At a glance: reward and benefits headlines this week 15-21 June 2018
The headlines you might have missed between 15-21 June.
Why schemes are flocking to passive funds
Professional Pensions: Research finds passive funds are to increase in usage by 6% per annum at least until the end of the decade. James Phillips explores the reasons behind the increasing shift. Read story
Government urged to better support working fathers
HR Magazine: Research finds half of fathers are unaware of Shared Parental Leave as government says more research is needed before higher funding can be given. Read story
More than a third fail to assess basic needs for retirement
Pensions Expert: More than a third of people have never estimated their income needs for later in life, and 38 per cent of individuals are not confident about their ability to retire comfortably, according to new research by provider Aegon. Read story
DHL awards two-year pay deal to Gatwick-based EasyJet ground staff
Employee Benefits: Approximately 1,000 ground staff and baggage handlers working for EasyJet at Gatwick Airport, who are directly employed by logistics organisation DHL, are to receive a two-year pay deal. Read story
Jawonio recognised as breastfeeding-friendly workplace
Employee Benefits: The Rockland County Department of Health in New York has recognised disability services organisation Jawonio as a breastfeeding-friendly workplace as part of its Breastfeeding Promotion and Support Programme. Read story
Foster Denovo hosts breast cancer lunch and learn session
Employee Benefits: National advisory organisation Foster Denovo hosted a breast cancer awareness lunch and learn session for its 100 employees as part of its employee wellbeing programme. Read story
75% of employers believe their industry does not view the gender pay gap as a problem
Employee Benefits: Three-quarters (75%) of employer respondents believe that their industry does not perceive the gender pay gap to be a problem, according to research by global professional services organisation Lockton. Read story
PIB Group to acquire i2 Healthcare
Employee Benefits: Employee benefits consultancy organisation PIB Group is to acquire corporate healthcare intermediary business i2 Healthcare. Read story
Electrocomponents scheme invests in bespoke pooled fund
Pensions Expert: The UK defined benefit scheme of FTSE 250 distributor Electrocomponents has moved much of its fixed income exposure into a qualifying investor alternative investment fund. Read story
Deliveroo face MP investigation over employment practices
HR Grapevine: Deliveroo are under the cosh as of late. Last week, a union was given the green light for a high court challenge over the delivery firm’s use of self-employment contracts and now the gig economy employer’s hiring conditions are set to face scrutiny too – The Guardian reports. Read story
Why companies could be set for a flexible working revolution
Personnel Today: Working flexibly can be great for morale and productivity but many companies are held back by cultural obstacles. Mark Grant at Dimension Data says it’s time to build a manifesto for smarter work. Read story
National IFA wants technology to solve ‘gender pensions gap’
Money Marketing: National IFA LEBC is calling for technology to help older vulnerable clients handle their finances if their partner becomes critically ill or passes away. Read story
Govt must justify planned changes to state pension age
Professional Pensions: The government will have to justify proposed changes to the state pension age (SPA) after a Prospect petition secured over 12,000 signatures. Read story
13% of countries do not offer sick pay
Employee Benefits: More than one in 10 (13%) of countries do not offer sick pay, according to research by independent health and welfare consultancy organisation Asinta, and employee benefit provider Punter Southall Health and Protection. Read story
Office for Students to publish university vice-chancellor pay
Employee Benefits: English higher education regulatory body the Office for Students (OFS) has published new requirements obliging universities to submit details of their vice-chancellors’ total remuneration package, to be published in an annual report. Read story
American pizza restaurant chain pays $363,284 in back pay for overtime violations
Employee Benefits: Four pizza restaurants operating as part of American chain Gina La Fornarina, as well as its owner Paola Pedrignani, have been ordered to pay $363,284 (£275,541.83) in back pay and liquidated damages for overtime and record keeping violations. Read story
Government sets out proposals for trustee ESG investment duties
Pensions Expert: Trustees will be expected to publish a statement on how they take account of scheme members’ ethical views, if proposed requirements floated in a government consultation are implemented. Read story
Firm pays out £25k for discrimination against pregnant employee
HR Grapevine: An internship company has had to pay £25,000 to settle a tribunal case after an employee alleged sex discrimination relating to her pregnancy – The Irish News reports. Read story
Pensions minister: Govt won’t rush into auto-enrolment solution for self-employed
Money Marketing: The government will not rush into a “single saving intervention” for self-employed workers because such a move could be counter-productive, Pensions minister Guy Opperman says. Read story
TPR spent £3.1m on external costs in Box Clever case
Professional Pensions: The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has revealed to PP it spent £3.1m in total external costs for the investigation and litigation relating to the Box Clever pension scheme. Read story
TPR suspends trustee after police investigation into fraud
Professional Pensions: A trustee of the Optimum Retirement Benefits Plan has been suspended by The Pensions Regulator (TPR) following the launch of a police investigation into a suspected liberation scam. Read story
45% think flexible working is important in supporting an ageing workforce
Employee Benefits: More than two-fifths (45%) of respondents believe that flexible working or part-time opportunities are of the highest importance when it comes to supporting an ageing workforce, according to research by Canada Life Group Insurance. Read story
Rosyth-based Babcock employees to receive pay increase of up to 9.2%
Employee Benefits: Waterside manufacturing and repair organisation Babcock is to award 700 employees based at Rosyth dockyard a pay deal, including a pay increase of up to 9.2%. Read story
Gamesys increases shared parental leave take-up by matching enhanced maternity pay
Employee Benefits: Global technology and online gambling organisation Gamesys has increased the take-up of fathers using shared parental leave by matching its shared parental pay to its enhanced maternity pay rate. Read story
Four ways of presenting your gender pay gap: which works best?
Personnel Today: Last week, the Government Equalities Office released a report suggesting that people need more support when interpreting gender pay gap (GPG) data. Read story
Virtual GP services: NHS vs private
Cover: As the NHS shows signs of embracing the virtual GP concept, will the burgeoning employer-provided market face a slowdown? Asks Suzanne Clarkson. Read story
Pension transfers hit record £10.6bn in Q1
Money Marketing: Pension transfers hit a record of £10.6bn in the first quarter of this year, according to Office for National Statistics data. Read story
61% are not satisfied with their benefits and rewards
Employee Benefits: Nearly two-thirds (61%) of respondents are not satisfied with the benefits and rewards their employers offer, according to research by Sodexo Engage. Read story
Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Air Force recognised for family-friendly best practice
Employee Benefits: Banking organisations Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group, law firm Lewis Silkin and the Royal Air Force are among the winning organisations recognised at Working Families’ best practice awards 2018. Read story
Lesley Titcomb: Balance between employer and member interests not always right
Professional Pensions: The Pensions Regulator (TPR) says it may have made mistakes but faces complex decisions to balance member and employer interests. Read story
Mat Zimmerman: Why unretirement works for wellbeing
Corporate Adviser: Changes in the way we approach work, pensions and retirement have a range of implications for reward and financial wellbeing strategies. Workforces can benefit greatly when employers take a diverse approach says Scottish Widows market development manager Mat Zimmerman. Read story
Less than a third of trustees think TPR will monitor fairly
Pensions Expert: Just 31 per cent of trustees are confident the Pensions Regulator will police funding agreements fairly and effectively in future, according to a survey by consultancy Willis Towers Watson. Read story
Pay awards fail to rise above inflation
Personnel Today: The median pay rise awarded by employers was 2.5% over the past three months – a level that has remained unchanged since the start of 2018. Read story
Global employer medical costs increasing at three times inflation
Health Insurance Daily: Stronger digital capabilities will be a critical factor in managing costs, says Mercer. Read story
Financial wellbeing ‘more important than Brexit’
Health Insurance Daily: The government should put financial wellbeing at the top of its to-do list, rather than focus on Brexit, according to Jane Goodland, responsible business director at advice firm Quilter. Read story