All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 529
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CIPD launches stress management tool for managers
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has launched a free online stress management tool to help managers deal with and prevent stress among their staff.The tool, which was developed with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is designed to help managers understand how their own behaviour can affect ...
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Administration is key auto-enrolment concern
A majority (92%) of employers said the administration of auto-enrolment is a key concern in relation to the incoming pension duties, according to research by Staffcare.The research, which surveyed both employers and advisers, found that 70% of advisers plan to use a specialist external system to handle the ongoing administration ...
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Southern Railway staff accept Olympic bonus
Southern Railway employees have voted to accept a recognition and reward deal, which will see staff receive a basic bonus payment of £300 during the Olympics.The total reward package, which includes an additional £28 per day available for rest day and Sunday working and £50 for additional late night turns, ...
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National Audit Office publishes report on the regulation of DC pension schemes
The National Audit office has published a report on the regulation of defined contribution (DC) pension schemes, which has concluded that there is insufficient accountability to ensure that the regulatory system delivers value for money.The report:Highlights the taxpayer’s substantial interest in the effectiveness of pension regulation. The trend towards DC ...
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Specsavers launches sight check application
Specsavers Corporate Eyecare has launched an application (app) called Sight Check, which is designed to help employees engage with their eye health.The app, which is free to download, includes a series of tests. If the employee requires a full eye examination at the end of the test, they †can book ...
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64% of respondents do not offer retirement support to staff
Almost two-thirds (64%) of employers do not offer tailored retirement support to employees, according to research by Aviva.Its Real retirement report, which surveyed 13,610 UK employees aged over 55, found that, among those 36% who did receive support, 70% found it useful.Nearly a quarter (23%) said it played an important ...
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British public unaware of auto-enrolment
Only 19% of the British public are aware of auto-enrolment, according to research by Aon Hewitt.The research, carried out by YouGov, found that those already in workplace pension schemes were more likely to have heard of auto-enrolment (37%), while only 16% of those who are not currently part of a ...
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EXCLUSIVE: Republic sees 40% take-up in employee discounts scheme
Fashion retailer Republic has seen a 40% take-up in its employee discounts scheme over the past six months.Its Backstage Pass scheme, which was introduced at the end of 2011 and is provided by Asperity Employee Benefits, is aligned with the firm's recognition scheme, Recognition Rocks.Packs were handed out to employees ...
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10% of respondents to offer flexible working during Olympics
Only one in 10 respondents said their employer is allowing flexible working to attend the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).The research, How will the Olympics affect businesses, found that 10% of respondents said their employer is permitting staff ...
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Half of female respondents save less than £100 a month into a pension
Nearly half (48%) of women save less than £100 per month into a pension, according to research by YouGov.The research, which surveyed 2,014 UK adults, found that this saving is around one-fifth of the amount men invest in a pension scheme.The research also found:58% of women admitted to finding pensions ...
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Two-thirds of respondents see no link between pay and performance
Two-thirds (66%) of respondents cannot see a clear link between performance and pay at their organisation, according to research by Towers Watson.Its Global workforce study, which surveyed 32,000 employees across 29 countries including 2,628 UK employees, examined how the work environment is changing in response to shifts in business operations, ...
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Iceland Foods and The Perfume Shop recognised for employee engagement
Iceland Foods and The Perfume Shop have been recognised for their focus on employee engagement. The retailers were presented with employee engagement awards at ORC International’s annual employee engagement conference.Both employers insist on the importance of both listening to employees and acting on feedback, and making it clear how staff ...
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More public sector staff in pension schemes than private sector
A higher proportion (82%) of employees in the public sector belonged to a workplace pension scheme than their private sector counterparts (32%) in 2008/10, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).Its Wealth and assets survey found that the median value of current workplace pension wealth of employees ...
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Merseyside Pension Fund appoints adviser for investment management
Merseyside Pension Fund (MPF) has appointed Mercer to provide advice on the manager selection process for a passive investment mandate of £1,000 million to £1,500 million.The index-tracking mandate is initially expected to cover UK equities, UK index linked gilts and North American equities.Peter Wallach, head of Merseyside Pension Fund, said: ...
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Government to delay white paper on state pension reform
Pensions minister Steve Webb has announced that a white paper on state pension reform is to be postponed to the autumn due to the “complexity and importance” of these reforms.The statement said:The chancellor George Osborne confirmed in the Budget 2012 that the state pension system will be reformed to introduce ...
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First Western Rail staff secure Olympic bonus
First Western Rail staff have secured a bonus for working during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.The agreement, which was reached after extensive negotiations with representatives from the Rail, Maritime and Train (RMT) union, will give employees a flat-rate payment for the Olympic period in addition to enhanced payments ...
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Chocolate tester has to quit sweet life after weight gain
The health and wellbeing of employees is a focus for many organisations, with programmes in place to ensure staff get enough exercise and information on nutrition. However, in some jobs, all the health programmes in the world will not help.Angus Kennedy has been forced to quit his dream job as ...
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EXCLUSIVE: West Lothian Council switches voluntary benefits provider
West Lothian Council has switched the provider of its voluntary benefits scheme.The scheme, which includes employee discounts, childcare vouchers and a bikes-for-work scheme, will now be provided by P&MM.The switch was made following a competitive tender process.Graeme Struthers, head of corporate services at West Lothian Council, said: “The package will ...
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New Economics Foundation report: Regional pay rates could cost £10 billion a year
Government plans to introduce regional pay rates for the public sector could cost the economy almost £10 million a year, according to a report published by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) and commissioned by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).The proposals to introduce regional pay rates were first put forward by ...
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Cost of providing healthcare benefits continues to rise
The cost of providing healthcare benefits to employees continues to escalate at double-digit levels around the globe, and is expected to increase by 9.6% this year, according to research by Towers Watson.The research, the 2012 Towers Watson Global medical trends survey, which polled 237 medical insurers in 48 countries, found ...