At a glance: reward and benefits headlines this week 13-19 March 2020
The headlines you might have missed between 13-19 March 2020.
COVID-19: not all businesses have the ability to work from home
HR Review: As COVID-19 spreads, remote working seems to be a way to counter the virus. In light of this, a site that allows you to anonymously review companies has shared some tips on how employers can manage their teams whilst working remotely and how employees can maintain a level of professionalism. Read story
PLSA publishes guide on diversity and inclusion
Professional Pensions: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has published a step-by-step guide on diversity and inclusion detailing steps for trustees to follow to promote greater inclusivity. Read story
Three weeks leaves 'no time' for trustees to explain £90,000 taper raise
Professional Pensions: The government has left pension schemes with insufficient time to prepare members for changes to tapered annual allowance thresholds, due to come into effect from 6 April. Read story
Number of over-50s on zero-hours contracts surges, official figures show
People Management: Experts say increase is down to the financial and lifestyle benefits offered by this way of working, but warn of risks to pensions and sick pay eligibility. Read story
ISS to pay outsourced NHS staff in full during self-isolation
Employee Benefits: Healthcare facility services organisation ISS has promised full pay for any of its outsourced NHS staff self-isolating due to the spread of Covid-19 (Coronavirus). Read story
Wren Kitchens, HMV and Selfridges listed among top UK retail employers
Employee Benefits: Kitchen manufacturer Wren Kitchens, music and film retailer HMV and department store chain Selfridges have been listed among the top UK retail employers to work for in 2020. Read story
Thames Water make longterm investment in employee health & wellbeing
Employer News: Thames Water have announced plans to continue their partnership with Health and Wellbeing Provider of the Year Healthy Performance. The partnership will see Healthy Performance deliver health and wellbeing initiatives for Thames Water employees for the next eight years. Read story
Taper changes free high earners from risky investments - Citimark
Pensions Age: The Chancellor’s decision to raise the earnings threshold for the tapered annual allowance means higher earners will no longer be forced into risky investments, according to Citimark Partnership. Read story
Ryan Bridgman: ‘we are leading the way for flexible working in Europe’
HR Review: “We are leading the way for flexible working in Europe,” this is what Ryan Bridgman, regional director of UK & I for Jobrapido said whilst talking to HRreview. Read story
‘Expectation gap’ when it comes to workplace wellbeing support
Corporate Adviser: There is a significant gap between employer and employee expectations when it comes to the support available for health and wellbeing. Read story
How employers can support staff with coronavirus anxiety
Corporate Adviser: Employers need support staff with anxiety about the coronavirus, and take positive steps to reduce uncertainty. Read story
Interview: How the BT Pension Scheme is focussing on quality service
Professional Pensions: BT Pension Scheme Management's chief executive Morten Nilsson speaks to Jonathan Stapleton about his scheme's focus on member experience. Read story
PensionBee to launch UK's first fossil fuel-free fund with L&G
Professional Pensions: PensionBee has confirmed it has partnered with Legal & General with plans to launch the nation’s first fossil fuel-free fund. Read story
Coronavirus: trade body calls for government-funded temporary staff redundancies
People Management: But experts say such drastic measures are unlikely to be taken, advising struggling businesses to support employees in other ways during the crisis. Read story
Half of employees would not receive normal pay if self-isolating
Employee Benefits: Just under half (48%) of employees can expect to receive their normal salary if they have to take sick leave, according to a survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Read story
Southbank Capital Limited director fined £12,800 by Pensions Regulator
Employee Benefits: Director and shareholder of Southbank Capital Limited, Michael Woolley, has been handed a £10,000 fine, and ordered to pay a further £2,800 in costs, for failing to hand over information and documents requested by The Pensions Regulator (TPR). Read story
Outsourced cleaners at University Hospital Lewisham face ongoing pay discrepancies
Employee Benefits: NHS cleaners working for outsourced services provider ISS at University Hospital lewisham, who are represented by trade union GMB, have reported that recent pay errors made by the organisation have not been rectified. Read story
Higher female state pension age causes an increase in older women at work
Workplace Insight: The number of women aged between 60 and 64 in work has increased by 51 percent since the 1995 Pensions Act came into effect which increased the female state pension age from 60 to 65 since 2010, claims research from Rest Less, a jobs, volunteering and guidance site for the over 50s. Read story
Over 75s claiming pension credit continues to fall
Pensions Age: The number of households with claimants aged over 75 claiming pension credit continued to fall in 2019, following the trend seen since 2015. Read story
Nearly 3,000 jobs losses at Carphone Warehouse
HR Review: Nearly 3,000 jobs are to be cut at Carphone Warehouse, as the company plans to close down its 531 standalone stores, which is a move unrelated to COVID-19. Read story
New guidance on GMP rectification
Corporate Adviser: The GMP Equalisation Working Group, a cross party body, has issued its latest guidance for pension schemes. Read story
Paul Avis: Coronavirus shows the real value of group protection
Corporate Adviser: The Coronavirus pandemic is exactly the kind of situation that reinforces the value of group protection and the importance of using a quality, strong insurer with beneficial terms and conditions. Read story
Parliamentary group launches to step up action on pension scams
Professional Pensions: The new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pension Scams has had its inaugural meeting in parliament to outline its priorities for boosting public awareness around scam risks. Read story
Charge cap could be a barrier to CDC, experts fear
Pensions Expert: A collective defined contribution pension scheme for Royal Mail employees is inching closer to the starting gate, but an amendment to the pension schemes bill to impose a charge cap could derail other nascent CDCs from ever getting off the ground, according to experts. Read story
State pension changes boost number of women over 60 in work
People Management: Experts say employers should embrace this by introducing programmes to attract, engage and retain older workers, but must also be aware of the wellbeing implications. Read story
NHFT signs Dying to Work charter to support terminally ill employees
Employee Benefits: Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has signed the Trade Union Congress’ (TUC) Dying to Work charter, pledging to support employees who become terminally ill while in work. Read story
Workday to give staff one-time payment to help tackle Coronavirus hardship
Employee Benefits: Financial management organisation Workday is offering several employee benefits to support staff through the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, one of which is a payment worth two weeks’ pay. Read story
IWGB launches dispute with Bolt over employment status and unfair dismissal
Employee Benefits: The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has launched a claim against transportation organisation Bolt, concerning an employment status and dismissal dispute. Read story
Can employees be forced to take unpaid time off?
HR Grapevine: During this turbulent and uncertain period of time, where coronavirus has gripped the world, many employers and employees are unsure of what measures to follow, particularly when it comes to paid sick leave and travel. Read story
How businesses can manage flexible working at scale
Cover: As the COVID-19 situation escalates, many UK companies will need to implement flexible working. Read story
Mind the gap between employer and employee wellbeing support expectations: new GRiD research
Employer News: Changes in the welfare system have meant that the responsibility for supporting people is increasingly falling to the workplace with the onus on employers to do more to support their employees. Read story
ITV given 6 month deadline to support Box Clever scheme
Pensions Age: ITV has been given a six month deadline to put in place financial support for the Box Clever pension scheme, after losing its legal challenge against The Pensions Regulator (TPR). Read story
UCU postpones reballots amid COVID-19 concerns
Pensions Age: University and College Union (UCU) has confirmed plans to postpone pension strike reballots of universities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, although broader action will continue. Read story
In-work poverty: All work and no pay
HR Magazine: Work is no longer a route out of poverty for many UK employees. But how did we get here? Read story
IR35 to be delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19
HR Review: The extension of IR35 to the private sector has been delayed by a year, due to the uncertainty COVID-19 has brought with it. Read story
‘Never has there been a greater need for flexible working’
HR Review: Due to the spread of COVID-19 and more and more employers backing remote working, one CEO has said this is now the perfect time to fully implement flexible working. Read story
Covid shut down hits employee benefits sector
Corporate Adviser: Covid-19 is already having a significant effect on business practices in the employees benefits space. Read story
PMI postpones exams while FCA delays consultation responses amid coronavirus outbreak
Professional Pensions: The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has postponed all of its exams, while the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has moved to delay its consultation responses amid the market disruptions caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Read story
Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed by US House of Representatives
Employee Benefits: The US government’s House of Representatives has passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), aimed at providing support to those affected by the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Read story
Uber introduces Coronavirus top-up sick pay for those with medical documentation
Employee Benefits: Transportation organisation Uber has announced a ‘top-up’ sick pay policy for its drivers and delivery workers, but will only pay it to those with medical documentation of either a Covid-19 (Coronavirus) diagnosis, or a health authority requiring them to self-isolate. Read story
Morrisons' pension surplus increases by £256m
Pensions Age: The Morrisons Group pension schemes reported £256m worth of growth in its net accounting surplus over the past year, up to £944m (£688m in 2018/19). Read story
COVID-19 creates 'perfect conditions' for pension scammers – Aegon
Pensions Age: The coronavirus pandemic has created the “perfect conditions” for pension scammers to operate, Aegon has warned. Read story
How an employee can uphold their mental wellbeing during remote working
HR Review: As the uptake of remote working is ever increasing due to the spread of COVID-19, it can prove to be a challenge to adopt this style of working as it is still new to some employees. As well as maintaining physical fitness it is important to maintain mental wellbeing as loneliness can be a big side effect of remote working. Read story
Schools shutting down will be ‘hard for working parents’
HR Review: From 20/03/20 all schools in the UK will be shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19 which will may prove to be “hard for working parents”. Read story
BoE cuts rates again – market reaction
Corporate Adviser: The Bank of England has today cut rates to 0.1 per cent from 0.25 per cent and added further quantitative easing through increasing the bond purchase programme by £200 billion. Read story
Employers, we’re here for you and your staff say advisers and providers
Corporate Adviser: The Covid-19 pandemic is challenging employers’ ability to manage their staff, but products, providers and advisers are there to help them through the worst, say experts. Read story
The contingency plans activated by administrators during the coronavirus outbreak
Professional Pensions: In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, Holly Roach looks at the contingency plans activated by key pensions administrators to ensure business continuity. Read story
How to talk to pension members about Covid-19
Professional Pensions: Quietroom's Simon Grover gives five communication tips on what pension schemes can do to reassure their members about the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Read story
Coronavirus: more support needed for working parents as schools close, say business bodies
People Management: Experts say employers need to accept there will be disruption as employees ‘struggle to be as productive as normal’. Read story
NPS fails to submit pay increases before 2020 deadline
Employee Benefits: Unions in England and Wales have requested talks with the National Probation Service (NPS) after it confirmed that it will not be paying employees their expected wage increases for this year in April. Read story
US sporting institutions to support stadium staff with Coronavirus relief funds
Employee Benefits: In response to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, several US sporting institutions have pledged to support part-time stadium employees financially, as the crisis has caused economic uncertainty for many individuals working in the sporting industry. Read story
Deliveroo offers Coronavirus hardship fund for riders with medical evidence
Employee Benefits: Online food delivery organisation Deliveroo has announced that it will introduce a hardship fund for riders that contract Covid-19 (Coronavirus). Read story
Employees reveal DIRE work from home struggles
HR Grapevine: At the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s request, many organisations have, where possible, moved to remote working arrangements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Read story
Jennifer Wallis: How to cope with anxiety during COVID-19
Cover: Freelancer writer Jennifer Wallis draws upon her own experience of anxiety during coronavirus. Read story
Employee Benefits: The Value of Everybody
Employer News: Our regular Columnist Steve Herbert considers how the current crisis is highlighting the value of each individual in the workplace. Read story
USS reports itself to TPR after funding measure breach
Pensions Age: The University Superannuation Scheme (USS) has reported itself to The Pensions Regulator (TPR) after breaching a funding measure from its monitoring and action framework. Read story
Plumbing Pensions seeks clarity on using scheme funds to recover employer debt
Pensions Age: Plumbing Pensions has submitted a petition to Court of Session in Edinburgh, querying whether it can use scheme funding to cover expenses for recovering section 75 employer debt. Read story
Employers expected to continue to meet AE duties amid COVID-19 pandemic
Pensions Age: The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has said that it expected employers to “continue to meet” their automatic enrolment (AE) duties amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Read story
Government must follow support for firms with wage subsidies to protect jobs and livelihoods
HR News: Following the Chancellor’s statement yesterday on urgent measures to protect businesses and working people, the TUC is today (Wednesday) calling on the government to follow other countries with urgent use of wage subsidies to protect working families and save jobs. Read story