Voluntary benefits
Voluntary benefits schemes enable organisations to offer extra perks, discounted products and services to the workforce at little or no extra cost to the company. These benefits are paid for by the employee, sometimes through payroll. Perks that attract an employer tax break can be offered through a salary sacrifice arrangement. It is advisable to get in a tax expert when you implement a salary sacrifice scheme. Most medium to large UK employers offer voluntary benefits (also known as affinity benefits). Affinity schemes allow a company to use bulk buying power to negotiate product discounts on popular products and services.
Definitions of common voluntary benefits terms
Key research on voluntary benefits
News
John Lewis Partnership offers green perks to staff
The John Lewis Partnership has added environmentally-friendly perks to its voluntary benefits scheme for its 70,000 employees.
30 Jun Asperity moves voucher and gift card operation in-house
30 Jun The Voucher Shop launches communications support package
16 Jun Bupa launches a cycle to work scheme
01 Jun Anheuser-Bush InBev switches provider and adds childcare perk
Analysis
Motivating staff in the recession
As the recession puts pressure on pay and jobs, reward schemes can play a vital role in keeping employees motivated, says Amanda Wilkinson. With pay increases and bonuses no longer an option for many employers, compensation and benefits professionals are having to think long and hard about how to motivate staff who feel insecure about their job security and are being asked to pick up extra work created by redundancies.
01 Jun Employers must beware of salary sacrifice pitfalls
01 Jun Safeguarding personal employee data must be a priority
01 Jun How tax-efficient perk save money for employers and staff
01 Jun Nottingham City Council gets maximum value from salary sacrifice
01 Dec Employee Benefits Voluntary Benefits and Salary Sacrifice Supplement 2008
Case Studies
Case Study: Kellogg's feeds family focus
Kellogg's offers a number of family-friendly perks to its workforce.
01 Mar Employer profile: Easyjet
12 Jan Case study: Tesco
01 Dec Case Study: Northgate Information Solutions
01 Dec Case study: Mills & Reeve:
01 Dec Case Study : Canon
Research
Employee Benefits Research 2009: voluntary benefits
Giving employees access to discounted products through a voluntary benefits scheme is a cheap, cost-effective way to provide benefits, particularly for employers that cannot afford to pay for staff perks.
20 May Reward professionals feel under pressure
01 May Employee Benefits Research 2009: how benefits are offered
07 Apr Pensions are most popular perk offered through flex
27 Nov Voluntary Benefits & Salary Sacrifice Research 2007
30 Apr Employee Benefits Research 2007: Salary sacrifice & voluntary benefits
Sponsor's Articles
04 Feb Improved Supermarket Savings package launched
22 Jan Inchcape switches provider for an integrated VB solution
07 Jan Malmaison sees increased benefits uptake from Dual Language Web Video communications
22 Nov Lloyds TSB drives benefits engagement with online advent calendar
13 Nov Asperity Employee Benefits recognised as an Investor in People
