All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 508
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Analysis
How will the pension reforms impact on annual management charges?
If you read nothing else, read thisAuto-enrolment and the other pension reforms have put the spotlight on annual management charges (AMCs).Employers may be faced with higher AMCs for existing scheme members if they decide to use their current pension scheme for auto-enrolment.The national employment savings trust (Nest) will offer an ...
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Article
The Big Question: What can employers do around the Queen's Diamond Jubilee?
Alan Robertson, colleague engagement leader - recognition and incentives at Asda:2012 is turning out to be a great year packed with some fantastic events, not least of which are the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. At Asda, thanking our employees for the great work they do is an important part of ...
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Article
Interview with Rosemary Mounce, group pensions manager at Arup Group
Rosemary Mounce, group pensions manager at Arup Group, is a keen yachtswoman who has steered pensionchanges and developments through a number of organisationsA pensions expert with a passion for sailing, Rosemary Mounce, group pensions manager at Arup Group, has been navigating the winds of change in the industry for nearly ...
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Article
Confessions of a benefits manager: Model behaviour
A conference call by the global head of HR spells out some new guiding principles, but Candid is not impressedEvery month, the HR Overlord holds a mandatory conference call. He gathers his HR drones at HQ and the rest of us dial in. Whenever he addresses us folks in the ...
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Article
Top tips for reward and benefits career progression
If you read nothing else, read this… A successful reward career often depends on adopting a fresh approach. As well as getting to grips with an organisation’s broad business priorities, it is also important to understand its culture. To reach the top, reward professionals must be approachable and able to ...
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Article
Debi O'Donovan, editor of Employee Benefits: Changing times call for a different philosophy
Major economic challenges and shifts in workplaces usually go hand in hand. As we entered the economic downturn a few years ago, most of us were aware that whatever state we were in when we eventually emerged from tough times, the world of work would look very different.Several years on, ...
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Analysis
How forward-thinking HR departments are rethinking employee benefits
If you read nothing else, read thisHR professionals need to become educators rather than administrators, to help support employees in the correct use of benefits.Administrative HR functions should be outsourced to enable HR professionals to concentrate on strategy.Cost reviews will be ongoing, more proactive and more about value-added services than ...
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Analysis
Group risk roundtable: Increasing the value of group risk benefits
If you read nothing else, read this... Group risk benefits can provide valuable services, such as HR support. Group risk provision should be promoted in terms of health andwellbeing support, rather than absence insurance. Increased take-up of group risk benefits will drive down premiums.Group risk benefits have become far more ...
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Case Studies
McDonald's had own bike scheme
McDonald’s Restaurants ran a bikes programme in May and June 2007 in response to staff feedback. Its ‘On your bike’ scheme, which was not part of the government-sponsored bikes-for-work scheme, enabled staff to buy a range of bikes and accessories at discounts of up to 60%.The restaurant chain has 70,000 ...
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Case Studies
Virgin staff offered bike choices
Virgin Media launched its first bikes-for-work scheme, Ride2Work, in November 2011 after a staff survey showed it was the most popular choice of possible new benefits.The telecoms firm gives staff a range of choices at the end of the scheme’s hire period. At the end of the 12-month contract, ownership ...
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Article
Buyer's guide to pension modelling tools
Key factsWhat are pension modelling tools? These are interactive tools that help staff understand what they need to save for their retirement and how to achieve their goals. The tools calculate an estimated retirement income based on factors such as retirement age, current contributions and investment strategy.Where can employers find ...
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Analysis
Should more importance be placed on dental care?
If you read nothing else, read thisEmployers and employees both believe dental health helps overall wellbeing.Employers' interest in dental healthcare is increasing as they seek low-cost but desirable benefits.Employers can share the cost of dental benefits with staff.The increasing scarcity of NHS dentists, plus rising private dentistry costs, is expected ...
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Analysis
Group risk roundtable: Sponsor's comment: Intervention is the key
Group income protection can play a vital role in reducing sickness absence, says Steve Bridger, head of group risk at Aviva UK HealthGrowing interest by the government in addressing the problems of sickness absence in the UK - as evidenced by the sickness absence review (SAR) - creates a unique ...
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Analysis
Group risk roundtable: Economic influences on stress
If you read nothing else, read this… Stress is now the number one cause of long-term absence, according to the CIPD. Employers are concerned about presenteeism, whereby employees are remaining at work when they are ill because of fears about job security. Problems outside the workplace are a significant cause ...
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Analysis
Group risk roundtable: The effects of government reforms
If you read nothing else, read this...Government intervention in the form of welfare reforms and National Health Service cuts will force employers to take more responsibility for employee health and wellbeing.Concerns surround the proposed Independent Assessment Service (IAS), particularly with regard to its method and speed of delivery.Fit notes have ...
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Analysis
Managing the health and wellbeing of employees overseas
If you read nothing else read this… Where possible, multinational employers should choose a single provider for healthcare provision. Using an online portal can help ease the challenges of managing health and wellbeing benefits from a central location. EAPs and health screening can be offered internationally.It is becoming easier to ...
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Analysis
London Overground gets staff set for Olympics
Case study: Cashing in on travel savingsRobert Bowers, a newly-recruited conductor at London Overground, values the company’s defined benefit (DB) pension scheme and travel discounts. He is also interested in paying pension contributions via salary sacrifice, which results in savings on tax and national insurance (NI).Bowers, who joined London Overground ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: Goodman Masson sees 19% take-up of contributory mortgage fund
Goodman Masson has seen 19% of its 140 employees take up its contributory mortgage fund since it was introduced as part of a new flexible benefits scheme in January 2012.The firm has included a variety of other savings benefits for staff within its Benefits Boutique flex scheme, which was designed ...
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Article
EXCLUSIVE: Capital One raises £3,500 for charity awarding staff for fitness and volunteering activities
Capital One has raised around £3,500 for charity by rewarding employees who got involved with volunteering and fitness activities.The donations were made as part of the annual Sports Relief campaign, which took place between 23 and 25 March.Capital One made donations on behalf of each employee that took part in ...
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Article
Matthew Johnson joins Adecco
?Adecco has appointed Matthew Johnson head of compensation and benefits.Previously, he spent six years at Steria, initially as reward manager and later as head of reward. Johnson says: “At Steria, I was responsible for the full spectrum: compensation, bonus, shares, benefits and pension.”He also spent three years at BDO as ...