All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 308
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Article
Budget 2010: HMRC plans to target employee benefits trusts and EFRBS
Within the 2010 Budget, Chancellor Alastair Darling has revealed plans to take action to tackle the avoidance of tax and national insurance contributions through the use of trusts and other vehicles to reward employees.HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will launch a review and consultation during 2010 on “taxation of geared ...
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Article
Aetna Global Benefits launches Facebook page
Health benefits provider Aetna Global Benefits (AGB) has launched a page on social networking site Facebook to create an online community for geographically-diverse members and prospective customers.The page will include frequently updated information on its international provider community of more than 61,000 health care providers outside the US and about ...
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Article
South African police cut flab to catch lags
Fleet-footed South African criminals are soon to feel the long arm of the law upon their shoulders, after years of making speedy getaways.For the country’s boys in blue are being ordered to shape up or ship out, after a study found that more than half of the force is medically ...
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Article
Loganair appoints Xafinity to administer pensions
Loganair, the Glasgow-based regional commuter airline, and the trustees of the Loganair Pension Scheme have appointed Xafinity Consulting and Xafinity Paymaster to provide pension administration, actuarial, investment and consultancy services.Xafinity won the mandate (which was previously held by Aon) based on their ability to meet Loganair’s objectives to provide cost ...
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Article
Buyer's guide to corporate eyecare (April 2010)
Key factsWhat is corporate eyecare?By law, employers have to pay for eye tests and glasses, if required, by staff who use visual display units. They can reimburse staff these costs, issue vouchers or provide optical perks via a health cash plan.Where can employers get more information?Employers can find out more ...
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Article
Employee Benefits Events: Diary dates 2010
13-14 AprilThe future of workplace retirement savings, Surrey.Join reward managers from firms such as Amey, Aramark, Cisco and Sony.ebpensionssummit.co.uk13 MayHealth and wellness in the workplace, London. A conference delivering expertise from stakeholders in the health and wellness at work arena. employeebenefits.co.uk/event9-11 JuneEmployee Benefits Summit, Monte Carlo.The Summit brings together the ...
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Article
The Big Question: How would a higher default age affect non-pension perks?
We ask the experts for their answers ... have your say online at the Employee Benefits forum.†Katherine Moxham is spokesperson for Group Risk DevelopmentThere is increasing consensus that the default retirement age review will recommend the complete removal of the default retirement age. But encouragement can be taken from the ...
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Article
Controlling costs is biggest challenge in Asia Pacific
Improving employees' perceived value of benefits was second, with 22% making it their first choice. In the Towers Watson HR perspectives on benefits trends survey, only 4% say improving employee communication is their first choice.Read more benefits research
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Article
Confessions of a benefits manager: Groundhog day
Candid appears to be caught in a time loop of complaints about pension errors, and the explanations have a familiar ring, tooEveryone makes mistakes, I don't deny it, I make enough myself. But the mistakes coming to my attention are starting to get on my nerves. I mean, to err ...
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Article
Debi O'Donovan, editor of Employee Benefits: Tax hike may see high earners take the wrap
Over the past year, reward consultants have been talking about the potential consequences for benefits of the tax changes announced in last April’s Budget.Many hours of advice have been devoted to the new world order of executive reward as, firstly, the personal allowance is removed for those earning over £100,000 ...
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Analysis
Flexible benefits can boost employee engagement
Company-branded flexible benefits plans can promote engagement and reinforce corporate values, says Peta HodgeOne of the main business reasons for an employer to introduce a flexible benefits scheme is to help its employees engage with the organisation’s brand.Staff who are connected with the brand tend to be more productive and ...
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Analysis
Softening the blow of tax increases for high earners
Reward professionals are looking at ways to ease the impact of this month's tax increases for high earners, says Peta HodgeThis month's tax changes for high earners have been exercising the minds of many professionals involved in the recruitment, retention and reward of key staff. The headline change is the ...
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Analysis
Employer profile: Change is the only constant at Cable and Wireless
A demerger is just the latest change at Cable and Wireless, where staff are kept on their toes, says Sarah ColesLast month, Cable and Wireless went through a demerger, spinning off Cable and Wireless International, the telecoms part of the business, from Cable and Wireless Worldwide, the business services arm. ...
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Analysis
Salary cap can control final salary pension costs
If you read nothing else, read this...- Capping final salary benefits is one of a number of de-risking measures employers can take to control their pension liabilities.- Increases in pensionable pay may be restricted to anything from zero up to a maximum of 2% to 2.5%, regardless of an employee's ...
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Analysis
Finding safer investments for defined contribution pension schemes
Stock market volatility has sparked a rethink on de-risking defined contribution pension investments, says Ceri JonesMany pension funds lost a large part of their value during last year's tough economic conditions. The problem is that at least 80% of members of defined contribution (DC) pensions are in default funds, which ...
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Analysis
Multinational pooling cuts cost of healthcare insurance
If you read nothing else, read this...- Multinational pooling is a profit-sharing arrangement for global employers that offer insured risk benefits, such as life insurance, in different countries- It is an accountancy mechanism that, in good years, means large employers can earn a rebate, called a dividend, of up to ...
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Article
Interview with Sara Davies, reward and HR services director at Ladbrokes
Sara Davies, reward and HR services director at Ladbrokes, is keen to get the message across that the reward function is very much more than just ‘pay and rations’, says Ben JonesAs befits the reward and HR services director of bookmakers Ladbrokes, Sara Davies spent some time at last month’s ...
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Analysis
How is executive reward decided?
Executive reward has come under scrutiny in the downturn. Sam Barrett looks at how remuneration committees decide what to apportion the high-fliersScan the newspapers and you are certain to come across a story about a top executive receiving a fat pay packet. Such remuneration packages often comprise annual salaries in ...
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Analysis
Reward incentives for short-term employees
Incentives for short-term employees often call for a different approach by employers, says Ben JonesMotivating permanent employees can be a tricky task for employers at any time, but a greater challenge can be how to give those on short-term contracts the impetus to work effectively and to schedule. This conundrum ...
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Nine out of 10 employers see pension as effective recruitment and retention tool, says research
Nearly nine out of 10 employers see a pension as an effective recruitment and retention tool, though only 7% have carried out a formal assessment to confirm this, according to a survey published today by actuarial firm Punter Southall.In one of the biggest surveys of opinion among UK employers with ...