All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 771
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ArticleMembers to be able to take multiple tax-free lump sums from pensions
Pension scheme members are to be given greater flexibility over how they take tax-free lump sums from their pension pots.From April 2015, members over the age of 55 will be able to withdraw a series of lump sums, dipping into their pension pot whenever they wish. A quarter of each ...
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Case StudiesBristol Myers Squibb educates staff about pension reforms
It has informed staff about the changes following the closure of its defined benefit (DB) scheme in 2012 and the introduction of a group personal pension plan .The employer has also launched an online retirement planning tool, provided by Aspire to Retire, which is available to employees who are five ...
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OpinionDavid Hosking: Dispelling key myths about salary sacrifice car schemes
Salary sacrifice car schemes are a tax-efficient way to offer staff a brand new, fully insured and maintained car as part of a flexible benefits package.Schemes are tax-compliantAt its most basic and simple level, a salary sacrifice car scheme allows employers to ‘pay’ their staff with a company car, with ...
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ArticleDWP reduces sickness absence levels
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has cut its sickness absence levels from 7.39 per employee per year in March 2013, to 6.87 days per employee per year at March 2014If the DWP has not reduced its average working days lost due to sickness from its April 2013 levels, ...
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ArticleTPAS and Citizens Advice to give pensions guidance
The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) and the Citizens Advice Bureau will provide pensions guidance to employees from April 2015.The government has announced that TPAS will provide telephone guidance and the Citizens Advice Bureau will provide face-to-face guidance.In July, the government announced in July that its guaranteed guidance on pensions choice ...
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AnalysisTop ailments claimed through group risk benefits
Looking at data shared by the UK’s leading group risk insurers, it is clear that cancer and heart disease top the list for group life assurance claims. For critical illness insurance claims, cancer and heart issues also lead the way, with heart attacks ranking second and strokes coming third. Meanwhile, ...
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VideoVIDEO: Chris Chandler: Car schemes must be aligned to staff expectations
Employers with plans to implement a company car scheme must ensure that they engage staff in the process, according to Chris Chandler, principal consultant at Lex Autolease in an interview with Clare Bettelley, associate editor at Employee Benefits. At the Employee Benefits Fleet Debate in August, Chandler said: ”It’s really ...
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ArticleAlternative asset classes are future for pensions investment, says Sir Bob Geldof
Pension funds must invest in alternative asset classes that help to redistribute global wealth as well as offer pension scheme members a strong return on investment, according to Sir Bob Geldof.As part of his speech, ‘Make a difference’, which he delivered at the National Association of Pension Funds’ Annual Conference ...
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VideoVIDEO: Andrew Kirby: Car schemes can help employers reduce costs
Company car schemes are a useful tool with which employers can add value to their benefits package, as well as reduce their costs, according to Andrew Kirby, commercial director, employee benefits, at Zenith in an interview with Clare Bettelley, associate editor at Employee Benefits. At the Employee Benefits Fleet debate ...
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OpinionAndrew Kirby: Relationships are at the heart of future car schemes
During the economic downturn, one of the main attractions of a salary sacrifice car scheme from an employer’s perspective was its ability to help with recruiting, retaining, motivating and engaging employees at no cost to the business.Now the economy is growing and employment opportunities are increasing, the battle to recruit ...
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AnalysisKey issues to consider around financial education
Our rapidly changing financial world creates the need for better financial education and support.With the implementation of auto-enrolment upon us, is the responsibility for providing a pension shifting from the government to the individual and the private sector?From next April, savers will be able to use their pension fund as ...
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ArticleMK Dons launches master trust for auto-enrolment
InterMK Group has auto-enrolled all of its 320 employees into a defined contribution master trust. The group, which includes the football club MK Dons, InterMK, HotelMK, StadiumMK and MK Dons Sports and Education Trust, auto-enrolled staff into the master trust, provided by Carey Pensions. The provider will also offer administration ...
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ArticleNails Inc brands auto-enrolment ‘simple’
Preparing for, and implementing, auto-enrolment is ‘simple’ and ‘easy’, according to Purdey Wildey, financial controller for beauty organisation, Nails Inc.As one of three panellists speaking on a session entitled ‘Automatic enrolment at the sharp end’ at the National Association of Pension Funds annual conference in Liverpool on 16 October, she ...
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ArticleScottish Power, BNY Mellon and IHG awarded for pensions quality
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), BNY Mellon and Scottish Power have been awarded the Pensions Quality Mark (PQM) for their defined contribution (DC) pension schemes, while Lloyd’s Register has been awarded the PQM Plus.The organisations were all presented with their awards by pensions minister Steve Webb at the National Association of ...
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Case StudiesNorthern Trust supports employees' work-life balance
Northern Trust, which has 1,400 employees in the UK and a workforce that is 35% female, introduced a range of work-life balance initiatives in 2012 with a view to increase flexible working, raise its return-to-work ratio among working mothers, and improve employee engagement and productivity.The firm’s WorkSmart programme, which enables ...
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AnalysisWhy new flexible retirement options should lead to a revamp of HR and benefits strategies
If you read nothing else, read this…72% of pension professionals are not prepared to deal with the consequences of the pension flexibilities. (Aon Hewitt)Financial education could become a prominent feature of benefits packages to help employees plan for retirement.Employers will have to adapt working arrangements to cater for flexible retirement.Default ...
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ArticleLufthansa pilots strike over retirement benefits
Lufthansa employees are striking for 48 hours in a dispute over retirement benefits.Lufthansa, which is in the midst of a cost-cutting plan and trying to set up new low-cost units to battle competition, has proposed increasing the retirement age for pilots from 55 to 60 under the terms of its ...
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ArticleClare Bettelley: Company car schemes can be easy to implement
And this is particularly the case with company car schemes, because of the perceived work required by employers to identify which employees they should, and can afford to, offer the perk.This suggests two things: that they have had a bad experience with a service or service provider in the past, ...
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ArticleUniversity of Birmingham launches car salary sacrifice
The University of Birmingham has launched a car salary sacrifice car scheme for its 6,500 members of staff.Through the scheme, which is provided by SGFleet, employees can take up a fully maintained and insured car, with savings available through tax and national insurance efficiencies, as well as corporate discounts. The ...
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AnalysisHow flexible working can boost staff wellbeing
If you read nothing else, read this…The right to request flexible working was extended to all UK employees on 30 June 2014.Flexible working options allow staff to be more flexible about managing their health, whether it be controlling the times they take medication, frequent the gym or cycle to work.Flexible ...