Top 10 news stories feb mar 17

The top 10 most-read stories on www.employeebenefits.co.uk between 7 February and 6 March 2017 were:

  1. BrewDog introduces global paid puppy leave
US and UK employees at craft beer organisation BrewDog can take a week of paid leave to settle a new dog into their home, whether the pet is a puppy or an older rescue dog. bit.ly/2lKpRzn

2. Court of Appeal rules against Pimlico Plumbers in worker-status case

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Pimlico Plumbers in the case of Pimlico Plumbers and Charlie Mullins v Gary Smith, maintaining an Employment Tribunal's decision that plumber Gary Smith is a worker rather than a self-employed contractor. bit.ly/2mRJmGW

3. Admiral Group, EE and McDonald's among Best Big Companies to Work For in 2017

Admiral Group, EE, McDonald’s Restaurants and Sytner Group are among the organisations recognised in the Sunday Times’ 30 Best Big Companies To Work For 2017 list. bit.ly/2lXUBcA

4. Asda, Novartis and PepsiCo among the UK's Top Employers for 2017

A total of 78 organisations have been recognised in the Top Employers Institute's 2017 Top Employers UK list. Other recognised organisations include Tata Consultancy Services and Travis Perkins. bit.ly/2kOTIn6

5. Employee Benefits Connect 2017 speaker slides

Where speakers have given their approval, the slides for the conference sessions and keynote presentations at Employee Benefits Connect 2017 are available at bit.ly/2mwKbUs

6. Argos to provide back pay to 37,000 employees

Argos is paying around 37,000 current and former store staff back pay totalling approximately £64 per employee after it was discovered that staff were paid below the statutory national living wage rate prior to December 2016. bit.ly/2mwGNZT

7. Facebook extends paid bereavement and family leave benefits

Facebook employees can now take up to 20 days paid leave to grieve for an immediate family member and up to six weeks paid leave to care for a sick relative. bit.ly/2naeVaT

8. 85% offer a flexible benefits platform to increase employee engagement

Research by Aon Employee Benefits found that 76% of HR professional respondents offer an online flexible benefits platform to give employees choice, and 67% do so to aid staff retention. bit.ly/2n0UXQr

9. Court rules that woman can receive co-habiting partner's workplace pension

The Supreme Court ruled that an unmarried woman is entitled to receive payments from her co-habiting partner’s workplace pension scheme following his death. bit.ly/2meugId

10. Big Bang Theory actors offer to take pay cut to boost female co-stars' wages

Five leading actors from the hit American TV show The Big Bang Theory have each offered to take a $100,000 pay cut to help boost the wages of two female co-stars. bit.ly/2lS9uw9