All articles by Zoe Wickens – Page 216
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ArticleThe top 10 most-read articles between 17 September - 23 September 2021
The top 10 most-read stories on employeebenefits.co.uk between 17 September – 23 September 2021 were: Metro Bank enhances staff benefits offering during the pandemicToyota staff grow their own lunchBelmont Packaging switches to four-day working weekWeetabix engineers strike over payEXCLUSIVE: 51% of SMEs lag behind on diversityAAT publishes first ethnicity pay ...
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ArticleRoyds Withy King launches pregnancy loss leave
UK law firm Royds Withy King has introduced compassionate leave for employees who suffer pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.The firm launched the policy on 21 September (Tuesday) for its 480 staff members who either experience a loss of this kind or are the partner of someone who does. Qualifying employees ...
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ArticleGovernment plans for flexible working from day one
The UK government has announced plans to allow every worker in Great Britain the right to request flexible working from the first day of their job.The proposals, which were originally set out in the government’s 2019 manifesto, will consider whether limiting flexible working applications to one per year continues to ...
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ArticleBounds Taxis drivers classed as workers in tribunal
The App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU) has won a regional legal battle against Bounds Taxis to extend worker rights to private hire drivers.An employment tribunal has ruled that private hire drivers at Northampton-based Bounds Taxis are “workers without doubt” in a case brought by chair of ADCU Northampton Shafqat ...
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ArticlePension auto-enrolment opt-out rates at 10%
New data has revealed that pension auto-enrolment opt-out rates remained low, at 10%, in the 12 months ended 31 March 2021.Nest Insight has published Retirement saving in the UK 2021, an annual study of retirement saving behaviours in the UK, which included around a third of the working population and ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: Dr Alex George to give keynote at Employee Benefits Live
EXCLUSIVE: In just two weeks' time, Dr Alex George, accident and emergency and TV doctor and UK government youth mental health ambassador, will be delivering the opening keynote speech about mental health on the second day of Employee Benefits Live 2021.‘A state of mind: Making mental health a positive workplace ...
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ArticleLove Energy Savings launches staff flexible working
Bolton, UK-based energy retailer Love Energy Savings has allowed its members of staff to set their own working hours.The policy, titled 'Flexible-Flexible', was launched recently as a result of the changing nature of the workplace post-Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and at a time when the business is planning to double the number ...
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Article60% of employees say financial concerns led to anxiety
New data has found that three-fifths (60%) of employees have had financial concerns that has resulted in anxiety, stress and depression.Barnett Waddingham surveyed 2,001 UK employees about the future of work and employee wellbeing in the UK, and revealed that the generation most likely to see their mental health suffer ...
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Article65% of firms predict financial wellbeing challenge
New research has found that two-thirds (65%) of HR decision makers predicted financial wellbeing will become the next big employee challenge.Pensions organisation Scottish Widows, which surveyed more than 500 HR leaders from UK businesses, revealed that monetary concerns during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic have led to almost half of workers ...
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ArticleEXCLUSIVE: Microsoft to speak at Employee Benefits Live
EXCLUSIVE: Tim Robertson, Europe, Middle East and Africa compensation and benefits lead for Microsoft, will be participating in a panel talk about HR and benefits strategies on Thursday 7 October at Employee Benefits Live 2021.The discussion, titled ‘Reimagining the future of work and benefits’, will focus on strategising the future ...
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OpinionAhmed Al-Nahhas: How employers can help staff mental wellbeing
A recent tribunal ruling threw into question whether some employers truly understand the impact post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have on staff from a military background.The tribunal found British Airways (BA) had discriminated, harassed and demonstrated a lack of empathy towards an RAF veteran with PTSD, who worked as an ...
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ArticleWeetabix engineers strike over pay
Weetabix engineers have begun industrial action over changes to their pay that could result in them being up to £5,000 per year worse off.Picket lines were in place at factories in Burton Latimer and Corby in Northamptonshire this morning (21 September) at the start of a 48-hour strike by members ...
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ArticleFragomen implements global hybrid working model
Immigration services provider Fragomen has introduced a hybrid working model in order to provide flexibility and choice to its 4,500 strong global workforce.The policy was been put into place earlier this month by all of its 55 offices around the world, which includes 486 members of staff based in the ...
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Article41% of staff are not confident discussing health issues
Almost half (41%) of UK employees would not talk to their employer if they had a health issue, according to new research.Healthcare provider Benenden Health’s survey of 2,000 employees and 500 business owners revealed the most common ailments not disclosed are poor mental health, high blood pressure and arthritis.Almost a ...
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ArticleUK businesses to up mental health budget by 18%
New research has revealed that UK business leaders are predicted to increase their investment in employee mental health and wellbeing by 18% during the next year, one of the highest rates across the world.According to Bupa Global’s Executive wellbeing index 2021, which surveyed 1,263 high net worth employees and senior ...
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OpinionStephen Perkins: Can an agile reward strategy deliver an employer’s philosophy?
My answer about whether an agile reward strategy can deliver an employer’s philosophy is yes, provided there is honesty and openness among all concerned about what holding fast to the corporate reward philosophy means. The offer may be to recognise predictably what workforce members contribute over the longer term.Alternatively, offer ...
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AnalysisCan a reward strategy be truly agile while still delivering on an employer’s philosophy?
Employers have had to quickly amend their benefits approach to best support employees working through challenging circumstances.Recent times have shown us how important resilience is and the ability to cope with change swiftly, so why shouldn’t that translate to reward strategies as well?Constant change to an underlying philosophy would be ...
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Case StudiesMetro Bank enhances staff benefits offering during the pandemic
UK community bank Metro Bank has 4,500 colleagues and offers retail, business, commercial and private banking services, and currently has more than two million active customer accounts. Its network of 78 stores are open seven days a week and 362 days a year, with UK-based contact centres open 24 hours ...
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ArticleBelmont Packaging switches to four-day working week
Plain and printed corrugated cardboard business Belmont Packaging, based in Wigan, UK, has announced it has moved to a four-day working week after a successful trial with its 31 employees.Along with its e-commerce sister business, Boxed-Up, it began the trial in the manufacturing department in late 2019 in order to ...
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Article47% of staff do not know how to plan for retirement
Nearly half (47%) of employees do not have the knowledge to plan for their retirement, according to new research from Aviva.The study found that 28% feel secure regarding how to manage their pension and 27% are confident they know what a good amount to have in their pension is for ...