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If tax exempt Care Vouchers were available, would you offer them to employees? |
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The carer debate – have your say
The campaign to introduce tax-exempt vouchers for employees with care responsibilities is highlighted this month as
the Work and Families Act extends the ‘right to request' flexible working to carers from the 6th April 2007.
Find out how you as an employer can help to lobby the government and support your employees who are juggling care
and work responsibilities. |
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Get mums back and working for you
New maternity regulations just coming into force give employers a great chance to review their benefits packages and a
great chance to think about better ways to retain top female talent. How can you make sure you provide the right
environment to encourage maternity leavers to return?' |
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Communicate benefits to staff
If you want your employee benefits scheme to make a real impact, you have to make sure communication is at the heart
of your strategy. What's the best way to launch a scheme and engage your employees effectively?
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Eyecare at work
Employers have both a legal and moral obligation to ensure staff take care of their eyesight while at work.
Find out how the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) uses Accor Services Eyecare Vouchers to ensure
both legal compliance and the well-being of its 2500 staff.
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- Budget Update 2007: Although there has not been an increase to the tax and National
Insurance exemptions for childcare vouchers in this year's budget (the allowance remains £55
per week or £243 per month), there have been some other changes that may have an effect
on the potential savings for individual parents and employers.
View the Budget 2007 update
from HRMC and see pages 27-29 which illustrate the changes to Income tax, National
Insurance and Child & Working Tax Credits.
- It has recently been announced that Wales are launching their own version of the English
'Childcare Approval Scheme' (CAS). Run by the same company (Nestor), this scheme will
come into force on the 6th April 2007 and enable parents that use approved "nannies" in their
own home to apply for tax credits or make a payment with childcare vouchers.
- The DFES are developing a single register for Childcare in England. The existing Ofsted
Childcare Register will be expanded to also manage the registration of providers who are
currently approved via The Childcare Approval Scheme (CAS) and The Over 7s Quality
Assurance (QA) Scheme. These changes may extend the number of parents that can benefit
by increasing the number of providers that could accept Childcare Vouchers. It is still essential
that parents that wish to pay their childcare provider with Childcare Vouchers or apply for
assistance with their childcare costs via Tax Credits, ensure that their provider is registered or
approved and holds the appropriate certification.
We will keep you up to date with the implications of these changes through this newsletter and
/ or any briefing documents you can circulate to your employees.
- 84 per cent of employers offer childcare vouchers as part of their flexible benefits schemes,
according to research from Towers Perrin/Employee Benefits magazine. (Jan 2007)
- 75 per cent of organisations offer flexible working hours, while 48 per cent offer specific
family-friendly benefits, according to the latest work-life balance research from Personnel
Today / Red Letter Days. (March 2007)
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- Over 700 organisations have already joined up with Accor Services this year including:
HM Revenue & Customs, Taylor Woodrow, NFU Mutual, Avon Fire & Rescue Service,
Macmillan Cancer Support, Fife Council, Sharp Telecommunications, V2
Music Group, The Compass Group
- Accor Services is making life easier for childcare providers following the launch of a new
on-line redemption facility. The service enables childcare providers to redeem paper vouchers
on-line, speeding up payments and alleviating the possibility of vouchers being lost in the post.
- Accor Services will be exhibiting at the following events next month:
Employee Benefits & HR Solutions Show
1 – 2 May 2007 at GMEX Manchester
Come and see us at stand 37
Safety & Health Expo
22 - 24 May 2007 at the NEC Birmingham
Come and see us at stand R41.
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Registered office: Accor Services, 50 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 2RS
The following trade under Accor Services & are registered in England
Childcare Vouchers: 2420196 Luncheon Vouchers: 540144 Cleanway: 1336372 VAT number: 649503520
©2007 Accor Services. The entire content of this newsletter publication is protected by copyright. Full details are
available from Accor Services. All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise – without the prior permission, in writing, of the copyright owner. Although every effort has been made to
ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot accept any liability for
inaccuracies.
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