At a glance: reward and benefits headlines this week 20-26 September 2019
The headlines you might have missed between 20-26 September.
Days taken off due to stress: Managers want to know but employees do not admit to it
HR Review: Over half of managers would prefer if their employees told them they need to take a day off due to stress whilst just under half of the employees have admitted to feeling stressed but not taking a day off from work. Read story
SME demand for EBC support grows – research
Corporate Adviser: More than half of small and medium-sized companies are planning to introduce or expand the benefits they offer staff as they focus on recruitment and retention, and increasingly want employee benefits consultants to help them, according to new research for MetLife UK. Read story
85% believe employers have duty to encourage work-life balance
Employee Benefits: For the 14th consecutive year, the majority (85%) of respondents believe they have a duty of care to encourage employees to achieve a sensible work-life balance, according to research by Employee Benefits. Read story
Governor of California signs bill redefining employee status
Employee Benefits: On 18 September 2019, California governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that updates and amends various sections of the state’s Labor Code and Unemployment Insurance Code, redefining and clarifying the classification of employees versus independent contractors, or gig workers. Read story
Accenture, Diageo and L’Oreal among top employers for diversity and inclusion
Employee Benefits: Professional services firm Accenture, alcoholic drinks organisation Diageo, and cosmetics business L’Oreal (pictured) are among the employers listed among the Top 100 most diverse and inclusive organisations globally. Read story
Flexible working now routine for two thirds of US workers
Workplace Insight: A new report from Owl Labs claims that although two-thirds of US workers now work away from their main place of work some of the time, there are still many people and organisations that are unaware of the benefits, processes and challenges involved in flexible working. Read story
MPs request Carillion liquidation update
Pensions Age: Two government select committees have written to The Insolvency Service (TIS), requesting an update on the liquidation of Carillion and the amount owed to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF). Read story
71% of flexible office workers don’t leave the office for lunch
HR News: Workthere’s latest European research report, What Coworkers Want*, reveals that 71% of workers in flexible office space do not leave the office at lunchtime. The serviced office specialist found that, of those respondents that spent their lunchbreak in the office, 26% stay at their desk, 25% go to a breakout area and 20% use an internal café, with just 22% actually leaving the office. Read story
Employers need to address ‘social wellbeing’ of staff: survey
Corporate Adviser: This survey, from Thomsons Online Benefits, found people were more likely to be awake in the early hours worrying about work, than they were about debts or their caring responsibilities. Read story
Young fear Brexit will damage pensions
Corporate Adviser: Almost one in two savers (42 per cent) are worried that their pension funds will fall as a result of Brexit, according to new research. Read story
Thomas Cook schemes expected to enter PPF
Professional Pensions: Thomas Cook’s four UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes are expected to enter the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) as the company begins insolvency proceedings. Read story
No evidence to suggest opt-out surge after April contribution rate hike, TPR says
Professional Pensions: There has been no evidence to suggest that a “significant number” of people have opted out of their pension scheme after the final contribution rate hike, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has said. Read story
O2 pledges commitment to disability inclusion during National Inclusion Week
Employee Benefits: Telecommunications organisation O2 has today (23 September 2019) announced its commitment to increasing disability inclusion within the business by joining The Valuable 500. Read story
Jersey minimum wage to rise by 1.8% in October 2019
Employee Benefits: The minimum wage in Jersey is set to increase to £8.02 per hour on 1 October 2019 for all employees over the age of 16. Read story
Modern ways companies are beginning to motivate their staff
HR News: Wildly unconventional benefits and perks have surfaced over the last few years, with research estimating that increasing happiness can boost productivity by around 12 per cent, showing the benefits of focus. Read story
Is a 32 hour work week a viable option?
HR Review: On 23rd September 2019, the Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, announced that Labour is planning to cut down the average time of a working week to 32 hours. Read story
CEOs place more importance on workplace culture than CHROs whilst hiring
HR Review: Chief executive officers (CEOs) of companies are more likely to consider workplace culture than chief human resources officers (CHROs) whilst hiring candidates. Read story
Now, Widows, Aspire and ITB receive authorisation
Corporate Adviser: Now: Pensions, the master trust that was beset with administration problems that saw it fail to collect £18m of contributions, has received authorisation from The Pensions Regulator today. Read story
Eight in 10 working mums feel ‘trapped’ by lack of flexible working
People Management: Survey of parents finds more than half of women have seen no career progression since having children, as experts call for flexibility to become the ‘norm’. Read story
86% cite reasonable cost as major factor when choosing healthcare benefits
Employee Benefits: Reasonable cost (86%) has remained the largest influencer when choosing to buy, or continue to offer, benefits since this question was first asked back in 2006, according to research by Employee Benefits. Read story
Five Guys recognised for employee value proposition in hospitality industry
Employee Benefits: American fast food chain Five Guys has been named winner in the Employer brand and EVP (employee value proposition) category at the Caterer.com People Awards 2019. Read story
Ogilvy UK launches employee support network focused on neurodiversity
Employee Benefits: Advertising and marketing agency Ogilvy UK, which has a workforce of approximately 1,200, including freelancers, is marking National Inclusion Week (23 to 29 September 2019) with the launch of an internal support network focused on neurodiversity. Read story
Two-fifths of public sector employees worked flexibly in 2018
Employee Benefits: Just over two-fifths (42%) of employees in the public sector worked flexibly through alternative working patterns in 2018, according to research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Read story
Two-fifths think pension funds will fall in value as a result of Brexit
Employee Benefits: Just over two-fifths (42%) of respondents believe that their pension funds will fall in value as a result of Britain’s exit from the European Union (Brexit), currently projected for 31 October 2019, according to research by pension provider Aegon. Read story
Omniserv employees at Heathrow Airport to receive London living wage in 2020
Employee Benefits: Employees working for airline and airport solutions provider Omniserv at Heathrow, and who are members of trade union GMB, are to receive the London living wage no later than February 2020. Read story
Lack of staff exercise costing UK employers up to £6.6bn
HR Grapevine: New research has revealed that increased physical activity among employees could save UK businesses up to £6.6billion as a result of improved productivity per year. Read story
Firms remain committed to wellness programmes
Workplace Insight: A new report from Deloitte claims that 78 percent of employers are looking to invest in workplace wellness programmes in the next three years. Read story
Five signs a workplace could be toxic and how to turn it around
Cover: Wellbeing expert Richard Holmes explores the ingredients that create an unproductive workplace. Read story
Five top tips to overcome the UK’s long hours working culture and drive productivity
Employer News: Chris Kerridge, employee engagement expert at MHR, explores the UK’s long hours culture and provides five top tips to help organisations establish a culture which drives productivity and ensures staff aren’t overworked. Read story
HSE to publish work-related stress investigations criteria
Personnel Today: The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is set to publish the criteria required for it to begin an investigation into claims of work-related stress. Read story
More than half of accessed pension pots emptied out - FCA
Pensions Age: More than half (54 per cent) of all pension schemes that were accessed in 2018/19 were completely emptied of all savings, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed. Read story
Four employee experience myths that must be tackled
HR Magazine: Leah Johnson, vice president of advisory at Gartner, outlined the popular myths that HR should be aware of around employee experience. Read story
Raising office morale: The value of introducing financial wellbeing perks
Incentive and Motivation: Workplace perks designed to enhance financial wellbeing are fast becoming the norm across Britain, with a recent Buck study finding that 81% of companies aspire to achieve a culture of wellbeing. The growing trend is not only being pushed by employers, but also in politics. Read story
Half of UK employees expect social wellbeing support from employers
Incentive and Motivation: Research released today by Thomsons Online Benefits reveals a growing requirement among UK employees for social wellbeing support from their employers*. Read story
Female NEST savers three times more likely to be under AE threshold than men
Professional Pensions: Female members of NEST are three times more likely than men to be under the auto-enrolment (AE) eligibility threshold, but exhibit equal savings behaviour, the provider has found. Read story
Lifetime allowance breaches cost savers £185m in 2017/18
Professional Pensions: More than 4,500 pension scheme members breached the lifetime allowance in the 2017/18 tax year, an increase of 36% from the year before, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Read story
Rothesay Life agrees £4.7bn buyout of GEC scheme; Biggest ever deal smashes 2018 volumes
Professional Pensions: Rothesay Life has agreed the UK’s largest ever bulk annuity deal to date – a £4.7bn buyout of the GEC 1972 Plan, making 2019 officially a record-breaking year. Read story
71% offer support and counselling services to employees
Employee Benefits: Support and counselling services remain the most popular type of healthcare benefit in 2019, with seven in 10 (71%) employers offering something in this category. This type of benefit has remained in the top spot for three consecutive years, according to research by Employee Benefits. Read story
Labour pledges 32-hour week, end of zero hours and to tackle menopause stigma
Employee Benefits: During the 2019 Labour Party Conference, which took place from Saturday 21 to Wednesday 25 September, shadow chancellor of the exchequer John McDonnell MP (pictured) committed the party to start work implementing a 32-hour average working week, with no reductions to pay, during its next term in government. Read story
Gravity Payments to extend $70,000 minimum wage to new staff
Employee Benefits: Seattle-based credit processing and financial services organisation Gravity Payments has announced that employees in its new Boise office will start earning a minimum wage of $70,000 (£56,833) per year by 2024. Read story
CEO raises minimum employee pay to staggering £56k
HR Grapevine: A CEO has hiked the salaries of each of his employees again who will now earn a minimum annual wage of £56,000 ($70,000) by 2024. Read story
How businesses can address rising absenteeism
HR News: New research from the British Chamber of Commerce and Unum[i] has revealed that two-fifths (43%) of businesses have had employees absent from work for more than four weeks due to ill health, in the last two years. Read story
Employers urged to discuss the menopause more openly
HR Magazine: As the Labour party calls for menopausal women to be given greater workplace protections, menopause coach Kate Usher spoke candidly about her experiences. Read story