Flexible benefits employed ‘to reduce costs’

-

UK firms are increasingly using a flexible benefits scheme in order to keep their costs down during the recession, it has been revealed.

According to research by Mercer, almost one in four employers have introduced a flexible benefits scheme in their workplace, with 39 per cent stating their costs were now lower.

A further 45 per cent claimed their benefits expenses were unchanged, although 55 per cent of respondents admitted they felt such a scheme would increase their costs.

John Puddephatt, senior consultant at Mercer, said: “When put into practice, flex can be an effective vehicle for managing and reducing company costs. This is done by putting a limit on employer contributions to employees’ benefit packages.”

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

He added that employees can choose to reduce their benefits levels or increase their own contributions as costs increase.

Mr Puddephatt concluded that the research suggested that flexible benefits should be prioritised higher as a way of successfully managing costs.

In order to control costs, SimplyWired.co.uk recently revealed the majority of employees it surveyed would rather receive a pay cut than face redundancies.

Latest news

Transgender staff excluded from single-sex toilets under new equality guidance

Transgender people must be excluded from single-sex toilets and changing rooms that correspond with their lived gender under updated...

Simon Coker: Closing the emotional gap – why AI in the workplace is as much a human challenge as a technological one

AI adoption is transforming how work gets done across every sector. But its deeper impact is less visible: it is reshaping how people feel about their work.

Employment tribunal delays stretch towards 2030 as lawyers warn system is nearing collapse

Employment tribunal hearings are being delayed for years as lawyers warn mounting backlogs are undermining workplace justice.

Keeping culture and purpose at the centre of a growing fintech

A fintech people leader explains how culture, wellbeing and purpose are being protected during rapid business growth.
- Advertisement -

Migrant worker with no right to work in UK wins discrimination case against employer

An employment tribunal has ruled that a migrant worker without the legal right to work in Britain can still pursue successful discrimination claims.

Government to replace some GP sick notes with return-to-work plans

Workers in four English regions will be directed towards personalised health and employment support as ministers test alternatives to GP-issued fit notes.

Must read

Teresa Budworth: I like the car, even if it is dangerous

Deciding how to get from A to B isn't...

Maggie Berry: Dress codes, patronising or practical?

With Gen Y firmly established in the workplace, traditional...
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you