All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 675

  • Article

    Royal Mail staff to strike over pay and pensions

    2013-10-21T10:54:00Z

    Royal Mail postal workers have voted to strike for 24 hours on 4 November in a dispute over pay, pensions and job security.The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents all non-managerial employees, is allowing for a two-week period to reach an agreement over the issues.More than three-quarters (78%) of Royal ...

  • Article

    Nuffield Health promotes Bill Jangra

    2013-10-22T04:01:00Z

    He was previously pensions project manager at the health organisation.Jangra’s other past roles include senior consultant at ITM, director at Trustees First Pension Services, associate retirement consultant at Mercer and pensions policy analyst at Aventis.

  • Article

    Cancer sufferers want more from employers

    2013-10-22T11:01:00Z

    Nearly one in five (19%) respondents with cancer said their employer could do more to understand their healthcare needs and circumstances, according to research by Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and insurer Unum.The research, which surveyed 1,016 adults who currently have or have had cancer, found that 19% were also dissatisfied ...

  • Article

    Cycling to work motivates employees

    2013-10-22T11:05:00Z

    Employees who cycle to work are more likely to arrive motivated and happy compared to other commuters, according to research by cycling insurer Cycleguard.The research, which surveyed 500 cyclists and 500 non-cyclists, found that a quarter (25%) of employees who cycle to work arrive feeling motivated and 18% arrive feeling ...

  • Article

    HMRC to shut down unused PAYE schemes

    2013-10-22T11:08:00Z

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that unused pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes will be shut down.Employers that have not used their schemes will receive letters to explain that their PAYE schemes have been closed.Any PAYE schemes opened after 5 April 2013 will be shut down automatically where the employer has ...

  • Article

    HMRC tackles pensions tax abuse

    2013-10-22T11:13:00Z

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has made a number of changes to strengthen existing processes to tackle the attempted misuse or abuse of the pension tax rules, deter pension liberation and safeguard employees’ pension savings.The changes, which took effect from 21 October, include:Registering a pension scheme: HMRC has made the ...

  • Article

    Age-related pension contributions not discriminatory

    2013-10-23T04:00:00Z

    The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that age-related employer contributions to pension schemes are lawful and not discriminatory to employees.The case of HK Danmark v Experion A/S 2013 concerned an organisation that set up a pension scheme for employees in Denmark with employer contributions at the following rates: ...

  • Article

    Employers should provide wider insurance benefits

    2013-10-23T10:55:00Z

    The majority (92%) of respondents believe employers have a role to play in the provision of wider insurance benefits, according to research by Swiss Re.Its Insurance report 2013: Connecting generations – protecting generations found that, although two-thirds of respondents see the value of insurance, many of them find financial services ...

  • Article

    Google named best multinational workplace

    2013-10-23T10:58:00Z

    Google has been named the best global company to work for by The Great Place to Work Institute.Its 2013 Top 25 World’s best multinational workplaces list, which recognises employers with high trust and high engagement cultures, ranked Google at number one, followed by business analytics software organisation SAS Institute, data ...

  • Article

    ITV opens 2014 pay talks

    2013-10-23T11:02:00Z

    Broadcaster ITV has opened its annual pay negotiations, which will carry on into November.The National Union of Journalists (NUJ), alongside unions Bectu and Union, have put in a claim for a pay rise of the retail prices index (RPI) plus 3% for employees in 2014.The unions are also seeking an ...

  • Scottish Widows – Women and pensions report
    Article

    Female pension savers at all-time low

    2013-10-23T11:09:00Z

    The number of women preparing adequately for retirement is at an all-time low and remains well behind the preparation levels of their male counterparts, according to research by Scottish Widows.The ninth annual Scottish Widows 2013 Women and pensions report, which surveyed 5,000 people, found that just 40% of women, compared ...

  • Opinion

    Jo Keddie: Legally-compliant long-service award schemes

    2013-10-24T03:00:00Z

    Employers may have moved away from the time-honoured carriage clock to gift vouchers and celebratory dinners for long-service awards, but many continue to operate long-service schemes as a way of acknowledging and appreciating staff loyalty, irrespective of an employee’s role within the organisation.When the Equality Act 2010 was implemented, many ...

  • Analysis

    Motivational sporting events to follow in 2014

    2013-10-24T04:00:00Z

    In fact, more than one-third (34%) of delegates at the Employee Benefits Summit in 2012 offered themed events for staff during the games.If you read nothing else, read this…An employee motivation scheme can be themed around a major national or international event, such as the Winter Olympics.A scheme should have ...

  • Examples of sports and social clubs
    Analysis

    The motivational impact of sports and social clubs

    2013-10-24T04:00:00Z

    If you read nothing else, read this…Sports and social clubs help build employee engagement and motivation.Clubs can help employers support employees’ emotional and physical wellbeing.Clubs are typically created and run by employees, but often funded by employers.Clubs are typically initiated and run by employees, but they are owned and ...

  • Article

    Expats need local healthcare guidance

    2013-10-24T11:14:00Z

    One in five (20%) respondents believe comprehensive guidance on local healthcare is crucial when moving overseas for work, according to research by Expacare.Its research, which surveyed 500 employees who have worked abroad for three months or more, found that 10% had little understanding about how health systems operate overseas.One in ...

  • Article

    Ipswich Town FC to launch master trust

    2013-10-24T11:17:00Z

    Ipswich Town Football Club is to launch a master trust to comply with pensions auto-enrolment.From 1 November, Now: Pensions will provide the pension, which will be available to the football club’s 600 eligible employees, including office staff and match-day stewards.Denise Booth, management accountant at Ipswich Town Football Club, said: “We ...

  • Article

    The top 10 most read stories this week

    2013-10-25T00:30:00Z

    The top 10 most read articles on employeebenefits.co.uk during 17-24 October.1. The pros and cons of salary sacrifice training benefits2. Auto-enrolment contributions will not be enough3. Royal Mail to strike over pay and pensions4. Hertfordshire Council switches staff workshop provider5. HMRC tackles pensions tax abuse6. Only 49% motivated by pay ...

  • Article

    Dental perks desired

    2013-10-25T01:00:00Z

    Something for the weekend…Dutch football manager Michel Jansen may be seeing the value of dental benefits after losing a tooth in enthusiastic goal celebrations. He was caught in the face by a fist pump from the Twente Enschede managers assistant Youri Mulder as the pair wildly celebrated their side’s goal ...

  • Article

    Harrods to launch corporate gift card

    2013-10-25T09:45:00Z

    Harrods is to launch a seasonal gift card designed to simplify the Christmas shopping experience for employers that choose to say thank-you or reward employees.The gift card, which will be available from 1 November, provides employees with access to shop in-store or online for a range of products, such as ...

  • Article

    Zurich creates new appointments in corporate business team

    2013-10-25T10:15:00Z

    Zurich UK has created two new roles within its corporate business team.The first is head of Zurich corporate savings (ZCS), which will be assumed by Jonathan Plumtree (pictured) from 1 January 2014. He is currently head of Zurich corporate risk.Iain Black will succeed Plumtree on 4 November 2013. His previous ...