - according to research from Norwich Union.A survey of 1,000 adults carried out by NOP on behalf of Norwich Union in May found that four-fifths of employees who ...
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Analysis
Feature - Focus on Healthcare: Finding funding for staff wellbeing
Wellbeing and pre-emptive healthcare programmes are all the rage, and there may be grant money out there to help employers fund their activities, says Nick GoldingIf you read nothing else, read this …Two pilot government-supported workplace health projects are currently operating across England with grants being distributed by Sport England ...
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Article
Staff perks fare well at Schlumberger
Schlumberger Oilfield Services has added three new options to its flexible benefits plan for its 2,500 UK staff. Bikes for work, wine club membership and a financial advice service were included in its latest enrolment period, which was held last month.Employees' choices took effect on 1 July. Barbara Carlin, flex ...
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Article
News update - Holiday pay plans face probe
Employers considering implementing a holiday pay scheme to make national insurance (NI) savings on the money paid to staff on statutory leave are being warned that they could fall foul of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).The holiday pay scheme was introduced under statute as a way of paying employees in ...
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Analysis
Do flex schemes help engage and retain staff?
Vicki Taylor questions the effectiveness of flexible benefits in both engaging and retaining employeesCase studies: Lloyds TSB, The Royal Bank of ScotlandArticle in fullFlexible benefits schemes are just one tool at the disposal of HR departments to help recruit, retain and motivate staff. The question is: how effective are they ...
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Article
More employers would offer PMI if tax was removed
More than half of employers would extend the number of staff covered by private medical insurance (PMI) if the benefit-in-kind tax the perk currently incurs was removed.Just 16% of employers offer PMI cover to all employees in their workforce, according to The UK workplace: Engaging employees and employers in benefits, ...
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Case Studies
Employer Profile - Enviros
Tailoring benefits to suit an organisation's workforce can be key to its success in a tough recruitment market, but Debbie Lovewell unearths a company where its perks meet environmental goalsArticle in fullOnce upon a time, environmental issues were seen primarily as the domain of sandal-wearing hippies or extreme activists such ...
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Article
EC Harris introduce new flex perks
Property consultancy EC Harris has added payroll giving and a wine club to its flexible benefits. The perks were introduced in July, with employees' selections taking effect in August.Joanne Wotton, reward manager, said there had been employee demand for the payroll giving scheme that allows staff to donate money to ...
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Analysis
Feature - In Depth: The return on investment of EAP schemes
Thought of as a catch-all to protect duty of care responsibilities, Sally Hamilton looks at the return on investment surrounding employee assistance programmesCase study: Volvo Cars UKArticle in fullAmericans are famed for talking as openly about sessions with their analyst as they would about a visit to a manicurist, but ...
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Article
News update - One-Stop launches DC plan
One-Stop Stores plans to launch a defined contribution occupational pension scheme for its store managers following a recent benchmarking exercise.Neil McCawley, pay and benefits manager at One-Stop Stores, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesco, said the pension would be introduced in March 2007 for its 520 store managers.Employees currently ...
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Article
Davis Langdon launches wellbeing programme
Davis Langdon is in the process of launching a wellbeing programme after deciding to invest more heavily in its package of benefits. The chartered quantity surveying firm has introduced a bikes for work scheme, an employee assistance programme and a pre-employment health screening programme.It also plans to hold health seminars ...
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Article
World Cup incentives for Friends Provident
Friends Provident held a lucky shirt day for employees when England played Trinidad & Tobago in the World Cup group stages. Employees were able to wear football shirts to work, while events such as a barbecue were arranged at its Dorking head office. The finance company also allowed staff to ...