All articles by Tom Washington – Page 27
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InTechnology pilots healthy back plan
InTechnology is offering its staff the chance to take part in a free wellness programme designed to help eradicate back injuries amongst employees.The IT specialist is teaming up with FitBack to run a week-long scheme designed to help cut down on a recent spate of back problems, as well as ...
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Express Newspapers to close final salary scheme
Express Newspapers has reportedly told staff of proposals to freeze its defined benefits pension scheme at the end of the year because it has become too costly to maintain.Robert Sanderson, the company's finance director, is said to have written to the 270 members of the scheme last week to inform ...
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Discrimination not to blame for gender pay gap
Employer discrimination is not the cause for the gender pay gap, according to new research by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) released today.Should we mind the gap? raises doubts over the supposed benefits of equal pay and anti-discrimination legislation, arguing that it may be counter productive.This research comes a ...
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Half of UK workers have no pension plan
Almost half of adults in the UK, including those approaching retirement age, are not preparing financially for retirement by contributing towards a pension scheme.According to new research commissioned by The Society of Pension Consultants (SPC), the representative body for the pensions industry, 46% of the working population aged over 18 ...
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Xafinity launches self-invested personal pension
Benefits administrator Xafinity has announced the launch of its new self invested personal pension (SIPP), its first product in the advised retail pensions market.It is a reworking of the former Hazell Carr product, which Xafinity gained the rights to after acquiring the pensions company in April 2008.Now overhauled and re-launched ...
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Flexible hours preferred perk for personal assistants.
Work life balance benefits are the preferred perk among the country's personal assistants, but the regional divide remains in both pay and benefits, research has found.According the OfficeTeam Salary Guide 2009, although the pay gap between North and South continues to widen, with London PAs paid the best salaries in ...
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NAPF conference: Pension Quality Mark launched.
The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has launched a benchmark scheme for defined contribution pensions.From 2009, employers who offer defined contribution (DC) pensions will be granted the Pension Quality Mark, if their scheme is up to standard.Successful employers will then be able to use the logo on pension scheme ...
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Volkswagen Financial Services launches voluntary perks
Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) has launched a voluntary benefits programme for its staff based in Milton Keynes.The scheme will be available to over 450 employees, offering access to discounts from more than 100 leading brand and independent retailers.The programme will be communicated to staff through a branded company website and ...
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Pensions confidence has increased despite economic climate
Pensions remain the most popular way to save for retirement, according to the latest National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) Workplace Pensions Survey.Of the 1,198 employees surveyed, 41% felt that pensions are the best option, with property investment coming in second (18%).The report also reveals that the Pensions Confidence Rating ...
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Employee Benefits Live: Pay alone won't solve recruitment and retention problems
High salaries will help employers attract talented staff, but doesn't necessarily retain or motivate them in the future.Speaking at Employee Benefits Live, Stephen Bevan, managing director at The Work Foundation, said that reward management should be a high performance work practice and that employers who attempt to 'buy' loyalty and ...
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Both sexes value healthcare, research shows
Male and female employees place equal importance on an organisation's healthcare provision when deciding whether to move to a new job or remain with their existing employer.Nearly nine-out-of-10 men (89%) and of women (84%) view healthcare benefits as having an important influence on their decision, according to HSA's Healthy Working ...
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Flexible working tops most wanted list of staff benefits
Flexible working options, healthcare and a flexible benefits programme are the perks employees would most like to be offered, according to research released by Accor Services.Of the 1,200 employees canvassed in the survey, Reward to engage: rewards, benefits and employee engagement in today's organisations, 37% said they would most like ...
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Pensions need review
More than half of organisations with up to 250 employees will need to review their pensions provision before personal accounts are introduced, according to a survey by the Association of Consulting Actuaries. The 2008 ACA Smaller firms pensions survey showed that 55% of the 394 firms canvassed said their current ...
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Fruit goes down well with staff, research shows
Employees are typically keen to take advantage of wellbeing initiatives offered by their employer. According to the Food glorious food study commissioned by BDGworkfutures, 78% of those who receive free fruit will eat it, 70% make use of a canteen selling healthy-eating options, 38% use in-house gym facilities and one-third ...
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SME bosses forgo pay rise
More than half of small business owners have denied themselves a pay rise over the past year to cope with difficult economic conditions, according to a study by Abbey Business Banking. Owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an annual turnover of up to £250,000, were the most likely ...
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Grimsby Institute's walking incentive
THE GRIMSBY Institute of Further and Higher Education is expanding its wellbeing benefits with the launch of a walking competition.Employees will work in groups of four, with the team that covers the most miles over a ten-week period winning the competition. Each member of this team will receive a Fitbug ...
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Kellogg's aids staff giving
Kellogg's is inviting all of its 2,000 UK employees to make tax-efficient donations to charity via a payroll-giving scheme. Under the standalone scheme, due to go live this month, staff will be able to donate regularly to any UK-based charity, or a selection of charities.An amount, chosen by the employee, ...
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Fleet drivers would rather travel solo
More than half of company car drivers would refuse to car share if they had choice, according to new research.The Masterlease survey, found that 55% of fleet drivers would refuse to car share if they could, and three quarters of those admitted that they would rather make up an excuse ...
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Interview with Donna Miller, European HR director at Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Donna Miller, European HR director at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, attributes her success to hard work, luck and having a comprehensive knowledge of the profession.Despite falling into HR “by complete accident”, Donna Miller cannot imagine being involved in any other career. As Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s European HR director, Miller has seen her role ...
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General Motors suspends employee benefits in America
General Motors (GM) in America has reportedly suspended several of its employee benefits programmes in a bid to cut costs during the economic downturn affecting the industry.The car manufacturer said it is trying to eliminate 15% of the costs associated with its white-collar work force in the U.S. and Canada ...