At a glance: reward and benefits headlines this week
The headlines you might have missed between 18 July - 23 July 2015.
Carlsberg UK introduces financial education
Employee Benefits: Carlsberg UK has introduced a financial education and wellness programme for its 900 employees in an attempt to develop their overall wellbeing. Read story
Sports Direct staff to receive £155 million in bonuses
Employee Benefits: Some 2,000 managers and permanent staff at Sports Direct are to receive £155 million in bonuses. Read story
Staff save £122.94 a month through share schemes
Employee Benefits: More than 1.4 million UK employees are now saving an average of £122.94 a month through share schemes, according to IFS Proshare. Read story
Ikea to pay the Living Wage
HR Magazine: The home furnishing retailer has announced it will pay all 9,000 UK workers at least £7.85 an hour from the 1st April 2016. Read story
Specsavers introduces retail incentive scheme
Employee Benefits: Specsavers has implemented an e-points system to reward and motivate its 17,500 employees. Read story
40% rise in employees seeking assistance for depression
Employee Benefits: The number of depression-related calls employees made to Canada Life Group Insurance’s employee assistance programme increased by 40% year on year. Read story
61% to work past target retirement age if savings are insufficient
Employee Benefits: Around two-thirds (61%) of UK employees plan to continue working if they have not saved enough by their target retirement age. Read story
Altmann urges employers to opt for relief at source schemes
Corporate Adviser: Employers should opt for auto-enrolment schemes that offer relief at source rather than net pay arrangements says pensions minister Ros Altmann. Read story
Friends, Royal and Standard top F&TRC workplace pension ratings
Corporate Adviser: Friends Life, Royal London and Standard Life have all received top rankings in F&TRC’s new workplace pension scheme ratings. Read story
Axa PPP purchase of Simplyhealth book gets go-ahead
Corporate Adviser: Axa PPP Healthcare has today received clearance from the UK Competition and Markets Authority that the acquisition of Simplyhealth’s private medical insurance business can go ahead. Read story
13% of companies 'missing AE deadline’
Corporate Adviser: One in three companies meeting their auto-enrolment deadline are establishing a scheme either very close to or after the date has passed, according to Now: Pensions. Read story
Trust Pensions offers Isa and group life
Corporate Adviser: SME auto-enrolment master trust Trust Pensions is offering members an Isa service and employers a group life proposition. Read story
Which? calls for FCA crackdown on ‘confusing’ drawdown charges
Professional Pensions: Consumer group Which? wants the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to take action to simplify drawdown charges to make pensions freedom and choice retirement income options easier to understand. Read story
Government expects to net £430bn from public pension changes
Professional Pensions: The biggest ever overhaul of public sector pensions are expected to save the government more than £430bn by 2061/2062, according to HM Treasury. Read story
How to motivate warehouse logistics staff
HR Magazine: It’s vital for warehouse staff to feel happy at work and get on well with their colleagues, so here are some ideas for motivating your warehouse logistics staff. Read story
High Court sides with BBC to cap pensionable pay
Employee Benefits: The High Court’s decision, in May 2015, agreeing with the BBC to cap pensionable salary is a comforting result for employers. Read story
Employee recognition: an app for a tap on the back
Personnel Today: A new app can publicly celebrate workers’ successes and help boost employee recognition. Read story
Jelf predicts Gulf will unify healthcare
Cover Magazine: With the current pace of change in the Gulf States, there will be a unified healthcare system introduced. Read story
How to protect pensions data ahead of changing regulations
Employee Benefits: The new EU General Data Protection Regulation, expected to come into force in 2017 or 2018, will have significant implications for how employers handle data, and pension schemes in particular. Read story
Employees not paid for jury service
HR Magazine: One in 20 (5%) employers don’t pay employees for attending jury service, according to research from Churchill Home Insurance. Read story
McLean savages 'simpler state pension' claim
Corporate Adviser: The government’s claim of a simpler state pension system has been left in tatters following the publication of a DWP fact sheet. Read story
Treasury reveals Pension Wise take-up
Money Marketing: Pension Wise has provided 18,000 guidance appointments since its launch, according to figures from the Treasury. Read story
Advisers urge MPs to lay bare regulatory costs
Money Marketing: Advisers want to see MPs shine a light on the performance of Pension Wise and the cost of regulation as part an inquiry into pension guidance and advice. Read story
Fit for Work service completes national rollout
Cover Magazine: The Fit for Work (FfW) service, which aims to reduce the impact of long-term sickness absence, has completed its nationwide rollout after going live across all of England. Read story
20% would save more than auto-enrolment default
Employee Benefits: One-fifth of respondents would increase the amount they contribute to their pensions beyond the minimum auto-enrolment contribution rate, according to research by Aegon. Read story
Top-earning female health professionals make 51% less than men
Employee Benefits: Top-earning female financial managers and directors are paid 40% less than their male counterparts. Read story
Twitter under fire for hosting office frat party
HR Grapevine: Twitter has come under fire once again this week as the social media giant has been forced to apologise for hosting a “frat party” amid rumours of gender bias. Read story
TPR fines more than 400 employers over auto-enrolment failures
Professional Pensions: The Pensions Regulator (TPR) issued 424 fixed penalty notices and five escalating fines against employers for auto-enrolment failures in the year to March. Read story
Civil Aviation Authority scheme completes £1.6bn buy-in
Professional Pensions: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pension Scheme has completed a £1.6bn buy-in with Rothesay Life to insure the benefits of approximately two thirds of its members. Read story
EAPF raises sustainable assets to 26% as climate risk exposure falls
Professional Pensions: Environment Agency Pension Fund (EAPF) has increased investments in the sustainable and green economy to more than a quarter of the fund, according to its annual 2014-15 report. Read story
Extra 500k employers face auto-enrolment challenge
Money Marketing: The Pensions Regulator has upped its estimate of the number of employers that will be automatically enrolling staff into pensions schemes by around half a million. Read story