All Employee Benefits articles in Web Issue – Page 898
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OpinionMark Fenton-O’Creevy: Is there a case for workplace financial education?
In difficult financial times any employer will think twice before incurring additional costs, and training budgets are notorious for being trimmed in hard times. So why would an employer seek to invest precious training resources in a topic without apparent direct relevance to performance?Many employers do not. Consumer market research ...
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AnalysisThe pros and cons of using in-house and external financial education expertise
Need to know:A good financial education scheme should help an organisation achieve its wider business objectives, increase engagement, improve financial wellbeing and improve the employee’s understanding of their benefits and their own personal finances.Employers can look to both in-house resources or external parties to provide financial education programmes.A financial education ...
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ArticleFinancial education in numbers
A round-up of the key facts and figures relating to financial education in the workplace. 27% of employers provide staff with access to one-to-one financial advice (Source: Employee Benefits/Close Brothers) 58% of employees would value an employer that helped with providing financial and retirement planning advice (Source: Mercer) 14% of ...
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AnalysisBack to basics on lifestyle strategies
Need to know:Lifestyle funds gradually move an employee away from high-risk, high-return assets into lower-risk, lower-return assets as they approach retirement.Following the introduction of the pension freedoms, fewer people are buying an annuity, which raises the question of whether lifestyle funds are an appropriate default strategy.With the introduction of the ...
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ArticleBuyer's guide to group critical illness insurance 2016
The factsWhat is group critical illness insurance?Group critical illness insurance pays a tax-free lump sum to an employee who is diagnosed with a serious condition, such as heart attack, cancer or stroke, or is undergoing a specified surgical procedure, such as major organ transplant or open-heart surgery.The benefit is paid ...
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ArticleSouthwark Council achieves 12% take-up rate for retail discount scheme in first three months
More than one in 10 (12%) of Southwark Council's 4,500 employees have signed up for its retail discount scheme in the three months since the benefit was introduced.Southwark Council launched a tailored platform, provided by Sodexo, that incorporates its existing employee benefits and two newly introduced benefits: childcare vouchers and ...
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Article88% of employees regularly experience stress
More than two-fifths (88%) of UK respondents regularly experience stress at work, according to research by human capital management firm ADP.Its The workforce view in Europe 2015/16 report, which surveyed 11,257 working adults across Europe, including 1,500 employees in the UK, also found that over three-quarters (79%) of UK respondents ...
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ArticleMercer acquires the Positive Ageing Company
Talent, health and retirement consultant Mercer has acquired the Positive Ageing Company, an independent adviser specialising in issues surrounding the ageing workforce.Through the acquisition of the Positive Ageing Company, which focuses on the financial, care and health impact of ageing for employers and staff, Mercer aims to expand its capabilities ...
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AnalysisBuyer’s guide to employee assistance programmes
The factsWhat are employee assistance programmes (EAPs)?An EAP provides confidential information, support and counselling to staff with personal or work-related issues. The service is available around the clock by telephone or online. A comprehensive EAP also provides access to face-to-face counselling if necessary. An EAP can also support an employer. ...
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AnalysisWhat does a motivation strategy for a future workforce look like?
Need to know:Changes in society and legislation mean the traditional workforce is changing.Flexible working and health and wellbeing benefits will increase in prominence.Benefits schemes can help by giving employees greater choice.With changing demographics, the abolition of the default retirement age and the rise of flexible working, the world of work ...
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Case StudiesStott and May provides motivation with an engaging workplace
Recruitment business Stott and May has gone out of its way to ensure the office is not just seen as a place of work as it seeks to appeal to a modern workforce.The firm’s London office is decorated in a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory theme, while its New York ...
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OpinionDr Shainaz Firfiray: Staff motivation needs to be carefully planned to suit different generations
A major challenge that managers face in contemporary workplaces is motivating employees. However, the inducements that motivate are unique for every individual. As employers are instinctively concerned about meeting their business objectives, it is worthwhile for them to strike meaningful relationships with their employees and together identify the things that ...
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Case StudiesAlfresco uses on and offline channels to engage staff with benefits
Alfresco is a content and business process management organisation employing around 400 people in 13 countries around the world, including the UK, where its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters are based. It provides its employees with a benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, childcare vouchers, group income ...
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Case StudiesAllpay encourages breaks away from technology
Technology is a key part of the working day at payments specialist Allpay. The organisation, which employs around 300 people, provides a range of services, including bill payment, prepaid cards and cashless payment systems. Ensuring staff take regular time away from technology, therefore, is actively encouraged throughout the organisation.Steve Foulger, ...
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OpinionDr Christine Grant: Employers can provide training and education to help staff switch off
The switched-on culture is becoming a well-used phrase that describes many of us with constant access to technology. It seems that we can never fully remove ourselves from the impulse to gaze at a screen, leading us to merge together work and non-working activities. Organisations are becoming concerned with the ...
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AnalysisInfographic: How does technology influence working hours?
An infographic outlining the influence of technology on employees' working hours. (Source: Chartered Management Institute's The quality of working life report, January 2016).Read more about getting the balance right in a technology-dominated world.
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AnalysisGetting the balance right in a technology-dominated world
Need to know:An employer could draw up technology etiquette covering areas such as the time emails can be sent and when employees can log on to help create a healthy work-life balance.Employers could use a variety of communication methods, including more traditional presentations, desk drops and brochures alongside benefits portals ...
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Article31% say reduction in tax relief causes higher earners to leave workplace pension schemes
Around a third (31%) of employer respondents say the reduction in pensions tax relief and complexities of the workplace pensions regime have caused employees on higher incomes to leave their pension schemes, according to research by the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA).The research, which surveyed 477 employers responsible for more ...
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Article61% of financial services employers increase pay by more than 5%
Around two-thirds (61%) of employer respondents increased employees' fixed pay by more than 5% in 2015, according to research by Mercer.Its 11th annual Global financial services executive compensation snapshot survey, which is based on the pay practices of 71 global financial services firms, also found that 58% of respondents reduced ...
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Article
Benefits for a multi-generational workforce: in numbers
A round up of the most recent and forward-thinking statistics and case studies focusing on benefits for multi-generational workforces. 30% of employer respondents offer age-related wellness programmes (Source: Mercer’s Age-friendly employer research, October 2015) http://bit.ly/1lyF7ud29% of the UK workforce is part of Generation Y (1981-1995), 35% are Generation X (1961-1980), ...