At a glance: reward and benefits headlines this week
The headlines you might have missed between 4-10 September 2015.
Sports Direct under fire over employment practices
HR Grapevine: The Trade Union Share Owners (TUSO) group has called on Sports Direct shareholders to vote out company chairman Keith Hellawell. Read story
Employees more likely to hide mental health issue than physical health problem
HR Grapevine: Employees are more likely to lie about an absence if the cause is mental health rather than physical health related, according to research from healthcare provider AXA. Read story
One-third of all long-term workplace absences caused by cancer
WSB: Cancer accounts for almost a third (29%) of all long-term sickness claims paid in the past year, latest claims data from Unum reveals. Read story
How changes to insider dealing rules will impact share plans
WSB: Linklater’s Gillian Chapman looks at how this will affect how senior executives get clearance for dealings in shares, how these dealings are disclosed and the general prohibitions on insider dealing. Read story
4.5 million workers to benefit from national living wage next year
WSB: An estimated 4.5 million employees will see their hourly wages rise as a result of introduction of the National Living Wage in 2016. Read story
Savers invest £1.3bn in income drawdown since April freedoms
WSB: Savers have invested more in regular income products than just taking cash since the April pension freedoms, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Read story
FCA to review ‘highly dangerous’ pension transfer info
Money Marketing: The FCA is to scrutinise adviser support firm IFA Compliance after it published incorrect information about pension transfers. Read story
Regulator flags DLR case to tackle inaction on late valuations
Pensions Expert: The Pensions Regulator has taken the unusual step of publishing details of how it responds when schemes miss their valuation deadlines in an attempt to underscore the need for constructive dialogue between trustees and sponsors. Read story
Charity puts centre up for sale to cover LGPS costs
Pensions Expert: The Multiple Sclerosis Society is to sell a support centre to meet the cost of its local government pension scheme membership, the latest charity to sell assets to cover defined benefit costs. Read story
No salary increase for a third of FTSE 100 CEOs
HR Magazine: More than a third (36%) of FTSE 100 CEOs received no salary increase this year, according to research from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Read story
How Dixons Carphone is using benefits to make a massive merger a success
WSB: Bringing together two or more organisations is a demanding experience. Owain Thomas discovers how two very different firms are using workplace benefits to smooth the transition. Read story
Poor payroll practices damage staff retention rates
WSB: Over a third (35%) of workers would look for a new job if their employer paid them incorrectly just once. Read story
How to simplify your flexible benefits scheme
WSB: Implementing or replacing a flexible benefits scheme is an intricate task. Here are all the key points for doing it successfully. Read story
Cash bonuses - a justifiable strategy?
WSB: Newspaper headlines have been filled with talk of bonuses. Hannah Uttley looks at the ethics of using cash bonuses in a company pay strategy. Read story
British Airways Gatwick staff face lower pay
Employee Benefits: British Airways (BA) cabin crew staff based at Gatwick Airport may face decreased pay or redundancy by 31 October under plans for a revised staff structure. Read story
RehabWorks acquires Right Corecare
Employee Benefits: Injury management and rehabilitation provider RehabWorks has acquired employee assistance programme (EAP) and corporate wellbeing provider Right Corecare. Read story
LV= enters DB and DC markets with robo launch
Corporate Adviser: LV= is launching into the corporate pensions space with robo and human advice propositions for DB and DC schemes. Read story
The big sell: How to attract new trustees to a scheme
Pensions Expert: The role of pension trustee has grown in complexity over recent years and has become too daunting a task for many, but some schemes are finding new ways to lure fresh blood to the role. Read story
Police investigation highlights need for internal scheme checks
Pensions Expert: The protection of scheme assets against internal fraud should be a top priority for administrators and trustees, experts have said, following the arrest of an employee on suspicion of a scheme-related theft. Read story
BNP Paribas aligns multiple benefits schemes to achieve business vision
Employee Benefits: Over the past few years, global banking and financial services organisation BNP Paribas has been faced with a challenging task: aligning the activities of its multiple companies to those of ‘one bank’. Read story
Fit for Work employee referral service launches
Cover Magazine: Employers facing lengthy staff sickness absences can now refer employees to the fully operational Fit for Work (FfW) health service. Read story
ABI chief: Ban ‘irresponsible’ pensions as bank accounts comparison
Money Marketing: Association of British Insurers director general Huw Evans has told MPs that the concept of equating a pension to a bank account should be banished. Read story
Former BT employee is entitled to sick pay
Employee Benefits: The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has upheld a case ruling concerning a BT Managed Services Limited (BTMS) employee who has been receiving income protection payments (GIPs) that ceased to be insured, and who is unlikely to ever return to work. Read story
36% of 51-60 year olds have no pension plans
Employee Benefits: Over a third (36%) of 51-60 year olds have no pension provision, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP). Read story
Senior employees have worst work-life balance
WSB: Over a third (39%) of employers feel work-life balance has the biggest influence on staff morale. Read story
What the NICE workplace wellbeing guidance means for employers
WSB: NICE has published guidance on workplace health and wellbeing. It is a crucial development for employers. Read story
Utilities workers set to vote on pension cut strike
Professional Pensions: Three unions are prepared to ballot 1200 members of 1600 workers at Northumbrian Water and Essex and Suffolk Water over proposals to axe the company’s final salary scheme. Read story
EC looks for pension scheme representatives to advice euro-regulator
Professional Pensions: The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authorities (EIOPA) is looking for pension professionals, member and employer representatives to sit on its pensions stakeholder group. Read story
Politicians urged to clarify meaning of retirement advice
Professional Pensions: Lawmakers must clarify what is meant by advice so it can be made more widely available, industry figures have told the work and pensions select committee. Read story
Citizens Advice: Pension wise appointment restrictions should be lifted
Professional Pensions: Citizens Advice has suggested that over 55s should be able to access face-to-face guidance from Pension wise on more than one occasion. Read story
Employee status of US Uber drivers to be decided
Employee Benefits: App-based taxi firm Uber, is facing further legal action regarding the employee status and rights of its workers, this time from the US. Read story
Government's gender pay gap consultation closes
Employee Benefits: The government consultation on gender pay gap reporting closed to responses on 6 September, after launching on 14 July. Read story
Rugby World Cup 2015: guidance for employers
Personnel Today: The Rugby World Cup 2015 begins on 18 September. While many matches take place in the evening and at weekends, employers need to think about how they can minimise disruption at work while helping staff enjoy the tournament. Read story
Now: Pensions to employ 250 in new Nottingham base
Corporate Adviser: Now: Pensions is opening a second office in Nottingham in November employing up to 250 new jobs over the next two years as it prepares for the small and micro phase of auto-enrolment rollout. Read story
Low support for pension Isa without upfront incentive - Aviva research
Corporate Adviser: Less than a quarter of pension savers would support a move to pension Isas where there is no incentive to save other than tax-free growth and withdrawals, according to research from Aviva. Read story
One in six planning to access pension - NAPF research
Corporate Adviser: Just 17 per cent of the 3.7m individuals aged 55 to 70 with pensions not yet in payment are planning to access their pension savings under the new freedoms in 2015, according to NAPF research. Read story
Scottish Widows warns of growing inadequacy of ‘scheme only’ offerings
Professional Pensions: Providing a pension scheme without additional support and financial education is “becoming insufficient”, Scottish Widows warns. Read story
Exclusive: How neuroscience can boost employee motivation
WSB: Empathy and setting short-term goals for workers are two of the key ways employers can motivate their staff in the workplace, latest research reveals. Read story
Checkatrade.com launches staff engagement programme
Employee Benefits: Checkatrade.com, a directory of trade services personnel, has introduced an employee engagement programme for its 208 members of staff. Read story
66% are saving adequately for retirement
Employee Benefits: Two-thirds (66%) of respondents employed by large organisations are now saving adequately for retirement, compared to 53% in 2013, according to research by Scottish Widows. Read story
MidlandHR holds staff events to celebrate National Payroll Week
Employee Benefits: Employees at human resources and payroll service provider Midland HR are taking part in a range of activities to mark National Payroll Week (NPW). Read story
Employers should support sub-networks within their disability network
HR Magazine: Employers should support the creation of sub-networks within their disability network, according to Kate Nash, creator of networking services Purple Space and Kate Nash Associates. Read story
Pension funds' UK shareholdings a tenth of 1992 level
Corporate Adviser: The proportion of UK quoted shares owned by pensions funds has fallen to its lowest ever level, with funds holding just 3 per cent of the stockmarket in 2014, compared to 32 per cent in 1992. Read story
What are the latest trends in Christmas incentives?
Employee Benefits: Employees no longer appreciate traditional Christmas rewards, such as food and wine. Research shows they like to be offered a choice of benefits and feel motivated by personalised and technological items. Read story
Adactus Housing Group says thank you at Christmas time
Employee Benefits: During the 2014 holiday period, Adactus Housing Group sent its staff Christmas cards along with their payslips and details of the organisation’s . Read story
Pensions education in the workplace
HR Magazine: With so many changes to the pensions landscape in 2015, HR professionals must take guidance from the government as they look to further engage employees with their workplace pensions. Read story
Long-hours culture rising again after decades of decline, analysis reveals
CIPD: The number of people working more than 48 hours a week has increased by 15 per cent in five years, according to analysis from the TUC. Read story
CBI slams political ‘gamble’ of higher minimum pay
WSB: The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director-general has branded the increase to the national minimum wage a “gamble” and claims many employers will have to change their business models as a result. Read story
European court rules travel time is work
WSB: Employees who do not have a work base must have the travel to and from their first and last customers included as part of their working time, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. Read story
Pension costs push down profits at John Lewis
Professional Pensions: The increasing cost of servicing its £1.2bn pension shortfall helped push pre-tax profits at John Lewis down over a quarter in the first half of the year. Read story