Employee Benefits

UK - Merrill Lynch has unveiled a new flexible benefits package following its decision to wind up its final salary scheme earlier this year.

UK - Giving workers financial incentives to cut high sickness absence figures will create new problems for employers, health experts warn.

UK - Wandsworth Council is facing mounting pressure to stop its pension scheme investing in arms manufacturers.

UK - Barclays is launching four new employee benefits to give staff the "broadest reward package of any blue chip company in the UK".

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds will launch a guide to setting up defined contribution schemes at the end of the month.

UK - The Faculty of Actuaries has backed government proposals which will prevent employers imposing a mandatory retirement age.

UK - Barclays is launching a new-style home computing scheme which allows staff to buy discounted PCs direct from shops.

UK - Denton Wilde & Sapte is to offer mobile phones to its staff through a salary sacrifice arrangement.

UK - Unions have dismissed Royal Mail plans to improve attendance by giving staff the chance to win a car as "a gimmick".

UK - Mercer Human Resource Consulting's £8m contract with Profund Systems has been terminated by the firm's successor.