Benefits realisation: what does success look like for you?
In the politically incorrect shambles of the Miss World contest, there is a segment which has caused much amusement for comedians over the years, in which the hapless contestants are asked for their life ambitions. Traditionally, at least one will soberly reply: “World peace”. Quite how the Miss World contest contributes to world peace is […]
Five ways to take control of employee travel expenses
Taking control of employee travel expenses is about setting clear boundaries whilst also allowing employees to act with autonomy within them. This allows you to maximise flexibility and engagement without compromising on security or cost control. Here are five tips to help you take control of employee travel: Set simple policies that flex People tend […]
Virgin: why we implemented unlimited holiday
In response to Richard Branson’s decision to offer Virgin Management staff unlimted holiday, we caught up with Sharron Pomells, Head of People Operations at Virgin Management, to find out more about the policy, the inspiration behind its introduction, the ongoing challenges of running the scheme, and what they have in store for the future. What was […]
The beautiful benefits and challenges of whole business offshoring
Expensify offer ‘hassle-free’ expense reporting built for employees. Each year they engage in ‘offshoring’ – taking their workforce to a foreign location where they’ll work on specific projects for a month. This benefit is challenging to make work but very rewarding. David Barrett, Expensify’s founder and CEO, tells HRZone about offshoring, how it helps the […]
Subsidising race fees as an employee benefit
Based in Boise, Idaho, Kount produces solutions for fraud and risk management, helping to reduce fraud losses for online merchants and payments processors. Kount has a commitment to the organisation’s core values of innovation, agility, customer success, future focus and teamwork. One of the main reasons people choose to live in Boise is to take advantage […]
The most tax-efficient ways to reward employees
Employers with an eye for cost saving often want to take advantage of any tax and NI contribution (NIC) breaks when they devise a remuneration package, but saving money on the salaries and wages bill is only part of the picture. It is important to remember that a benefit is only a benefit if the […]
The importance of communicating your employee benefits package effectively
Learn more ways to improve your workplace wellbeing with The Ultimate Wellbeing Toolkit – a practical learning hub brought to you by financial protection specialists Unum, designed to equip HR professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to show employees that they are valued. At Benefex we understand the importance of communicating your employee benefits package effectively. […]
Workplace giving: new research sheds light on the gap between interest and action for Millennials
Modern workplaces increasingly recognise the need for a more flexible approach when it comes to how they reward and manage their staff, and in particular the expectations of a growing Millennial workforce. Many are adapting by offering flexible, individually-tailored benefits packages, but one area that has remained fairly static within this mix is the option […]
Who’s holding the organisational moral compass?
In an age where many of the tech companies in Silicon Valley espouse their great benefits such as 'bring your pet to work' or skateboard parks and, recently, the episode with egg freezing, whose responsibility is it to ensure that there is a moral compass guiding benefit packages or incentives offered to staff? Whilst companies […]
How to make company cars cost less with salary sacrifice
Company cars were once the sole preserve of senior management and sales executives. The way in which they were funded made them a direct cost to the business. However, a growing number of organisations are using the salary sacrifice model (an established and well-received principle in, for example, the pensions market), to offer more inclusive […]
Auto-enrolment pensions: An update
One year after automatic enrolment was introduced, the lessons and experiences of organisations that have already auto-enrolled are coming to light. This article looks at some of the more common pitfalls that can occur when introducing an auto-enrolment scheme. Planning too late: Auto-enrolment is a complicated process and it can take between six to twelve […]
What can we do about the rise of the ‘bleisure’ trip?
There’s a new buzz word in town. Like it or loathe it, but ‘bleisure’ is on the rise among the UK’s employees – following the American trend for rolling business trips and holidays into one. As many of us find ourselves increasingly time poor due to commitments in our personal and working lives, taking ‘bleisure’ […]
Do your rewards encourage staff loyalty? Looking at the future of employee rewards
This week we saw two great things happen for the U.K economy. Firstly, the BBC announced that the growth in the 2nd quarter of 2013 had reached .6%, outpacing initial economic forecasts according to the ONS. Secondly, we heard from Ernst & Young that UK GDP will accelerate to 2.2% in 2014, an impressive 1.1 […]
Analysis: Government changes to childcare vouchers
Following months of negotiation between the coalition parties, the recent Budget statement included an announcement regarding the future of Childcare Vouchers. Childcare vouchers are now likely to undergo changes from October 2015. So why is change happening, what does it mean for employers and employees, and should your company cease to offer this benefit in […]
How to take your employee benefits package to the next level
This was written by Amanda Flint, Reward and Incentive Partner, Grant Thornton UK LLP. With the deadlines for the government’s pension auto-enrolment scheme fast approaching for many businesses, now is a great time for organisations to review the benefits packages they offer. Rather than just being a token gesture, flexible and creative employee remuneration packages can […]
News: benefits packages stagnating as employees demand more
Benefits packages provided by employers are out of step with the needs of employees, according to new research commissioned by Unum from Populus and Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). UK employees are becoming increasingly risk averse because of the recession. Over three-quarters (77 percent) are concerned over financial security and are prioritising long-term financial security in […]
Poundland’s graduate shelf-stacker wins back-to-work ‘slavery’ appeal
Three judges in London have ruled key elements of the government’s back-to-work schemes are unlawful and have quashed them. University graduate Cait Reilly has won her Court of Appeal claim that requiring her to work for free at a Poundland discount store was unlawful. Reilly had been claiming jobseekers’ benefits since 2011 after […]
News: 1/3 of workers sleep with colleagues at the Xmas party
Even though just under a third of employees admitted to having had sex with a co-worker at the Christmas party, nearly three quarters don’t want to go this year. According to a poll of 1,000 UK staff undertaken by married dating website IllicitEncounters.com, three out of five also acknowledged having kissed someone that they work […]
Talent Spot: Community blogger, John Sylvester
Not everyone always understands John Sylvester. The problem is that, for most people, being a motivation and employee incentives specialist requires a bit of an explanation as to what it means. For instance, after struggling to fathom precisely what their dad did for a living, his two sons eventually hit upon the idea of […]
News: Starbucks’ move to cut staff benefits sparks fresh concern
Starbucks’ decision to cut paid lunch breaks, sick leave and maternity benefits has sparked concern among staff that they are being forced to help subsidise the coffee chain’s potential tax bill increase. According to the Guardian, on the same day last week that the House of Commons’ public accounts committee branded the firm’s tax avoidance […]
