Linda Pullan outlines the implications of the Budget for the payroll and employee benefits industry.
Chancellor George Osborne delivered his second Budget on 21 March 2012. Although it contained several items affecting payroll and employee benefits, the main proposals are from 2013/14 and beyond (subject to Parliamentary approval).
There is one particular exception, however –...
Businesses face an increase in National Insurance contributions (NICs) due to a change in the emissions thresholds for company cars.
From April 2012, vehicles producing more than 99g/km of CO2 will be subject to higher tax rates. Previously, the 10 per cent tax threshold applied to...
Q We require company car drivers to regularly clean their vehicles. Some employees are complaining they do not always have time to do so, or the weather is too bad. We have therefore decided to pay all company car drivers an allowance of £15 a month towards the cost of car washing...
Cutting the cost of benefits is top of the agenda for employers, according to research from Mercer.
Due to the financial instability in 2011 many organisations are now questioning the feasibility of maintaining their workplace health schemes. Nearly 85 per cent of HR...
Employee benefits packages are one of the biggest incentives an employer can offer. Once enrolled in a scheme it is important employees are continually informed about developments and messages are reinforced. Here are some tips to help effectively do this.
Survey employees
It...
Employees want more flexibility and variety when
it comes to their benefits, according to research
from Mercer.
The findings showed that traditional elements of a package scored poorly when it came to motivation and engagement. However, those that provided a good work–...
Payroll Alliance technical team answers payroll related questions, including termination payments, work call-outs, flu jabs and Form P46(Car).
Part payments
Q We have a few employees for whom we need to provide termination payments. Given that the date of leaving is 3 November 2011 we tend to process these few days’ pay with any salary due in the previous month. Last month we concluded a termination payment and one of our senior...
The perceived importance of the company car has increased over the past two years.
The value of this benefit is now rated at 8.7 out of 10 for essential car users, compared to 7.2 in quarter three of 2009, according to the latest quarterly Company Car Trends research from GE Capital, Fleet...
Edmund Tirbutt assesses the implications of the possible National Insurance and Income Tax merger and asks if it could mark the end of salary sacrifice.
This year’s Budget announcement that the Government will consult on merging the operation of National Insurance (NI) and Income Tax could have far-reaching implications for payroll and benefits. Indeed, some commentators suggest that it could even spell the end of salary sacrifice –...
One size doesn’t always fit all when it comes to reward. Andy Philpott explains how organisations can shape a benefits package in order to deliver real results.
Organisations today are operating in a climate in which they need their people to perform and be engaged within the business. This is essential in order to remain competitive in the current business and economic environment.
As many firms cope with the recession, their employees work hard,...
A staggering 83 per cent of companies with low benefits take-up have not tried to solve the problem, new research has found.
The most common workplace offerings included pensions (71 per cent) and childcare vouchers (38 per cent). The chance to earn a bonus was also popular
(36 per...
The number of firms offering cash payments instead of a company car has fallen by more than 10 per cent in the past year.
The change in popularity of this alternative is largely down to the shift in attitudes about cars from both employees and employers.
Gary Killeen, Fleet Services...
Businesses could be at risk of a tax liability if their staff mileage claims are inaccurate.
Almost half of companies are unaware of the potential tax liability they may face if mileage records are found to be wrong, according to a study from TomTom Business Solutions. HM Revenue &...
Contracts won in the payroll and benefits industry.
Streamlining processes
Candidate Manager has signed a deal with Evans Cycles to streamline its recruitment process.
Software will help to make the hiring process more efficient, and should reduce the cost of agency fees. Information on potential candidates can be easily stored for future...
Salary sacrifice arrangements for a car would be taken up by 80 per cent of those who use their own car for business purposes if their current one needed replacing.
This type of scheme appeals to employees as it allows them to access fleet savings made by their employer, and to take...
