The People Bulletin

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