All articles by System Administrator – Page 85
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News update - Vouchers on track
Central Trains is rolling out childcare vouchers to all 2,000 employees this month. The vouchers will sit alongside other corporate benefits, such as health care, free travel and a pension scheme.
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Council positive despite low voucher uptake
Lancashire County Council is remaining positive after just 104 staff out of 20,000 took up childcare vouchers in January, the first month the scheme was run. Anne-Marie Morgan, senior personnel officer at Lancashire County Council, said: "You must bear in mind that included in the 20,000 are teachers, plus staff ...
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Employers seek to raise perks but not the costs
Benefits professionals expect to be kept busy this year with plans to enhance their organisation's reward packages, according to research conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).Just under half of respondents (46%) to the CIPD's Reward management survey 2006 intend to introduce new benefits, 15% plan to ...
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Grass Roots launches childminder search site
An online service that allows working parents to search for vacancies with registered home-based childminders has been jointly launched by the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and The Grass Roots Group, a provider of salary sacrifice schemes.Recipients of Grass Roots’ Care-4 childcare voucher can use the online system to search for ...
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TUC offers childcare
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) launched childcare vouchers to its 350 employees in January. It hopes the scheme will be as successful as last year's home computing scheme, which has attracted 10% of the workforce.TUC finance manager Jean Scott said: "We are always open to new ideas. Childcare vouchers were ...
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Analysis
Feature - Focus on cars: Employee car ownership plans deliver for employers
Flexibility and organisational control are factors driving the demand for Ecop schemes, says Curtis HutchinsonIf you read nothing else, read this ...The provision of cash alternatives to company cars became popular in the run up to new benefit-in-kind (BIK) April 2002 tax rules.Ecops are run by fleet funding providers and ...
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Employee Benefits Future Strategy 2006 - Sponsor's comment: The price versus suitability battle
Article in fullThe business car environment moves faster and becomes more complex every year, continually presenting fleet decision makers and their suppliers with new challenges. Two distinct sides to the company car market have emerged in recent years and this trend will continue in 2006.On one side are basic deals ...
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Analysis
Future Strategy 2006 - Employers face overriding car liabilities
The rise in personal car usage doesn't abate as organisations still shoulder onerous responsibilities if private vehicles are used for work purposes, says Curtis HutchinsonArticle in fullTales of the impending demise of the company car are as old as the benefit itself and are invariably linked to a change in ...
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Analysis
Staff suggestion schemes
Old-fashioned staff suggestion scheme can be a productive workplace initiative, helping staff feel valued and engaged, says Sam BarrettCase Study: British GasArticle in fullBusinesses thrive on good ideas. They can help shape everything from the way an organisation operates to its next range of products and services. And, because there ...
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News update - Surrey to slash HR
Surrey County Council's human resources department could be cut by up to two-thirds as part of a major restructuring and efficiency drive across the council.The human resources department has the full-time equivalent of 90 posts and could end up losing 62 of them following a 90-day consultation exercise, which began ...
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News update - Zoo rejigs healthcare
Edinburgh Zoo has introduced new healthcare benefits following a drive for modernisation and a review of employee terms and conditions.Each of its 200 permanent employees and up to 100 peak-season temporary staff are eligible for its employer-funded HSA healthcare cash plan, as long as they work more than two days ...
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Analysis
Group risk
An ageing workforce throws up tough decisions. But it may not be as grim as it seems, says Sam BarrettArticle in fullAttracting and retaining key employees is one of the main reasons for offering a comprehensive benefits package. But, with changing demographics potentially pushing costs up, employers could find themselves ...
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Recognition is greatest motivator
Just under two-thirds of employees (62%) believe they are adequately rewarded for their contribution at work, according to research by the Roffey Park Institute. However, the company's Management agenda 2006 survey showed that just 33% of employees polled were motivated by financial rewards and perks. Recognition by others scored much ...
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Analysis
Getting a good return on health screening
Health screening can have great pre-emptive impact on staff and their families, but streamlining spending can be a real challenge, says Jamin RobertsonIf you read nothing else, read this ...Health screening provides a comprehensive medical check-up for staff and typically costs between £200 and £600 per employee.Many employers limit access ...
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News update - Flex move by Logic
LogicaCMG has introduced a flexible life insurance scheme to replace its spouse's pension scheme as a final part of its merger with services group Unilog.The scheme, which is included in the firm's flexible benefits plan, allows staff to flex cover up to 12 times salary.However, compensation and benefits manager Graham ...
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News update - Royal eyes Specsavers
Royal London Group has switched its eye care voucher provision from Accor to Specsavers. Ron Young, group safety manager at Royal London Group, said the new scheme was "easier to administer and manage, and is cost effective." He added that the previous system required staff to use more than one ...
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Analysis
Employer Profile: Gedas
IT firm Gedas deliberately started flex slowly, developing staff awareness so that benefits can be introduced to a waiting and receptive audience, says Debbie LovewellArticle in fullHomegrown enterprises can yield great dividends. You only have to look at BT's spin off of BT Cellnet to form O2, Asda's creation of ...
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Analysis
Employer support for staff outside of work
Where possible, progressive employers make it their business to support staff obligations outside of work, says Victoria FurnessCase Studies: Fujitsu Services, Lane4Article in fullFor two sectors in particular, 2005 was an historic year. The charity and voluntary sector saw unprecedented levels of campaigning - in what was nominated the 'Year ...
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Analysis
Interview with Ian Mann of ECA International
Ian Mann, of ECA International, talks about the major challenges of the one-size-fits-all approach, stating cross-border benefits are so inconsistent that only the largest organisations seem to make them work.Article in fullThe varying treatment of tax, long-established state entitlements and contrasting work cultures across international borders can all act as ...
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Analysis
Public sector gains ground with work-life and development opportunities
Amanda Wilkinson says the public sector ought to make more of headlining its attractive work-life balance and training opportunities in the war for talent.Case Studies: 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust, Nottingham City CouncilArticle in fullThe public sector is undergoing something of a transformation. In the past it was perceived as ...