All articles by Tynan Barton – Page 73

  • Article

    The Pensions Regulator launches new guidance

    2010-12-22T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator has published new guidance and consultation reports covering the three areas of multi-employer schemes and employer departures; monitoring employer support, and incentive exercises.The multi-employer schemes and employer departures guidance aims to help trustees and employers of multi-employer schemes understand the different mechanisms by which an employer can ...

  • Article

    Employers unprepared for pension reforms

    2010-12-21T10:59:47Z

    Nearly a quarter (23%) of UK businesses have not considered the implications of auto-enrolment on their pension schemes, according to the Aon Consulting Employee Benefits and Trends Report 2010 by Aon Hewitt.The findings from the report coincide with the latest figures from Aon Hewitt’s monthly DC Index which found that ...

  • Article

    Aviva launches total reward statements

    2010-12-16T11:29:00Z

    Aviva is targeting the workplace savings market with the launch of total reward statements.The online statements will be offered alongside group personal pensions to give employees a better understanding of the benefits provided by their employer.The total reward statements will carry individual employers’ branding, and include personalised details of salary, ...

  • Article

    Local government pension deficit could total £100 billion

    2010-12-16T10:41:35Z

    The Local Government Pension Scheme in England could now total £100 billion, according to new research from an independent pension consultant.John Ralfe’s survey of local authorities’ accounts found that the deficit may have more than doubled in the past three years from £42 billion in 2007, and is now equal ...

  • Article

    Jaguar Land Rover employees support environmental issues in Kenya

    2010-12-15T09:49:00Z

    Jaguar Land Rover employees have participated in an environmental support initiative in Kenya as part of the firm’s employee engagement programme.The scheme saw 11 employees spend two weeks providing support for Earthwatch scientists studying the endangered Grevy’s Zebra.Earthwatch, the environmental charity, surveyed the employees at the end of the programme ...

  • Article

    The Pensions Regulator wins dispute in Lehman Brothers and Nortel Networks case

    2010-12-13T10:49:08Z

    The Pensions Regulator has won its legal challenge with the administrators for Lehman Brothers and Nortel Networks.In November the administrators of 20 insolvent companies launched a case to challenge The Pension Regulator’s ability to impose an order that requires them to provide financial support for underfunded pension schemes.Justice Briggs ruled ...

  • Article

    Cebs publishes guidelines on bankers’ pay

    2010-12-10T15:08:24Z

    The Committee of European Banking Supervisors (Cebs) has published its final guidelines on bankers’ pay and bonuses.Cebs has revised its initial proposal in order to address the main issues, namely proportionality, equity-linked and other instruments of variable remuneration, distribution of those instruments and retention periods.In a statement Cebs said: “As ...

  • Article

    Insurance employees raise money for South African village

    2010-12-09T10:48:49Z

    Employees from insurance providers Rias, Ageas Insurance and Fortis Life have helped to raise more than £50,000 towards building a children’s crËche in the village of Luphisi in South Africa.The ‘Fortissimos’ team took part in the final of the 2010 Times Leadership Challenge, along with teams from Innocent and TK ...

  • Article

    Government launches consultation on pensions switch from RPI to CPI

    2010-12-08T15:33:21Z

    The government has launched a consultation on linking private sector pension schemes to the consumer prices index (CPI).Pensions minister Steve Webb announced to the House of Commons that the government will not force private sector pension schemes to use CPI if they specify the retail prices index (RPI) as the ...

  • Article

    Groupama Insurance's employees volunteer at primary school

    2010-12-07T10:57:23Z

    Groupama Insurance's employees have taken part in a national campaign to educate children about healthy eating.As part of Groupama’s Business in the Community pledge, 16 volunteers visited Cardwell Primary School in Woolwich to promote healthy eating among 120 pupils.Throughout the day, Groupama employees and pupils planted a vegetable and herb ...

  • Article

    Trustees unsatisfied with advisers’ behaviour

    2010-12-06T10:50:56Z

    Trustees are unsatisfied and suspicious of advisers’ behaviour, according to a poll carried out by pensions adviser Hamish Wilson.The poll revealed that only 45% of trustees are satisfied advisers are not feeding them a subjective view, while 85% of trustees believe the best decisions are made by themselves.Hamish Wilson suggests ...

  • Article

    Northumbrian Water cuts pension deficit

    2010-12-06T10:29:00Z

    Northumbrian Water has announced a reduction in its defined benefit pension deficit from £133.1 million at the end of March to £106.6 million in September.The cut in the deficit is due to a reduction in the liabilities of the scheme (£52.9 million), which has more than offset a reduction in ...

  • Article

    V launches volunteering tool for employers

    2010-12-03T10:40:00Z

    Independent charity, v, has launched a web-based tool to enable employers to offer, implement and measure volunteering opportunities to staff.Key features of its Volunteering Works tool include built-in social marketing for employees to share their experiences, and real-time reporting to enable HR managers to set targets for the volunteering programme ...

  • Article

    Sainsbury’s and Employers for Carers support carers in the workplace

    2010-12-03T10:27:14Z

    Sainsbury’s and Employers for Carers have teamed up with Carers UK to support three million carers in the workplace.Launched on Carers Rights Day 2010, the Carers UK initiative is calling on employers to regularly review HR policies to ensure carers are recognised.Employers are also urged to consider additional measures to ...

  • Article

    Government launches consultation into annual allowance charges

    2010-12-02T11:51:37Z

    The government has proposed allowing any individuals that exceed the annual allowance to pay the tax charge from their pension pot, rather than their salary.In its latest consultation, HM Treasury suggest the minimum size for tax bills that individuals can elect to pay from their pension benefits be set between ...

  • Article

    The Open University launches financial education course

    2010-12-01T00:00:01Z

    The Open University is offering a course to help employers provide staff with financial education and encourage them to take better control of their finances.Its ‘You and your money’ course, which covers a range of financial issues including income, expenditure, budgeting and debt, aims to give employees a better understanding ...

  • Analysis

    Fleet drivers need clear vision

    2010-12-01T00:00:01Z

    If you read nothing else, read this... There is no legal requirement for employers to ensure drivers have good eyesight, or wear glasses if needed. From 2011, EU legislation will require commercial vehicle drivers to have their eyes tested every five years. Eye examinations can also check for health conditions ...

  • Case Studies

    Case study: Honda helps money go further for staff

    2010-12-01T00:00:01Z

    At Honda's factory in Swindon, staff can access benefits to help them make their money go further. The main offerings in the company's "What if..." scheme are a pension plan, which has the option of additional voluntary contributions, childcare vouchers and a cycle-to-work scheme.All employees are also offered private medical ...

  • Article

    Aviva enhances group income protection product

    2010-12-01T00:00:01Z

    Aviva UK Health has announced a series of enhancements to its group income protection (Gip) product.These include the introduction of a new escalation rate, which will see payments measured against the retail price index (RPI), and an employee assistance programme (EAP) and 24 hour GP helpline.Steve Bridger, head of group ...

  • Article

    Aston Martin and Eaga Partnership to provide health cash plans

    2010-12-01T00:00:01Z

    Aston Martin and Eaga Partnership have signed up with Health Shield to provide health cash plans to employees.The schemes will provide nearly 1,000 Aston Martin employees and 4,500 Eaga Partnership employees with cover for everyday healthcare treatment such as dental, optical physiotherapy and complementary therapies.Philip Wood, executive director of sales ...