Employee Benefits

UK - Medical supplies firm Smith & Nephew is offering staff health insurance and the chance to purchase extra holidays as part of a new flexible benefits package.

UK - Mercer Human Resource Consulting is considering plans to launch a bundled defined contribution service in the UK, industry sources say.

UK - The majority of UK companies that have closed final salary pensions to new entrants have now also closed them to senior executives, according to new research.

UK - Mobile communications giant 02 is giving employees a voluntary benefits package with discounts of up to 70% on goods and services.

UK - Firms with final salary schemes have far better staff retention than those which offer money purchase provision, a new report claims.

GLOBAL - Mercer Human Resource Consulting's UK chair and CEO, David Barford, has announced his resignation.

UK - Aon Consulting is considering ending a £3.5m contract with Profund Solutions.

UK - Mercer Human Resource Consulting has flagged a plan to overhaul the UK pension system, ahead of a review of the system due to be published on October 12.

UK - Government plans to increase member-nominated trustees to 50% will distract from providing real measures to restore confidence in pension schemes, Mercer Human Resource Consulting claims.

UK - Nearly 90% of adults employed in regular work would be willing to sacrifice some of their salary for more employee benefits, according to new research by Aon Consulting.