058_CAREERS COLUMN 4/11/08 16:07 Page 58
58 careers
training&recruitment
Career decisions these days are based on much more than salary and job title. David Kast
explains how HRG has introduced an online flexible benefits solution to help the company
recognise individual needs – and engage, attract and retain the best in the business
In an intensively competitive industry, flexible employee and employer by enhancing feelings surrounding
benefit schemes have become increasingly Top tips a lack of understanding. It can even further the likelihood of
popular in recent years. Within HRG, we employees seeking positions elsewhere.
L55473 Get the balance right –
recognise that a “one size fits all” approach does not deliver include a mix of fun lifestyle Flexible benefit schemes also provide an opportunity to
the best value to staff, and that employees are placing and practical functional reinforce a company’s corporate culture – management are
greater importance on the balance between lifestyle and
benefits
free to emphasise those benefits that they feel best reflect
employment when making career choices. the organisation’s values. For example, some companies may
L55474 Think of the future – will
the benefits meet changing
choose to offer healthcare insurance as standard, while also
People change
lifestyle needs?
incorporating options to access gym membership discounts
I firmly believe that giving staff a choice of benefits enables and additional holiday allowance, in order to highlight a
them to select options that best suit their needs. What’s
L55475 Make sure you
commitment to work/life balance.
understand and listen to
more, taking a flexible approach ensures employees can
your employees – if they
adapt their benefits in the event of major lifestyle changes
don’t value it, they won’t
Dispelling the myths
and developments, increasing the commitment and
use it
In the past, companies may have avoided introducing a
understanding between employee and employer. For flexible benefits scheme because of the perceived cost, but
example, young single people may be more likely to opt for
L55476 Consult the
it doesn’t have to be expensive to introduce a relevant,
experts – they can
additional holiday allowance, whereas those starting a family
help avoid costly
and beneficial, scheme. Indeed, some benefits can prove
may prioritise options such as childcare vouchers.
mistakes
tax efficient for both employer and employee. We attached
HRG has been operating a flexible benefits scheme for so much importance to this project we engaged
almost 10 years, and it has recently been enhanced and external consultants to work with us, using
upgraded to offer a comprehensive online solution. It makes their expertise and knowledge in developing
sense in our business. As with many large organisations, we and implementing a relevant and workable
have a large, diverse and geographically dispersed solution for our employees and our business.
workforce, who have different personal circumstances. Any initial investment in terms of time and
resource is easily offset when a simple and
Making it work for you effective solution encourages greater use of
From an HRG standpoint, we believe it is vital that the the benefits on offer and delivers better value
benefit selection process is made as simple as possible. This to both company and staff.
way we can keep the process quick and effective for all our Many people may assume that increased
employees, and our online solution offers a convenient and flexibility means increased complexity –
easily accessible option. again, this need not be the case. The online
I cannot emphasise enough that flexible benefits schemes system we adopted recently is easy to understand,
are only as good as the fit you achieve between your and quick and simple to use for all staff wherever
employees and the benefits offered. To ensure that our they are based. This not only saves time and
scheme is successful, we take time to understand what money in administering and managing the system,
benefits our employees favour. An effective flexible benefits but also provides more accurate
programme helps to encourage greater commitment from reporting information, so that we can
staff; a poorly implemented scheme brings with it a number ensure our benefits evolve with
of problems, not least that it may create a barrier between employee lifestyle requirements.” L52159
David Kast, head of human resources,
Hogg Robinson Group (HRG)
YOUR SHOUT: What’s your experience in the
workplace? What training has helped you develop?
Tell us about it – contact us at ttgbusiness.com
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