All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 283
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Article
The big question: Should the default retirement age be scrapped?
The Big Question: Should the default retirement age be scrapped?Manufacturers want to retain a default retirement age that is in line with the age at which employees start to receive their state pension. This will allow employers to make future plans for their workforce, particularly in relation to succession planning, ...
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Case Studies
Voluntary benefits report 2009: profile on IBM
Computer giant IBM UK is making full use of state-of-the-art technology to maximise staff take-up of voluntary benefits, says Nicola SullivanAchieving higher-than-average employee take-up levels for a voluntary benefits scheme is no mean feat. But by using the latest technology, a robust communications strategy and offering an extensive range of ...
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Article
Interview with Claire Sykes, director of compensation and benefits at Molson Coors Brewing Company
Claire Sykes, director of compensation and benefits at Molson Coors Brewing Company, says good teamwork is essential to meet the challenges of delivering reward in a global firmIf anyone wanted proof that HR does not deserve its light and fluffy reputation, they need look no further than compensation and benefits. ...
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Article
Benefits Managers Salary Survey 2009
Significant salary differences still exist between the sexes in benefits roles, says Debbie LovewellEmployee Benefits surveyed 621 people responsible for managing benefits in UK organisations for its Employee Benefits Salary Survey 2009.†Almost 60% were from firms with more than 1,000 staff and 83% were from the private sector.Reward managers highly ...
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Analysis
How annual management charges can reduce pensions savings
Annual management charges can have a significant impact on the growth of investments if a pension scheme is set up on a commission basis, so employers may need some hard negotiations, says Matthew CraigIf you read nothing else, read this...Employees face higher annual management charges (AMCs) for group pension schemes ...
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Analysis
Special report 2009: Voluntary benefits and tax-efficient plans
Find out how to integrate voluntary benefits into a total reward provision; how IBM offers voluntary benefits to its 20,000 UK staff; what less common salary sacrifice perks employers can offer, and how to get local businesses involved in employee discount schemes.Integrating voluntary benefits into total rewardVoluntary benefits at IBMLess ...
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Analysis
How employers can cut reward costs without reducing the benefits on offer
Providing the same benefits at a lower cost can simply be a case of making changes behind the scenes, says Tom WashingtonHow employers can save money:- Employers are exploiting a competitive healthcare and group risk market to negotiate better premium pricing.- Longer-term healthcare and group risk contracts are also becoming ...
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Analysis
Tackling depression in the workplace
Employers must take steps to check and help their workforce's mental wellbeing, says Nicola Sullivan.If you read nothing else, read this...The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends employers conduct stress audits. A basic stress audit involves asking staff, either throughout an organisation or in a particular department, to answer key ...
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Analysis
Choosing a flexible benefits platform
Employers should not be seduced by flashy graphics when choosing a flex platform, but they must ensure it performs the functions they want efficiently, says Jenny Keefe.A flexible benefits website with sleek looks is easy to fall in love with. But employers need to do a little homework before rushing ...
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Article
Equity Insurance aligns perks policy for expatriates in UK
Equity Insurance is aligning its UK expatriate policy with that used by its parent company in Australia around issues such as benefits.The policy, likely to be finalised early next year, will make it easier to transfer staff from Insurance Australia Group to the UK to work. Australian expatriates are currently ...
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Article
Friends Provident focuses on financial behaviour
Friends Provident is to launch a financial education service that incorporates behavioural science techniques.The development of its My Money and Me service has been influenced by behavioural economic theory, which seeks to explain what lies behind people's decisions to spend, invest, save and borrow money. This is designed to overcome ...
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Article
Haysmacintyre launches flex and online total reward statements
Accountancy firm Haysmacintyre is launching flexible benefits and online total reward statements (TRS), as well as a range of voluntary benefits.It previously offered core benefits including death-in-service and a pension scheme.The flex scheme, due to go live this month, will allow staff to select perks such as annual leave, dental ...
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Article
McDonald's online move
McDonald's is considering adding its compensation and talent management processes to its established self-service and HR software.The fast-food chain is looking at adding the services to its online system to increase the efficiency of annual salary reviews and bonus payments. With the current system, managers make recommendations about what performance ...
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Article
Glasgow Housing Association launches voluntary benefits
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) has launched a voluntary benefits scheme for its 2,000 staff.The scheme, which is called GHA Reward and provided by Asperity Employee Benefits, was rolled out last month.Staff can access more than 1,500 discounts at national retailers, such as Debenhams, Vodafone and Sainsbury's, as well as at ...
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Analysis
Voluntary benefits report 2009: Getting local businesses involved in staff discount schemes
Discount schemes are popular with staff, but careful negotiations are needed to get local businesses on board, says Georgina FullerDos and don’ts of setting up a local discount scheme:Do approach local businesses directly and be clear and concise about what you would like to offer.Do make sure you ask staff ...
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Article
Towry Law switches pensions provider
Towry Law has switched its pensions provider from Axa to Zurich and launched a new group personal pension (GPP) plan.Richard Higginson, head of reward, said: "Our previous provider was struggling with our demands. Also, we provide investment solutions that we wanted to extend to staff, and we can only do ...
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Analysis
Effective communication around flexible benefits
Attention-grabbing communication is an essential tool to make flex schemes work, says Alison ColemanThe successful introduction of a flexible benefits scheme relies on the right communications strategy, which can prove elusive. Leaflets and handbooks packed with complicated, jargon-laden explanations of the scheme, what it includes and how it works, may ...
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Analysis
Voluntary benefits report: Less common salary sacrifice perks
A wide variety of perks can be offered via salary sacrifice, and if HMRC’s rules are met, tax and national insurance gains can be substantial, says Tom WashingtonChristmas is just around the corner and it is never easy to choose the perfect gift for loved ones without going over budget. ...
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Article
Alcatel Lucent puts European staff in touch with discounts
Alcatel Lucent is launching a voluntary benefits scheme for 1,800 staff across the UK, Ireland, the Baltics and Scandinavia.The scheme, which begins this month, is part of a wider project to improve employee engagement at the telecoms company. It was first designed just for the UK and Ireland, but was ...
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Article
GlaxoSmithKline moves EAP provider
Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has switched its employee assistance programme (EAP) providers to give staff greater access to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).The firm has switched from Ceridian to PPC, and its 16,000 employees can now access face-to-face CBT counselling, as well as an online service, where they will be asked ...