All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 244
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Article
Leave entitlement rises
Statutory annual leave entitlement has increased to 5.6 weeks under the Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007. This is equivalent to 28 days' holiday for staff who are employed on a five-day working week. It is not necessary for employers to consult on these changes or update existing contracts of employment, ...
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Case Law: Offshore workers' holiday is enough
Employers in the offshore gas and oil sector have overturned an employment tribunal judgment that said they should provide more annual leave for offshore workers.The Employment Appeal Tribunal, which heard the case Craig & others vs Transocean & others, found that the holiday enjoyed by offshore workers, typically 26 weeks ...
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HMRC pushes to speed up sharesave bonus rate effect
The length of time it takes for bonus rates to take effect for sharesave schemes could be reduced if HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) proposals to change the way schemes are administered are approved.In response to an informal consultation on sharesave administration, which was published in February, HMRC proposed that ...
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Article
Charities disappointed in pension take-up
One-third (32%) of charities are disappointed with the take-up rate of their pension schemes, according to research published by the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and Foster Denovo. The Employee benefits survey 2008/09 showed 82% offered some form of pension arrangement. Three-quarters of respondents said take-up was low ...
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Employees face financial concerns
Just under one-third (30%) of employees are concerned about their financial wellbeing, and almost 10% feel this has a negative impact on their work performance. Only one-third feel positive about their financial future and just 29% think they will have sufficient savings for retirement, according to the Financial wellbeing in ...
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Pension confidence low among UK workers
Less than half (43%) of UK employees consider their occupational pension fund to be safe. According to the Personal accounts research published by JLT Benefit Solutions, staff who belong to a final salary pension have the highest levels of confidence, with 51% saying they feel safe. This compares with 32% ...
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Article
Employers see return on investment in dental perks
More than one-third (37%) of employers believe offering dental perks gives a clear return in terms of staff productivity and health.A further third feel dental perks are especially important during an economic slowdown, according to Simplyhealth's Annual dental survey. Eight out of 10 (84%) respondents said they were concerned staff ...
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Incentives play big part in motivation during recession
Incentive schemes remain important to employers for motivating employees during the recession.According to Grass Roots' Corporate faith in the power of incentives report, almost two-thirds (61%) of employers agree or strongly agree that, in times of economic uncertainty, there is a greater need to motivate staff with incentives.The report, which ...
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Denplan extends cover
Denplan has extended the cover in much of its dental plan, ranging from providing reimbursement on private treatment to allowing employees to claim back 100% of NHS charges. The aim is to help the cover appeal to staff who are unsure whether they intend to use private or NHS care ...
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House of Fraser launches corporate gift cards
House of Fraser has launched corporate gift cards that can be used to shop online or in its stores. The cards will be sold alongside its paper vouchers and will offer similar discounts. Employees can check the balance on their card by calling the number on the back or visiting ...
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Article
Email Mortgages launches corporate service
Email Mortgages has launched a corporate service to enable employers to offer access to mortgage advice. The service allows employees to access fee-free advice by email within the workplace, without having to discuss sensitive matters on the phone.
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Article
Love2reward targets SMEs
Love2reward is to launch a voluntary benefits product in May targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).The scheme will feature the company's voucher products, including its high-street shop voucher Love2shop, leisure voucher Love2play, and travel product Love2travel.Martin Cooper, sales and marketing manager, said the scheme would also include "the usual ...
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Article
The Plastic Card Shop offers environmentally-friendly cards
The Plastic Card Shop, which supplies cards used for staff discount and gift schemes, now offers environmentally-friendly cards made of materials such as recyclable and recycled plastics, a compostable plastic made from plants, and recycled junk mail incorporating flower seeds, which can be planted.
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Article
Mercer turns to Staffcare software for flex platform
Mercer has signed an agreement to use Staffcare employee benefits software to support its flexible benefits and total rewards administration business, replacing an existing deal with Vebnet.Tony Morgan, head of client management for Mercer's UK benefits outsourcing business, said: "We had previously signed a framework agreement with Vebnet, but we ...
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Article
Bethell to introduce salary sacrifice pension contributions
Bethell, the independent construction, power and rail group, will introduce salary sacrifice around its group personal pension (GPP) scheme this month.The organisation decided on the move to make cost savings. Increases in national insurance (NI) from 2011, announced at the end of last year, added to its business case. Neil ...
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Article
Discovery Communications updates benefits communication
Discovery Communications, which broadcasts the Discovery Channel, has introduced a digital platform to improve the way benefits are communicated to its UK staff.Using the eRewardPlus.com system, which went live last month, employees can access personalised online total reward statements.They can also access information on individual benefits. For example, the platform ...
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Wolters Kluwer launches voluntary benefits scheme
Media company Wolters Kluwer has launched a voluntary benefits scheme for its 1,000 UK staff to increase employee engagement.The programme, WK UK Shop, provides access to a range of discounts and the ability to earn cashback at more than 1,500 retailers, including Boots, Debenhams and John Lewis. Offers can be ...
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Article
Noble Foods meets flexible benefits needs with new software
Noble Foods has switched its flexible benefits scheme to a new software platform and relaunched the plan to its 450 staff, after its existing provider struggled to handle the package's complexities.The egg supplier has also removed some of the less popular options from the scheme and implemented a new communication ...
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Schüco International GB launches flexible benefits scheme
Schuco International GB has launched a flexible benefits scheme as part of its efforts to recruit and retain talented staff.The company, part of aluminium and steel systems firm Schuco International, rolled out the scheme to its 150 UK staff at the beginning of March.Benefits included in the plan, provided by ...
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Nottingham City Council seeks health motivators
Nottingham City Council is inviting employees to become health motivators to help communicate its health and wellbeing strategy more effectively to its 13,500 staff.The council aims to recruit around 100 staff who have an interest in health and wellbeing or who consider themselves to be a natural motivator, to run ...