All Tax-efficient benefits articles – Page 17
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Article
Cycling to work motivates employees
Employees who cycle to work are more likely to arrive motivated and happy compared to other commuters, according to research by cycling insurer Cycleguard.The research, which surveyed 500 cyclists and 500 non-cyclists, found that a quarter (25%) of employees who cycle to work arrive feeling motivated and 18% arrive feeling ...
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Analysis
The pros and cons of salary sacrifice training benefits
If you read nothing else, read this…Work-related training offered through a salary sacrifice arrangement brings national insurance savings for employers and employees.The training must be work-related, but it can be extended to include language or IT courses, for example.Offering training in the workplace can boost employee engagement and motivation.In the ...
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Article
East Coast Mainline launches phone scheme
EXCLUSIVE: East Coast Mainline has launched a smartphone and computer scheme for its 3,000 UK employees.Since its launch in mid-September, 550 staff have taken up the offer. John Hayhurst, head of HR at East Coast Mainline, said: “It has been a real surprise. We knew it was going to be ...
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Article
OTS prioritises ‘quick wins’ in benefits tax changes
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published a paper that prioritises its list of the 43 ‘quick wins’ around changes to the tax system in relation to benefits and expenses.The paper covers areas such as fleet management, bikes-for-work schemes and long-service awards.HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has undertaken an ...
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Article
36% provide salary sacrifice car scheme
More than a third (36%) of respondents offer employees a salary sacrifice company car scheme, according to research by the Association of Car Fleet Operators (AFCO).Its research, which questioned fleet decision-makers who collectively operate more than 19,000 company cars and employ more than 100,000 staff, found that this figure is ...
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Article
Evans Cycles to change end-of-hire process for bikes
EXCLUSIVE: Evans Cycles has changed the end-of-hire process for its bikes-for-work scheme.Employers will no longer be required to pay a nominal buy-back fee at the end of the scheme. The changes also provide employees with a free no-deposit continuation option.Mark Brown, head of business-to-business services at Evans Cycles, said: “It ...
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Analysis
Key considerations for salary sacrifice car schemes
If you read nothing else, read this…A car salary sacrifice policy may include an early termination fee to be paid by the employee.Employers can add a premium to cover any exit penalties.Employers are obliged to continue to offer the same level of benefits to staff on maternity or paternity leave.But ...
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Case Studies
North Yorkshire County Council boosts green credentials
The scheme, provided by Tusker, allows staff to take up a car through a salary sacrifice arrangement, enabling them to save on tax and national insurance.John Robinson, benefits and reward consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, says: “We introduced it as a green car scheme, partly due to the fact ...
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Case Studies
Axa supports staff with travel benefits
The organisation also offers staff a cash allowance towards the cost of a car for those that need it for work, as well on those at a particular employee grade in the organisation.As well as the car scheme, Axa offers staff a range of travel-related benefits, including bikes-for-work through its ...
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Opinion
Alastair Kendrick: Employers seek solutions to rising fuel costs
Some of the ideas that are being explored include permitting more home working with better IT capability, which enables employees working at home to Skype/video conference into meetings, removing the need for them travel to the office.Employers may also allow staff that do need to travel in to work to ...
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AnalysisKey components of a 2013 travel policy
If you read nothing else, read this…Low-emission cars are increasingly popular in employers’ schemes.Journey planning can help employees use the most cost-efficient routes for their journeys.Fewer employers offer new recruits a fuel benefit.Green agendaLow-emission cars are an increasingly common feature of employers’ travel policies as they strive to reduce their ...
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Article
HMRC is top government department for payroll giving
Almost 10,000 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) employees donate to charity through their payroll.The UK’s tax authority, which topped a government department table with 9,493 staff donating through a payroll-giving scheme, will be awarded with a Gold Payroll Giving Quality Mark.In July, HMRC published figures that showed payroll-giving donations from ...
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Article
Government to make changes to payroll giving
The government has published proposals that aim to make it easier for employers to encourage charitable donations using payroll-giving schemes.Following a consultation that was launched in January, the government is to almost halve the processing time for donations, from 60 to 35 days, which will allow charities to access the ...
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Article
Cycle to Work Day highlights benefits of commuting by bike
National Cycle to Work Day is being held today, 12 September.Launched by Cyclescheme and supported by British Cycling, Bicycle Association, Business in the Community and Sustrans, it aims to highlight the benefits of cycling as a means of transport and encourage more people to cycle, more often.Various events are being ...
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Article
The Body Shop staff complete charity bike ride
A team of employees from The Body Shop completed a 240-mile bike ride from London to Paris in just three days.The team of 23 employees left Croydon on 27 August and reached Portsmouth in the evening to take a ferry to France. They covered the remaining distance from Caen to ...
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Article
Grant Thornton launches salary sacrifice cars
EXCLUSIVE: Grant Thornton has launched a salary sacrifice car scheme for its 4,200 employees.The scheme, which was rolled out in August and is provided by SG Fleet, caps carbon emissions at 130g/km to promote its green focus.The professional services firm had previously offered a car leasing arrangement to staff, as ...
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Article
DOD’s blog: Why I’ll be on my bike on 12 September
I want as many other commuters as possible to discover the joys of cycling to work.Too often we hear only the horror stories. Sadly, these are extremely important cautions that need to be noted and learnt from by cyclists, drivers and city planners, all of whom are culpable in some ...
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AnalysisHow to green a flexible benefits scheme
If you read nothing else, read this …In October 2013, for the first time, UK quoted companies will have to report their greenhouse gas emissions in their annual accounts.Sustainable and green benefits include bikes-for-work schemes, low-emission company cars, environmental pension investments and opportunities to eco-volunteer.These perks, as part of a ...
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Case Studies
Withers aims to raise CSR profile with green benefits
When it launched its flexible benefits scheme in April 2013, it included a section called Ethics and Sustainability, which is the entry point into its payroll-giving, bikes-for-work and carbon-offsetting schemes.The carbon-offsetting benefit, provided by Pure the Clean Planet Trust, allows staff to enter the details of their carbon footprint online ...
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Article
Hill Dickinson launches salary sacrifice car scheme
Hill Dickinson has launched a salary sacrifice car scheme for around 1,000 eligible UK employees.The law firm’s scheme, which was launched in July and is provided by Zenith, has capped CO2 emissions at 140g/km, to encourage the selection of lower-emission cars and maximise employee savings.Eligible employees can also use Zenith’s ...