All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 881
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ArticleRachael Saunders: Should shared parental leave be extended to grandparents?
Extending parental leave to grandparents is an interesting shift in government policy. It acknowledges the importance of all generations in family life, and the role that grandparents already play. A strategic response to our ageing population requires creative and bold policy solutions, and the opening of parental leave to grandparents ...
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ArticleStay up-to-date with the Autumn Statement
Chancellor George Osborne will unveil the Autumn Statement at 12:30pm today (25 November). Stay tuned to the Employee Benefits website for the latest news and updates from the Statement. These will cover all announcements impacting employee benefits, from pensions and pay to childcare and salary sacrifice arrangements. We will also ...
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ArticleThe Pensions Regulator consults on new defined contribution code
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published a new draft defined contribution (DC) code of practice for consultation.The new code aims to raise standards of governance and administration in defined contribution (DC) pension schemes.It sets out the standards of conduct and practice the regulator expects trustee boards to meet in complying ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: Danwood introduces holiday purchase scheme
EXCLUSIVE: Danwood has introduced holiday buying as a benefit for its 1,140 employees.The printing services organisation is offering the benefit on a voluntary or salary sacrifice basis after its 2014 employee engagement survey revealed that 69% of its staff were interested in purchasing additional holiday. Staff can now purchase up ...
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ArticleAuto-enrolment contribution rate rises to coincide with tax year
Autumn Statement 2015: Chancellor George Osborne (pictured) has announced that the next two phases of minimum pension contribution rate increases under auto-enrolment will be pushed back to coincide with the tax year.The minimum contribution rate for employers was scheduled to rise to 2% from October 2017 and 3% from October ...
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ArticleGovernment to remove barriers to secondary annuities market
Autumn Statement 2015: The government has confirmed that it is to remove the barriers to creating a secondary annuities market to enable individuals to sell on their existing annuity income stream.Further details on the move, which was announced in the Autumn Statement 2015, will be set out in the government’s ...
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ArticleGovernment to review public sector sickness absence
Autumn Statement 2015: The government will undertake a review of sickness absence in the public sector.This will be followed by a consultation into how to reduce the impact of sickness absence on public sector service delivery. Legislation will also be considered where necessary.The Spending review and autumn statement 2015 policy ...
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ArticleGovernment to gather evidence on salary sacrifice
Autumn Statement 2015: The government will continue to consider what action, if any, will be taken around salary sacrifice arrangements.It will gather further evidence, including from employers, to inform its approach to salary sacrifice arrangements.In the Spending review and autumn statement 2015 policy paper, the government expresses its concern at ...
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ArticleNew income limits set for tax-free childcare
Autumn Statement 2015: The upper income limit for parents to take advantage of the government’s new tax-free childcare scheme is to be lowered from £150,000 to £100,000 a year.The government announced the move in the Autumn Statement 2015.The minimum income level per parent will also increase from the equivalent of ...
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ArticleGovernment to call for evidence on employer-provided accommodation
Autumn Statement 2015: The government has announced that it will publish a call for evidence on the tax treatment of employer-provided living accommodation.The announcement follows recommendations by the Office of Tax Simplification’s (OTS) report on simplifying the administration of employee benefits and expenses.The call was announced in the Autumn Statement ...
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ArticleShare scheme tax rules to be simplified
Autumn Statement 2015: The Finance Bill 2016 will introduce measures to simplify the tax rules for employee share schemes.These technical changes will streamline and simplify aspects of the tax rules for tax-advantaged and non-tax-advantaged employee share schemes. The move is aimed at providing more consistency, including putting beyond doubt the ...
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ArticleGovernment to maintain pension triple lock
Autumn Statement 2015: Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed that the government will keep the triple lock, with the basic state pension rising to £119.30 a week from April 2016.The single-tier pension rate has been set at £155.65 a week. This will be available to those reaching pensionable age from April ...
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ArticleAsset managers' performance awards to be taxed as income
Autumn Statement 2015: Performance awards received by asset managers will be subject to income tax unless the underlying fund undertakes long-term investment activity.The government is to introduce legislation to determine when performance awards should be taxed as income or capital gains.The move forms part of the government’s Autumn Statement 2015, ...
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ArticleDiesel supplement to remain in company car tax to 2021
Autumn Statement 2015: The government will retain the diesel supplement in company car tax.There will be a 3-percentage point differential between diesel cars and petrol cars from April 2016 to 2021, when EU-wide testing procedures will ensure new diesel cars meet air quality standards under strict real world driving conditions.The ...
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AnalysisHow to deliver a cost-effective emergency childcare strategy
If you read nothing else, read this… Employers must carefully communicate emergency childcare benefits to staff. Making employees aware of their emergency childcare options is pivotal to cutting costs. Emergency childcare provision can support employees with childcare commitments and help organisations to retain talent in the workplace.Emergency childcare services can ...
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OpinionKaren Thomson: Emergency childcare must be flexible
With all the legislation surrounding what working parents are entitled to when it comes to childcare arrangements, it can so often be confusing to say the least. However, an employer, regardless of what legislation dictates they must do, should instead consider the benefits of being flexible, and perhaps offering tax-saving ...
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Case StudiesDeloitte creates quality culture for working parents
Deloitte aims to create an inclusive culture to support its working parents, particularly when it comes to emergencies.It intends to keep its childcare costs low for its mobile and versatile workforce and the organisation. Caroline Hunt, director of HR and head of client service HR at Deloitte, says: “Of our ...
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Article60% of housing associations offer defined contribution pensions
Almost two-thirds (60%) of housing association respondents offer staff a defined contribution (DC) pension scheme, according to research by EMA Business and Management Consultancy.Its 2015 Total rewards survey, which is based on responses from 94 UK housing associations, found that the average contribution rates for DC schemes was 7% for ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE RESEARCH: 76% view financial education as essential for all staff
Employee Benefits is hosting a live webinar, Employee Benefits Wired: the changing pensions landscape, at 1pm on Tuesday 1 December. Tune in to EB TV to watch the session and send your questions to the panel by tweeting #EBWired.EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH: More than three-quarters (76%) of respondents believe it is essential ...
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ArticleThe Autumn Statement’s impact on employee benefits
On 25 November, chancellor George Osborne delivered the 2015 Autumn Statement and Spending Review. Below is a summary of all the key announcements impacting employee benefits:Osborne announced that the next two phases of minimum pension contribution rate increases under auto-enrolment will be pushed back to coincide with the tax year.The ...