All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 348
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Article
Simplyhealth research: Employers target staff health and wellbeing
Almost four in five organisations believe they have a responsibility to contribute to society, which is reflected in their benefits.Of the 257 HR respondents to Simplyhealth's Bothered Britain report, in conjunction with Opinion Matters, 75% believe it is important to address all aspects of staff health and wellbeing.Although 37% of ...
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Article
Pinch enters perks market
New employee benefits provider Pinch is to offer reward and recognition services, benefits products and analysis of management data.It will offer voluntary and flex schemes, total reward statements, retail discounts and tax-efficient perks.Bruce Rayner, co-founder of Pinch, said it will also focus on getting the right benefits messages to relevant ...
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Analysis
Ethical investment of pension funds
If you read nothing else, read this...Ethical investment funds enable staff to invest pension contributions in companies that have ethical practices.More employers are offering an ethical pension fund option.A fund can actively seek to invest in organisations considered to be ethical, or screen out those considered to be involved in ...
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Analysis
Job evaluations lead to fairer reward
If you read nothing else, read this…Organisations that establish a pay grading structure based on job evaluations could reduce the total cost of their pay bill by between 3% and 10%.Job evaluations could help employers address equal pay in the workplace.Employers that link job evaluations with reward can ensure that ...
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Article
Exclusive Mercer research: Technology plays key role in salary sacrifice
More than a third (37%) of organisations are planning to introduce technology platforms to automate their salary sacrifice arrangements in the next 12 months.According to Mercer's Salary sacrifice and technology - evolution research, many organisations will also streamline existing arrangements, while providing greater benefit choice and improved communication through online ...
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Article
NEC Group revamps flex scheme
NEC Group has switched providers for its flexible benefits scheme, has moved from a paper-based to online plan and extended the scheme to all employees.The group, which operates four entertainment venues in Birmingham, went live with its online flex portal, now provided by Staffcare, in August, with staff selections taking ...
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Analysis
The impact of welfare reform on rehabilitation services
If you read nothing else, read this…So far, the impact of welfare reform on employers has been limited.Employers have access to government occupational health helplines to supplement fit notes.Group income protection schemes offer free rehabilitation and early intervention services.Employers should try to notify insurers as early as possible when employees ...
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Article
Tax-efficient mobiles to be offered via salary sacrifice
IT distributor Micro Peripherals is to launch an HM Revenue and Customs-approved mobile phone salary sacrifice scheme in partnership with mobile network provider Three (3).Staff can pay for a mobile via salary sacrifice for a set contract period of 24 months. They can obtain almost any type of phone, including ...
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Article
Northern Rock role for Sandy Wilson
Northern Rock has appointed Sandy Wilson head of reward and employee relations. Wilson was previously function leader - performance and reward at Co-operative Financial Services and European reward director at the Kellogg Company.Since 1997, Wilson has also held reward positions at Bradford and Bingley, Paydata, Norwich Union and Deloitte Consulting.Read ...
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Article
Matt Duffy: Are voluntary benefits just a conduit for selling products?
This is not a subject where you will find us sitting on the fence. Good voluntary benefits programmes should not be a route to flog products or provide suppliers with commission. Equally, they should not be seen as a wonder product to cure the ills of an organisation that has ...
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Article
Just 6% of employees covered by group income protection
Only 6% of the UK's working population are covered by group income protection (GIP), according to a roundtable report from industry body Group Risk Development (Grid).This accounts for 1.77 million employees out of 28.98 million.The roundtable summary also found GIP could save the government almost £4 billion per year.In light ...
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Article
Friends Provident launches absence tracking system
Friends Provident has launched a new absence tracking system that aims to help employers monitor absence trends and calculate the cost of employee absence.The system evaluates absence by department, reason and days of the week, and includes a cost of absence calculator.It can work alongside an employer’s existing absence management ...
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Analysis
How will VAT rise affect company cars?
If you read nothing else, read this...Accept leasing, purchase, servicing, maintenance, fuel and insurance costs - whether reclaimable or not - will rise as value-added tax (VAT) is going up.Employers should audit their fleet funding and acquisition model now so they do not get caught out in January.Do not necessarily ...
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Article
Aon Consulting to launch benefits management platform
Aon Consulting is to launch a benefits management and broking software platform, The Benefits Solution (TBS).The platform will allows Aon and employers to manage employee benefits on a single system. The Benefits Solution consists of a member administration database with procurement tool, a workflow system, a document repository and a ...
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Article
Social Housing Pension Scheme to launch defined contribution arrangement
A defined contribution (DC) scheme will be introduced to all members of the Social Housing Pension Scheme on 1 October 2010.Administered by The Pensions Trust, the scheme serves more than 60,000 members and 700 different housing groups within the National Federation of Housing Associations and Housing Corporation.To date, 208 employers ...
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Article
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council switches childcare voucher providers
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council has switched childcare voucher providers.The council moved to KiddiVouchers after its three-year contract with previous provider Computershare Voucher Services came up for renewal.Stephen Bridgehouse, HR advisor at Tameside MBC, said: “One of the factors considered when choosing our new provider was the process employed to manage ...
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Article
Buyer's guide to private medical insurance
Focus on factsWhat is private medical insurance (PMI)?PMI provides cover for individuals if they become unwell or suffer an injury. The patient will be referred by their doctor to a private consultant, who will arrange treatment or surgery. PMI is usually offered to staff as a benefit to ensure they ...
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Article
Buyer's guide to emergency childcare
Key factsWhat is emergency childcare?It helps staff access alternative childcare when their usual arrangements fail. It varies from a signposting service (via an EAP, for example), through to a part or fully paid-for number of sessions with a childminder, nanny, nursery, after-school or school holiday club or space in an ...
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Article
Cable and Wireless Worldwide signals salary sacrifice car scheme
Cable and Wireless Worldwide has launched an environmentally friendly salary sacrifice car scheme for its 5,500 UK-based employees.Since the plan was launched at the beginning of August, 1,000 staff have registered to take part. Through the plan, drivers can choose from a range of low-emission brands such as BMW, Mini, ...
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Article
Clinton Cards introduces childcare voucher scheme
Clinton Cards has introduced a childcare voucher scheme.The new scheme, which is provided by KiddiVouchers, will be available to the retailer's 10,000 UK employees.Staff were made aware of the scheme through posters and leaflets, as well as information on the organisation's intranet.Kirsty Ashman, group HR manager of Clinton Cards, said: ...