All articles by Tom Washington – Page 2
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Article
Capital One launches global wellness portal
Capital One is launching an online global wellness portal for its 28,000 staff, as well as onsite massages and beauty treatments in its head office.The Get Active programme, which goes live in September, invites staff to create their own fitness challenges in teams, develop an online food journal with over ...
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Article
Interview with Nik Butcher, senior general manager reward at Ceva Logistics
A musical background with the Royal Marines and West End shows has given Nik Butcher, senior general manager reward at Ceva Logistics, an unusual harmony with the benefits worldFrom sailing the seven seas with the Royal Marines to playing in the orchestra for Les Miserables, Nik Butcher, senior general manager ...
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Case Studies
Case study: Trowers and Hamlins briefed on savings
International law firm Trowers and Hamlins launched an online benefits platform last year after previously offering a paper-based flexible benefits scheme.The firm employs more than 700 people in the UK, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Egypt and Oman. Following the launch of the new scheme, provided by Thomsons Online Benefits, Trowers ...
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Analysis
Flexible benefits: Now for something completely different
If you read nothing else, read this … Designing a creative, fun theme for a flexible benefits launch is a great way to grab employees’ attention. Free gifts and attractive competitions will lure employees into signing up and making their flex selections. Using media such as video widens the possibilities ...
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Analysis
Flexible benefits: The proof is in the tasting
If you read nothing else, read this … Measuring the effectiveness of a flexible benefits scheme is essential to demonstrate return on investment. Measuring take-up of the scheme is vital, but headline statistics can be misleading and must be delved into. Staff surveys are a good tool to measure the ...
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Article
Employers warned on Agency Workers Regulations (AWR)
Employers are being warned to get to grips with the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), which come into force in a month’s time.The rules, which apply from 1 October, give temporary agency staff the same basic working conditions, including pay, some bonuses, working hours and holidays, as permanent workers after 12 ...
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Article
BA adds salary sacrifice for additional voluntary contributions to its pension scheme
British Airways is introducing salary sacrifice for additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) into all of its pension schemes, with effect from 1 October.Its SmartAVC scheme will enable staff to save national insurance (NI) on AVCs, while also offering NI savings for BA.BA runs two defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, which were ...
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Article
SuperGroup execs opt out of pay rise and long-term incentives
The three executive directors of FTSE 250 fashion firm SuperGroup have opted out of a pay rise and long-term incentives, claiming that they are incentivised enough by their large shareholding.The organisation’s annual report revealed that the board, led by founder Julian Dunkerton, have frozen their pay and taken themselves out ...
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Article
HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group tackle pension deficits with transfer of hard-to-sell assets
HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group are transferring hard-to-sell assets into their pension schemes in order to help reduce growing fund deficits.HSBC made a payment of £1.76 billion into its pension scheme in December 2010. The sum was made up of illiquid assets ranging from subordinated debt to asset back securities.Lloyds ...
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Article
XpertHR research: Average pay increases remain at 2%
Average pay increases have remained at the same level recorded a year ago, according to research by XpertHR.The research, based on the details of 99 pay awards settled in the three months to the end of July 2011, showed that the median basic pay increase was 2%.This is lower than ...
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Article
Aviva adds to group personal accident, sickness and business travel policy
Aviva has added to its group personal accident, sickness and business travel policy.The 'People and Places' policy is designed to offer employers financial assistance to pay for temporary staff when permanent employees are absent.The additions will cover areas including facial disfigurement, dental and optical expenses, and the risk of suffering ...
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Article
EEF research: Manufacturing pay settlements remain steady
Pay settlements in the manufacturing sector remain at normal levels, according to research by EEF and Jam Recruitment.The data for the three months to the end of July revealed that the average pay settlement for the period was 2.7%, up from 2.5% for the three months to the end of ...
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Article
iGlobalFitness re-brands and launches new health and wellbeing workshops
Personal wellness training firm iGlobalFitness has re-branded as iGlobalWellness, and has launched workplace health and wellbeing workshops.The Wellness for Life workshop educates employees about behaviours necessary to lead healthier lifestyles, focusing on four key areas of physical, nutritional, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.Paul Tomlin, chief executive officer of iGlobalWellness, said: “Wellness ...
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Article
DWP launches consultation on contracting-out regulations
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a consultation on the proposed changes to contracting-out regulations.Pension scheme trustees, their advisers, employers that sponsor contracted-out occupational pension schemes, and the general public have been asked to submit their views on the proposals, which are:To increase the amount of the ...
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Article
Hymans Robertson research: Buoyant return for pension scheme risk transfer market
The pension scheme risk transfer market has seen its busiest quarter since the credit crisis of 2008, with £1.4 billion deals completed, according to research by Hymans Robertson.The Managing pension scheme risk report Q2 2011 revealed that the second quarter of 2011 saw five providers each completing in excess of ...
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Article
The impact of the plummeting global markets on pension schemes
Pensions experts have this week been widely lamenting the hit pension schemes have taken as global markets plummet.Figures from the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) revealed that more than £120 billion has been wiped from the value of UK pensions in the past month.Research by Towers Watson has found ...
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Article
Sharesave schemes rise in popularity
The number of employees investing in sharesave schemes rose by 5% last year to 1.4 million, according to research by IFS Proshare.The survey of 445 UK organisations, including 79 of the FTSE 100, also revealed that 44% of eligible employees are participating in at least one sharesave scheme, an increase ...
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Article
Alexander Forbes forms partnership with Staffcare
Alexander Forbes has teamed up with Staffcare to use its benefits communication and administration software, as part of a new strategic partnership.The benefits administration software will be used as part of Alexander Forbes’ new benefits offering which is set to be launched over the coming weeks.It will offer a suite ...
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Article
NAPF research: £120 billion wiped off UK pensions value
Stock market volatility has caused more than £120 billion to be wiped from the value of UK pensions in the past month, according to figures from the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).The figures take into account the fall in value of defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) workplace ...
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Article
Source Pensions launches flexible fund platform
Source Pensions has launched an online fund platform designed to increase flexibility for both employers and employees around workplace defined contribution (DC) schemes.The platform, Root, is designed to allow employers and employees to control their pension scheme, access information and contact their independent financial advisors (IFAs) quickly and easily.Employees have ...