Exclusive: Tories show their family-friendly face

The shadow minister for families reaffirms her party's line on flexibly working.

Private medical insurance - The true cost of medical insurance

With costs rising dramatically, there are fears that private health cover will go the same way as final-salary pension schemes. Andrew Donaghue reports.

Cost-effective driving - Follow the signs

Even in a downturn the company car is too big a recruitment and retention tool to be scrapped.Nick Golding reports on alternative ways of reducing mileage and cutting costs.

Benefits case study - IRI

Electronic communication about benefits can leave staff cold. By using a more human approach, market insights firm IRI has vastly improved take-up of its perks package.

Fire service encourages staff to get on their bikes

Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service has offered employees a salary-sacrifice cycle-to- work scheme.

Five banking bosses take GBP 52million in bonuses

Excessive greed is to blame for the collapse of Britains banking system.

Push pensions up the agenda

The provision of a pension scheme is no longer seen as an additional perk, but a given, standard element of an employment offer. Gone are the days when employment benefits could be used to drive...

One in 12 to stop pension contributions

One and a half million (one in 12) pension holders are on the brink of halting pension contributions.

Gender pay gap widens

Women have slipped further behind men in the pay stakes. The gender pay gap is now 12.8% compared with 12.5% in 2007 and the median gross annual earnings is now 27,500 for men and 21,400 for women.

UK managers least incentivised to coach staff

Fewer than one in 10 managers in the UK (9%) receive compensation for coaching staff.

Major law firm redesigns its flex scheme

International law firm Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) is to improve its flexible benefits provision for UK staff.

Pension scheme buy-outs: what's it all about?

The pensions buy-out market, which was struggling to take off for much of 2007, is suddenly flying. Estimates suggest that over 4 billion of new business has been done in the first half of 2008 and...