The People Bulletin

Following the tax code fiasco that hit the headlines in early 2010, the government recognised that changes were needed to improve the way that the PAYE system operated, says Martin Jackson.

With many misunderstandings and rumours circulating about pension reform at the moment, it’s no wonder people are confused. So what is the truth? Helen Hargreaves sheds light on the situation.

Long-acknowledged as being vital for the recruitment and retention of employees, benefits and pay were one of the first areas to suffer in the recession. However, with little or no economic improvement, pay in particular has continued to be impacted. Costs are rising yet pay rises in many instances continue to be lower than inflation. So what can employers do to retain and attract key staff? Viv Copeland discusses.

Stephen Hoare and Andrew Leigh explain what make or break decisions are needed to become a talent-driven, successful well-run organisation.

Mark Carman highlights the role that communication plays in delivering an effective benefit or rewards scheme.

Helen Hargreaves looks at current how HMRC’s online Basic PAYE Tools compares to the Employer CD-ROM.

HMRC has changed its approach to ensuring employers are compliant when it comes to employment taxes. Susan Ball and David Daly explain the new regime and provide a cautionary case study.

"Oh HMRC Dynamic Response Team ­­– where are you?" asks Lorriane Owens.

As bonuses begin to bounce back after the credit crunch Mark Childs looks at how to create an effective and fair bonus scheme.

With the end of the tax year fast approaching employers need to make sure that their annual returns to HMRC are in order. Diana Bruce provides a helpful revision guide.

Simon Kew offers his Pension Regulator perspective on the employer covenant and the art of ‘reasonable affordability’ when it comes to plugging hols in defined benefit pension schemes.

Diana Bruce follows her payroll guide to new starters with an essential guide to payroll procedures on termination of employment.

Diana Bruce explains the procedure an employer should follow to ensure a new employee is paid accurately and on time.

When an employee becomes sick, they are still entitled to be paid. Adrian Hobbs explains the various sick pay options available to employers.

The Chancellor’s £81bn cuts programme in the recent Comprehensive Spending Review has significant implications for public sector workforce planning and employment according to Ian Tomlinson-Roe.  Steve Beet also provides a summary of the main changes affecting state and private pensions.

The adverse publicity surround the under and overpayments of tax to HMRC as a result of changes in computer systems has its roots in out-of-date systems.  Adrian Hobbs provides some expert insights.

Time off to watch the Olympics is going to be the least of employers’ problems in 2012 compared with adjusting pay and benefits systems and procedures for pensions auto-enrolment. Kate Upcraft provides an update.

Clinton Wingrove looks at some dyed-in-the-wool assumptions about reward and motivation and calls for a new approach in tough times.

Salary sacrifice arrangements, when run correctly, are inexpensive motivation tools, but failure to follow the latest HMRC guidance can lead to some unexpected tax bills for both employer and employee says Elaine Gibson.

Since when were snake skin shoes and a four-pack of underpants bona fide business expenses? Lorraine Owens reviews the complexities of what is or is not allowable and recommends a tailored company policy.

George Osborne’s ‘Emergency Budget’ on 22 June presented a number of challenges for employers and, in particular, payroll managers. Diana Bruce summarises the key implications. 

Sue Johnstone reveals how employers paid out almost £8m in discrimination compensation during 2009 – double what it was in 2008.

Rupert Merson reflects on the long cold winter of pay freezes and even pay cuts and questions the role of bonuses in modern remuneration strategy

The approach of major sporting events such as the World Cup and Wimbledon have concentrated employer’s minds on how they can be more flexible with staff to avoid an increase in sickness absence says Amy Richardson

Stephen Cahill reviews how the recession hits executive pay and predicts some interesting conversations between remuneration committees and senior employees

All employees are entitled to an individual written payslip but how many know how to interpret it?  Elaine Gibson provides an analysis of its key components

Employee benefits are a great way to retain staff, but you must make sure that you account to HMRC for them in the correct way.  Lorraine Owens provides this year’s guide to surviving the P11D season.

The argument about bonuses and performance rumbles on, yet the FTSE 100 need to motivate and retain its top talent. Tom Gosling calls for fresh thinking on executive compensation

Chris Johnson reviews the issues for companies and employees to address in light of government’s decision to carry out early review of default retirement age.

When it comes to remitting employee deductions to HMRC, you just cannot afford to miss the deadlines. Lorraine Owens explains the implications of the new penalty regime

When it comes to end-of-year returns to HRMC, it pays to be fully prepared and familiar with the online filing process. Karen Thomson provides some background on this essential payroll procedure.

Rupert Merson reflects on the recent outbreak of public indignation over bankers’ bonuses and concludes that it is only too easy to lose sight of what those incentivised by performance-related pay are supposed to be doing in the first place.

When it comes to maximising shareholder value in an adverse economic climate, attention inevitably turns to drastic reductions in staff costs and slashed training budgets. Philip Whiteley argues that this is the wrong way of assessing the overall value of an organisation and suggests an alternative.

When are the genuinely self employed actually employed? When it comes to class 1 NIC payments, says Lorraine Owens.

With most employers moving away from defined benefit to defined contribution pension schemes, they face different challenges in engaging with employees on retirement provision. Charles Cotton looks at some recent research and makes the business case for pensions.

Dragons’ Den entrepreneur and philanthropist Duncan Bannatyne is appalled at how much charities lose each year through inefficient giving and calls on employers to kick start their Workplace Giving schemes.

Mike Locke argues that setting up an employer-supported volunteering scheme not only does wonders for social reponsponsibility, but helps with employee engagement, retention and is an important component of the benefit mix.

In difficult economic pay freezes have been commonplace but that is no excuse to neglect your pay strategy. Wendy Blake Ranken outlines a transparent approach to pay schemes and identifies some non-financial motivators to add to the reward mix.

Philip Whiteley takes a hard look at the equal pay debate and suggests that objective measurement of an employee’s actual contribution would circumvent many types of discrimination. But what are the barriers to its adoption?

It makes sense for all organisations to adopt the new rules for senior accounting officers covering proper tax reporting systems even though only the largest are currently affected by them, says Stuart Hibberd. It’s sensible best practice.

When did you last review your reward strategy?  Paul Ashcroft demonstrates how straightforward it is to introduce a flexible benefit programme once you have done the research

When the HMRC inspector comes to call, how ready are you for a compliance visit? Deborah Parks-Green identifies two areas that expose employers open to tax repayments and fines

Salary sacrifice schemes can be an effective means of saving precious cash, but employers must make sure they measure up to HMRC standards. Ken Gurr looks at how to avoid exposure to penalties.

Remuneration packages are not just about net pay, but a range of benefits. Lisa Ruff clarifies the function of total reward

Is your PAYE policy up to date for your employees? Good. But what about the holiday workers that are landing next week? Check you have the right new starter gear with Neil Tipping’s practical guide.

In an economy far, far away, the war of talent was skewed in favour of the employee. The recession has turned the tide for now and Rupert Merson explains the subtle changes at play that will turn it yet again

The rules on expenses and benefits reporting for employers set out by HMRC are complex and it is only too easy to make errors. David Daly explains how to survive the P11D season

The government is bringing in a new national private pension plan in  2012. Ian Bird explains how this will change UK pension provision and recommends employers start preparing now.

Supply and demand of labour are just one of the factors affecting pay settlements. Andrew Walker reveals how the pay landscape has changed drastically over the last 12 months in response to the current adverse economic conditions