Benefits Connection Issue 15 by Asperity

benefits connection

Insight, strategy and best practice in employee benefits from Asperity

INFORMATION OVERLOAD! How to make your benefits heard in a world of constant communication

ISSUE 15 / FEBRUARY 2012 Also in this issue: t 6OEFS MPDL BOE LFZ How secure is your benefits system? t 5IF TBWWZ TIPQQFS DPNFT PG BHF t &NQMPZFS 5BML )PCCT

benefitsconnection

WELCOME The world is constantly trying to communicate with us. Posters and CJMMCPBSET WZJOH GPS BUUFOUJPO รธZFST DPNJOH JO UISPVHI ZPVS MFUUFSCPY adverts everywhere you look on buses and trains. Thousands upon UIPVTBOET PG BET PO XFCQBHFT and in emails. 8F BSF MJWJOH JO UIF BHF PG UIF JOGPSNBUJPO PWFSMPBE TP JU T OP XPOEFS UIBU XIBU XF USZ UP DPNNVOJDBUF TPNFUJNFT HFUT MPTU 5IBU DBO CF GSVTUSBUJOH XIFO ZPV SF USZJOH UP FEVDBUF ZPVS FNQMPZFFT BCPVU CFOFรถUT UIBU BSF VTFGVM UP UIFN :PV SF OPU USZJOH UP TFMM UIFN BOZUIJOH CVU SBUIFS MFU UIFN LOPX BCPVU UIF HSFBU FYUSBT UIFZ SF FOUJUMFE UP GPS GSFF 8IFUIFS JU T EJTDPVOUT PS UBY FรณDJFOU CFOFรถUT MJLF $IJMEDBSF 7PVDIFST PS $ZDMF UP 8PSL FNQMPZFF CFOFรถUT DPOUBJO SFBM WBMVF GPS ZPVS XPSLGPSDF *U TIPVMEO U CF UIBU EJรณDVMU UP FYQMBJO IPX VTFGVM UIFZ BSF CVU JO GBDU JU DBO CF B SFBM DIBMMFOHF UP DPOWFZ B TJNQMF NFTTBHF XIFO ZPV WF HPU UP DPOUFOE XJUI รถMUFSJOH UISPVHI BMM UIBU KVOL

CONTENTS Contents and Editorial

Making benefits crystal clear

Under lock and key: How secure is your benefits system?

The savvy shopper comes of age

See no benefits, hear no benefits, speak no benefits

Employer Talk: Hobbs

10.

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Go to www.benefitsconnection.co.uk GPS BMM UIF latest news and commentary on employee benefits.

7JTJU XXX BTQFSJUZ DP VL GPS NPSF JOGPSNBUJPO BOE GSFF GVMMZ GVODUJPOBM EFNP BDDFTT UP 3FXBSE (BUFXBZ Glenn Elliott CEO, Asperity Employee Benef its glenn@asperity.co.uk

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MAKING BENEFITS CRYSTAL CLEAR CZ "MFY #BJMFZ

Clarity should be at the foundation of how to market your benefits programme because you want your employees to use it. :PV XBOU UIFN UP VOEFSTUBOE UIBU VTJOH UIFJS EJTDPVOUT QSPHSBNNF JT B IVHF BEWBOUBHF UP UIFN XIFO JU DPNFT UP TBWJOH NPOFZ BOE UIFZ XPO U EP UIBU VOMFTT ZPVS QSPWJEFS DBO NBLF JU DMFBS UP UIFN IPX UP NBYJNJTF JU 5IF PUIFS FMFNFOUT PG ZPVS QBDLBHF BSF BMTP UIFSF UP TVQQMFNFOU UIFJS QBZ TP JU T WJUBM UIBU BMM UIF FYUSBT BWBJMBCMF UP UIFN BSF DPNNVOJDBUFE FรฒFDUJWFMZ $POWFZJOH UIF WBMVF PG FNQMPZFF CFOFรถUT JO PUIFS XPSET JT JOUFHSBM UP HFUUJOH ZPVS FNQMPZFFT FOHBHFE XJUI UIFJS QSPHSBNNF " MBDL PG VOEFSTUBOEJOH JT POF PG UIF CJHHFTU DPNNVOJDBUJPO CBSSJFST ZPV GBDF POF XIJDI JT TPNFUJNFT GVSUIFS DPNQMJDBUFE CZ UIF DIBMMFOHF PG FYQMBJOJOH OFX PS EJรณDVMU DPODFQUT MJLF $BTICBDL PS $IJMEDBSF 7PVDIFST *U T FTTFOUJBM GPS ZPVS CFOFรถUT QSPWJEFS UP CF BCMF UP EFDPOTUSVDU UIF KBSHPO BOE FYQMBJO succinctly to everyone how each benefit is SFMFWBOU UP UIFN "DIJFWJOH UIF SJHIU UPOF UP SFBDI BMM TFDUPST PG ZPVS XPSLGPSDF TIPVME CF POF PG UIFJS LFZ PCKFDUJWFT CVU IPX DBO ZPV UFMM UIBU ZPVS QSPWJEFS JT FRVJQQFE GPS UIF KPC " 1MBJO &OHMJTI BDDSFEJUBUJPO JT B WFSZ HPPE JOEJDBUPS PG BO FYQFSJFODFE BOE XFMM SFDPHOJTFE DPNNVOJDBUPS -PPL GPS UIF *OUFSOFU $SZTUBM .BSL PG BQQSPWBM PO ZPVS employee benefits portals to ensure they have the quality standard you deserve. "TQFSJUZ IBT UIF BDDSFEJUBUJPO GFBUVSFE PO all their branded benefits websites, awarded GPS UIF TUBOEBSE PG MBOHVBHF BDDFTTJCJMJUZ OBWJHBUJPO EFTJHO BOE MBZPVU PG UIFJS 3FXBSE Gateway portal.

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UNDER LOCK AND KEY:

How secure is your employee benefits system? CZ "MJTPO $SPTMBOE

Mention benefits fraud, and most of us think of those newspaper campaigns highlighting people who are falsely claiming unemployment or disabled benefit while working โ or running marathons. #VU JO UPEBZ T JOGPSNBUJPO FOBCMFE BHF UIPTF NBOBHJOH FNQMPZFF CFOFรถUT BMTP OFFE UP UIJOL DBSFGVMMZ BCPVU UIF SJTLT UP UIFJS QSPHSBNNFT "T GSBVE BOE IBDLJOH becomes more sophisticated, it is important UP SFDPHOJTF UIF SFTQPOTJCJMJUJFT QMBDFE PO ZPV BT BO )3 QSPGFTTJPOBM UP MPPL BGUFS ZPVS FNQMPZFFT EBUB :PV BSF JO B QPTJUJPO PG USVTU BGUFS BMM *U T QSPCBCMZ BU UIF GSPOU PG ZPVS NJOE XIFO UIJOLJOH BCPVU QBZSPMM CVU XIBU BCPVU EVSJOH UIF JNQMFNFOUBUJPO PG B WPMVOUBSZ CFOFรถUT QSPHSBNNF

โ Your choice of benefits provider is key to ensure that you do not put your employeesโ personal data at riskโ

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*O GBDU XF TIPVME CF BT XBSZ PG UIF TFDVSJUZ DSFEFOUJBMT PG CFOFรถUT QSPWJEFST BT XF XPVME CF XJUI B QBZSPMM TPGUXBSF QSPWJEFS "GUFS BMM JO BO FNQMPZFF EJTDPVOUT QSPHSBNNF ZPVS QSPWJEFS XJMM CF IBOEMJOH NJMMJPOT PG QPVOET XPSUI PG ZPVS DPMMFDUJWF FNQMPZFFT NPOFZ IPMEJOH BEESFTT EFUBJMT JO UIFJS TZTUFNT BOE QSPDFTTJOH DSFEJU DBSE QBZNFOUT *G ZPV BSF PรฒFSJOH DIJMEDBSF WPVDIFST UIFZ XJMM BMTP IPME EFUBJMT PG ZPVS DIJMESFO BOE UIFJS DIJMEDBSF QSPWJEFST :PV EP OPU XBOU UIF XSPOH QFPQMF BDDFTTJOH UIJT EBUB TIF JOUFOUJPO PG UIJT BSUJDMF JT OPU UP TDBSF employers off voluntary benefits. They offer B HSFBU QSPQPTJUJPO UIBU ESJWFT FOHBHFNFOU BDSPTT UIF CSFBEUI BOE SBOHF PG ZPVS FNQMPZFFT &NQMPZFF EJTDPVOUT DBO BQQFBM to everyone in a way that other benefits o NFEJDBM DPWFS EFBUI JO TFSWJDF PS HZN EJTDPVOUT o NJHIU OPU "OE UIFZ BSF B HSFBU XBZ UP IFMQ ZPVS FNQMPZFFT NBLF NPOFZ HP GVSUIFS JO TUSBJHIUFOFE UJNFT FTQFDJBMMZ XIFO ZPV JODMVEF TBMBSZ TBDSJรถDF QSPHSBNNFT MJLF childcare vouchers and cycle to work. #VU UIFSF T B MPU PG QFSTPOBM JOGPSNBUJPO UIFSF BCPVU ZPVS FNQMPZFFT :PVS DIPJDF PG CFOFรถUT provider is key to ensure that you do not put that at risk. So, how do you make sure your DIPJDF PG CFOFรถUT QSPWJEFS JT UBLJOH ZPVS FNQMPZFFT TFDVSJUZ TFSJPVTMZ 8FMM รถSTU BOE GPSFNPTU ZPV OFFE UP DIFDL their DSFEFOUJBMT 5IFSF BSF TPNF LFZ RVFTUJPOT BSF UIFZ *40 BDDSFEJUFE 5IF *40 JOGPSNBUJPO TFDVSJUZ NBOBHFNFOU TZTUFN *4.4 CSJOHT JOGPSNBUJPO TFDVSJUZ VOEFS TQFDJรถD NBOBHFNFOU DPOUSPM " QSPWJEFS TVDI BT "TQFSJUZ XIJDI IBT CFFO *40 accredited continuously since 2009, will have to implement a coherent and comprehensive suite PG JOGPSNBUJPO TFDVSJUZ DPOUSPMT UIBU FOTVSF UIBU your data is always handled appropriately and securely.

5IJT DBO FODPNQBTT FWFSZUIJOH GSPN B DMFBS desk policy so that physical data about your FNQMPZFFT JT OPU MFGU MZJOH BSPVOE UP UIF VTF PG TQFDJรถD UFSNJOBMT UIBU FOTVSF )FMQEFTL TUBรฒ can access the appropriate data to help your FNQMPZFFT CVU UIBU BSF AMPDLFE EPXO TP OP POF DBO EPXOMPBE PS USBOTGFS UIBU data elsewhere.

An in-house recruitment team ensures that all staff have been vetted to high standards. #Z NBOBHJOH UIF EFWFMPQNFOU PG JUT 3FXBSE (BUFXBZ TJUF JO IPVTF "TQFSJUZ DBO FOTVSF UIBU JU SFTQPOET RVJDLMZ UP LFFQ UIF QMBUGPSN BIFBE PG UIF DVSWF JO PรฒFSJOH BOUJ GSBVE NFBTVSFT "OE BO JO IPVTF SFDSVJUNFOU UFBN FOTVSFT UIBU BMM TUBรฒ IBWF CFFO WFUUFE UP IJHI TUBOEBSET BOE can be trusted to protect your data. :PV BMTP OFFE UP LOPX UIBU ZPVS EBUB JT CBDLFE VQ BOE TFDVSF PรฒTJUF 5IJT NFBOT FOTVSJOH UIBU ZPVS QSPWJEFS T EBUB DFOUSF BOE BOZ PUIFS LFZ UIJSE QBSUJFT VTFE UP GVMรถMM ZPVS TFSWJDF JT BMTP TFDVSF "TQFSJUZ T FYUFSOBM IPTUJOH DPNQBOZ JT *40 BDDSFEJUFE NFBOJOH BOZ EBUB UIBU Asperity backs up offsite is as secure as the JOGPSNBUJPO IFME JO JUT PXO PรณDFT

โ Ensure your providerโ s data centre โ and any other key third parties โ is also security vettedโ "OZ DPNQBOZ IBOEMJOH DBSEIPMEFS JOGPSNBUJPO GPS NBKPS EFCJU DSFEJU BOE PUIFS DBSET NVTU BMTP IPME 1BZNFOU $BSE *OEVTUSZ 1$* DFSUJรถDBUJPO "TQFSJUZ T 1$* BDDSFEJUBUJPO

proves that it has built controls around card IPMEFS EBUB UP NJOJNJTF UIF SJTL PG JU CFJOH TUPMFO GPS GSBVEVMFOU VTF :PV TIPVME BMTP MPPL BU UIF DPNQBOZ T CBDLHSPVOE )PX MPOH IBWF UIFZ CFFO USBEJOH "SF UIFZ รถOBODJBMMZ TFDVSF "TQFSJUZ JT QSPVE UP IPME B GPVS PVU PG รถWF TUBS %VO #SBETUSFFU SBUJOH *U T BMTP '4" BVUIPSJTFE BOE SFHVMBUFE UP FOTVSF UIBU JUT *OTVSF$PNQBSFย GFBUVSF JO 3FXBSE (BUFXBZ JT BQQSPQSJBUFMZ NBOBHFE "OE JG ZPVS TJUF PรฒFST $BTICBDL EPFT UIF QSPWJEFS FOTVSF UIBU NPOFZ JT SJOH GFODFE BOE QSPUFDUFE GPS ZPVS FNQMPZFFT 5IFTF GVOET TIPVME CF IFME JOEFQFOEFOUMZ BOE OPU VTFE UP GVOE EBZ UP EBZ CVTJOFTT #F TVSF that your employees can withdraw their cash at any time, and in any amount that they XBOU "TQFSJUZ T JO IPVTF $BTICBDL UFBN DBO QSPWJEF B MFWFM PG TVQQPSU VONBUDIFE FMTFXIFSF JO UIF JOEVTUSZ DIFDLJOH BOE NBOBHJOH $BTICBDL XJUIESBXBMT UP HJWF ZPVS users the quickest and most secure response. )JKBDLJOH PG VTFST BDDPVOUT JT BOPUIFS DPODFSO *U DPVME HJWF B GSBVETUFS BDDFTT UP BEESFTT EFUBJMT BOE QPUFOUJBM UP QSPรถU QBSUJDVMBSMZ JG B VTFS IBT CVJMU VQ B SFTFSWF PG $BTICBDL JO UIFJS BDDPVOU "TQFSJUZ T QSPEVDU JT MJNJUFE UP B DMPTFE VTFS HSPVQ ZPVS FNQMPZFFT BOE PVS UFDIOPMPHZ FOGPSDFT VTFS BDDFTT DPOUSPMT 8F BSF DPOTUBOUMZ MPPLJOH UP TBGFHVBSE SFHJTUSBUJPO BOE BDDFTT NFDIBOJTNT *U DBO CF B EFMJDBUF CBMBODF NBLJOH JU FBTZ BT QPTTJCMF GPS ZPV UP VTF 3FXBSE (BUFXBZ BOE BT IBSE BT QPTTJCMF GPS B GSBVETUFS UP BDDFTT JU "U UIF FOE PG UIF EBZ PVS TVDDFTT JT JO NBLJOH B TJUF UIBU CFOFรถUT OFBSMZ N VTFST PO B EBJMZ CBTJT "OE UIBU TVDDFTT JT QSFTFSWFE JO LFFQJOH UIPTF VTFST TBGF BT UIFZ TIPQ "MJTPO $SPTMBOE JT UIF $IJFG 0QFSBUJPOT 0รณDFS GPS "TQFSJUZ &NQMPZFF #FOFรถUT $PNNFOUT PS 2VFTUJPOT 4FOE UIFN UP alison.crosland@asperity.com

THE SAVVY SHOPPER COMES OF AGE by Ross Truesdale

We look at the rise in the popularity of bargain-hunting and why itโ s more applicable than ever to have employee discounts in place. #SJUBJO T BEVMUT BSF OPX TBWJOH BO BWFSBHF PG OFBSMZ b B ZFBS CZ VTJOH EJTDPVOUFE WPVDIFST BOE EFBMT BDDPSEJOH UP UIF )BMJGBY )PNF *OTVSBODF TUVEZ 5IF SFTFBSDI SFMFBTFE JO "VHVTU SFWFBMFE IPX UIF FDPOPNJD EPXOUVSO IBT UVSOFE VT JOUP B OBUJPO PG CBSHBJO IVOUFST XJUI B รถGUI PG UIPTF RVJ[[FE TBZJOH UIFZ SBSFMZ CVZ BOZUIJOH BU GVMM QSJDF "T NBOZ BT PG #SJUT OPX BENJU UP MPPLJOH BSPVOE GPS XBZT UP TBWF DBTI VQ TJODF NPOFZ HPU UJHIUFS 5IJT JT HPPE OFXT GPS DPNQBOJFT MPPLJOH UP PรฒFS FNQMPZFF EJTDPVOUT BT QBSU PG UIFJS CFOFรถUT QBDLBHF BT JU EFNPOTUSBUFT UIBU GPS BO BWFSBHF XPSLGPSDF UIF WBTU NBKPSJUZ PG ZPVS TUBรฒ XJMM รถOE EJTDPVOUT VTFGVM "OE BT TBWJOH NPOFZ DPOUJOVFT UP CFDPNF JOUFHSBUFE into modern culture, there are implications GPS UIF QPQVMBSJUZ PG FNQMPZFF EJTDPVOU QSPHSBNNFT UP HSPX FWFO GVSUIFS $POUSBSZ UP UIF OBUJPOBM TUFSFPUZQF UIF รถOEJOHT TVHHFTU UIBU PG QFPQMF XPVME VTF EJTDPVOUT JG UIFZ LOFX BCPVU UIFN CBTFE PO UIF BWFSBHF 5IF TVSQSJTJOHMZ IJHI รถHVSF SFWFBMT OFX UISFTIPMET GPS JNQSPWJOH FOHBHFNFOU UIBU NBZ QSFWJPVTMZ IBWF CFFO written off as unrealistic.

3PTT 5SVFTEBMF JT UIF )FBE PG 3FUBJM GPS "TQFSJUZ &NQMPZFF #FOFรถUT $PNNFOUT PS 2VFTUJPOT 4FOE UIFN UP ross.truesdale@asperity.com

Maximising employeesโ disposable incomes has never been so relevant. By putting employee discounts in place for your employees, youโ re giving them the option to stretch their salary by an average of ยฃ500 to ยฃ1000 a year.

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DOCUOBULNET! DIS

SEE NO BENEFITS, HEAR NO BENEFITS, SPEAK NO BENEFITS CZ (FPSHF 'BSSPX

In a typical benefits programme there is always a hardcore of employees who just do not seem to know whatโ s good for them. :PV WF QSPWJEFE UIFN XJUI UIF PQQPSUVOJUZ UP NBLF TVCTUBOUJBM รถOBODJBM TBWJOHT UISPVHI employee discounts, salary sacrifice and the MJLF EVSJOH UIF XPSTU FDPOPNJD DSJTJT JO MJWJOH memory and they reward you with complete indifference. How and why does that happen? Research GSPN FNQMPZFF EJTDPVOUT QSPWJEFST PWFS UIF past five years shows some pretty consistent SFTVMUT BOE UIF OBZTBZFST DBO HFOFSBMMZ CF TQMJU JOUP GPVS DBUFHPSJFT

2. โ I had no idea this benefit was availableโ *ODSFEJCMF :PV WF XPSLFE IBSE UP HFU UIJT CFOFรถU JO GSPOU PG ZPVS FNQMPZFFT %PO U UIFZ SFBE %PO U UIFZ MJTUFO *U T UJNF UP DBMM GPS SFJOGPSDFNFOUT :PVS QSPHSBNNF QSPWJEFS TIPVME IBWF B USJFE BOE UFTUFE communications system to hand that acts as B WJSUVBM CVU WFSZ WJTJCMF NFHBQIPOF UP EFBM XJUI UIJT TJUVBUJPO *U TIPVME CF JOGPSNBUJWF FOHBHJOH DPOTJTUFOU BOE SFHVMBS /PU POMZ EPFT B TZTUFN MJLF UIJT EFBM XJUI UIJT TFHNFOU PG FNQMPZFFT CVU BMTP UBDLMFT BMM UIF NBJO PCKFDUJPOT QSPWJEJOH JU JT EFTJHOFE BOE delivered properly.

3. โ I forgot about itโ 1. โ There is nothing in this programme for meโ %FTQJUF QSPWJEJOH UIPVTBOET PG SFUBJM PรฒFST JODMVEJOH BMM UIF CFTU MPWFE BOE GBNJMJBS IJHI TUSFFU OBNFT JU TFFNT UIBU UIFTF FNQMPZFFT BSF NJTTJOH TPNFUIJOH 5IFZ WF NBEF BO BTTVNQUJPO CBTFE PO ZFBST PG PรฒFS EJTBQQPJOUNFOU QFSIBQT 5IFJS FYQFSJFODF UP EBUF IBT CFFO TPNFUIJOH BMPOH UIF MJOFT PG i Pรฒ CVU POMZ JG UIFSF JT B ; JO UIF NPOUI BOE B CMVF NPPOw 4P UIF POVT JT PO the employer to find an employee discounts QSPWJEFS UIBU BWPJET UIFTF LJOE PG PรฒFST BU BMM DPTUT o TP UIBU FNQMPZFFT DBO IBWF GBJUI UIBU UIFJS QSPHSBNNF JT HFOVJOFMZ TBWJOH UIFN NPOFZ BOE UIBU JU JT KVTU BT TVJUBCMF UP UIFN BT JU JT UP FWFSZ POF PG UIFJS DPMMFBHVFT

1 5IF #14 *.3( 0OMJOF "DDFTT "OE 4IPQQJOH 3FQPSU "QSJM

* MM CFU UIFZ EPO U GPSHFU UP BTL ZPV GPS B QBZ SJTF PS B QSPNPUJPO "HBJO BO FรฒFDUJWF DPNNVOJDBUJPOT QSPHSBNNF QSPWJEFT UIF DPOTJTUFODZ BOE QMBUGPSN UP SFNJOE UIFN BCPVU UIFJS CFOFรถUT 5IJOHT MJLF AEPVCMF TBWJOHT FWFOUT XIFSF UFO UP รถGUFFO IJHI street names provide increased offers on the QSPHSBNNF GPS B MJNJUFE UJNF o BSF BMTP B HSFBU XBZ UP SFNJOE FNQMPZFFT BCPVU GFBUVSFE SFUBJMFST UIF LJOE PG TBWJOHT UIFZ DPVME NBLF BOE XIBU T NPSF EJSFDUT UIFN TUSBJHIU UP UIFJS CFOFรถUT QPSUBM UISPVHI SFMFWBOU MJOLT JO email communications. An event such as this JNQSPWFT FOHBHFNFOU BOE TQFOE MFWFMT CPUI BU UIF UJNF BOE PO BO POHPJOH CBTJT &NQMPZFST DBO IFMQ NBLF UIJT FWFO IJHIFS CZ HJWJOH QSPNJOFOU NFTTBHFT PO UIF IPNF QBHF PG DPNQBOZ JOUSBOFUT 'PS UIF SFBMMZ QSP BDUJWF reward and benefits departments out there,

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4. โ I donโ t know how to use the serviceโ )PX EJรณDVMU DBO JU CF 0WFS PG ZPVS FNQMPZFFT XJMM CF DPNQMFUJOH USBOTBDUJPOT POMJOF FWFSZ NPOUI VTJOH TJUFT UIBU BSF GBS NPSF DPNQMJDBUFE 'PS UIPTF FNQMPZFFT UIBU EP OFFE B CJU PG IFMQ XIJDI JT NPTU PG VT BU one time or another, a 364 day Helpdesk at the FOE PG UIF AQIPOF JT FTTFOUJBM 'SJFOEMZ QFPQMF QMFBTFE UP SVO UISPVHI BMM UIF PรตJOF BTQFDUT PG UIF TFSWJDF TVDI BT UFMFQIPOF EJTDPVOU PรฒFST BOE EJTDPVOUFE TIPQQJOH WPVDIFST

BT XFMM BT SFTFU QBTTXPSET BOE PUIFS UIJOHT NBLF VTJOH EJTDPVOUT B QMFBTVSF OPU B IBTTMF So with the right employee benefits programme in place and a provider who understands the ins and outs of engagement, you can help your employees see, hear and speak in the language of benefits. (FPSHF 'BSSPX JT UIF $MJFOU 4FSWJDFT %JSFDUPS GPS "TQFSJUZ &NQMPZFF #FOFรถUT $PNNFOUT PS 2VFTUJPOT 4FOE UIFN UP HFPSHF GBSSPX!BTQFSJUZ DPN

EMPLOYER TALK: HOBBS HR manager for Hobbs, Melissa Sincock, talks to account manager Aimee Wilkinson about the launch of Hobbs Rewards and the kind of reaction it has received from employees so far.

Aimee Wilkinson: What attracted you to Asperity initially? Melissa Sincock: Well, to be honest we had IFBSE QSBJTF BMSFBEZ 'BNJMZ NFNCFST IBE KPJOFE "TQFSJUZ BU EJÃ²FSFOU DPNQBOJFT BOE UIFZ TQPLF IJHIMZ BCPVU IPX "TQFSJUZ XPSLFE IPX JU XBT JOUFHSBUFE BOE IPX JU XBT FBTZ to use. AW: How easy has it been to implement the scheme? MS: $PNQMFUFMZ FBTZ DPNQMFUFMZ TUSBJHIUGPSXBSE 'SPN USBOTGFSSJOH DIJMEDBSF

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WPVDIFST SJHIU GSPN UIF CFHJOOJOH TUSBJHIU UP MBVODI FWFSZUIJOH T CFFO TUSBJHIUGPSXBSE BOE WFSZ FBTZ "MM PG UIF JNQPSUBOU UIJOHT IBE CFFO BMSFBEZ UIPVHIU PG *U T BMTP IBE B SFBMMZ MPX impact on our time, which is what we need. AW: In terms of the launch communications that were provided, how effective do you think those have been? MS: 7FSZ FÃ²FDUJWF XF IBWF FWFSZUIJOH XF OFFE 'SPN UIF QPTUFST JO TUPSF UP UIF MFUUFST UIBU XFOU PVU UIF UFBTFS FNBJMT FWFSZUIJOH was done. That was a really nice surprise BOE NBEF JU SFBMMZ FBTZ GPS NF UP EFMFHBUF UP QFPQMF PO NZ UFBN UP HFU UIJOHT PVU JO UJNF

AW: Youโ ve seen Asperityโ s Communic8โ ข programme, which effectively attempts to overcome objections from employees, how do you think that works for the organisation? MS: *U HJWFT QFBDF PG NJOE CFDBVTF XF DBO TFF XIBU XF SF EPJOH XF DBO QMBO JU BT XFMM XF can plan other activities and communications BSPVOE JU *U T HPPE UP TFF IPX UIF VQDPNJOH NPOUIT JT HPJOH UP FWPMWF BOE XIBU JU T HPJOH UP MPPL MJLF *U BMTP HJWFT VT JEFBT PG different retail incentives that we can put in QMBDF BU UIBU UJNF *U T CSJMMJBOU JU T SFBMMZ VTFGVM AW: How does the Communic8โ ข service differ from the way you used to communicate your programme? MS: 0VS PME DPNNT QSPHSBNNF XBT WFSZ IJU BOE NJTT #FDBVTF OPUIJOH XBT PSHBOJTFE XF EJEO U LOPX IPX JU MPPLFE XF EJEO U IBWF BO FYUFSOBM DPNQBOZ SFBMMZ ESJWJOH JU GPSXBSE 5IF DPNQBOZ XF XFSF XPSLJOH XJUI EJEO U HJWF BOZ JOQVU GPS XIBU OFFEFE UP HP PVU UP UIF TUPSFT UP LFFQ JU BMJWF 8JUI $PNNVOJD ย JU T PSHBOJTFE JU T BSSBOHFE JU MPPLT HPPE BOE JU T XFMM UIPVHIU PVU AW: And how does your account manager help you in trying to achieve your objective in the benefit you were trying to provide? MS: 5IF NBJO UIJOH JT UIF BDDPVOU NBOBHFS ESPWF JU UISPVHI UP IBQQFOJOH 8F SF QSPCBCMZ TJNJMBS UZQFT PG CVTJOFTTFT JU T HPPE UP IBWF UIBU QFSTPO TBZJOH iXIBU BCPVU UIJT XIBU about that, have you done this, are you SFBEZ GPS UIJT w 0UIFSXJTF UIJOHT DBO CF MPTU JO DPNNVOJDBUJPO PS QVU UP UIF TJEF 0VS "TQFSJUZ BDDPVOU NBOBHFS IBT SFBMMZ ESJWFO

UIBU UISPVHI BOE NBEF TVSF XF IJU BOZ deadlines we had. 5IFZ SF UIFSF JG XF IBWF QSPCMFNT TFUUJOH VQ PS SFNFNCFSJOH PVS 3FXBSE.BOBHFSย QBTTXPSE *U T HPPE UP IBWF TPNFPOF XIP HFUT CBDL UP ZPV TUSBJHIU BXBZ JOTUFBE PG several days later. AW: Aside from account management, are there any other aspects in terms of innovation, or the Reward Gateway site itself that you like? MS: 8FMM UIF TJUF JUTFMG MPPLT HPPE JU T FBTZ UP VTF 8F WF HPU MPUT PG QFPQMF JO SFUBJM UIBU BSFO U DPNQVUFS TBWWZ BOE OFFE BO FBTZ TZTUFN 4P * TJU XJUI UIFN GPS B DPVQMF PG NJOVUFT BOE FYQMBJO JU &WFSZUIJOH T JOUFHSBUFE ZPV DBO FWFO HFU UIF DIJMEDBSF WPVDIFST PO UIFSF *U T B TIBNF BMM SFXBSE DPNQBOJFT BSFO U MJLF UIBU AW: Has there been any feedback? MS: 4PPO BGUFS MBVODI XF XFSF JOVOEBUFE XJUI FNQMPZFFT DPNJOH JO UP UIBOL VT GPS TFUUJOH VQ UIF QSPHSBNNF UIFZ WF CFFO VTJOH JU TP NVDI BMSFBEZ * WF IBE SBOEPN QFPQMF UIBU OPSNBMMZ EPO U NBLF B DPNNFOU TBZJOH iUIJT JT SFBMMZ DPPM * MPWF JU w 8F WF IBE TPNF SFBMMZ QPTJUJWF GFFECBDL UIBU QFPQMF BSF HPJOH PO BOE VTJOH JU

With Communic8 itโ s organised, itโ s arranged, it looks good and itโ s well thought out.

PG o ZFBST XF SF OPX B NPOUI JOUP PVS OFX QSPHSBNNF BOE XF WF BMSFBEZ SFBDIFE FOHBHFNFOU *U IBT EFรถOJUFMZ JODSFBTFE NPUJWBUJPO 1FPQMF GFFM MJLF UIFZ WF CFFO MJTUFOFE UP UIFZ XBOU EJTDPVOUT PO UIFJS TIPQQJOH UIFJS EBZ UP EBZ OFFET BOE UP IBWF IFBMUIDBSF PO UIFSF )BWJOH SVO UIF -JTUFOJOH 'PSVN XJUI FNQMPZFFT XIFO XF TUBSUFE UIJOLJOH BCPVU SFKVWFOBUJOH PVS CFOFรถUT QSPHSBNNF XF IBWF TIPXO UIFN UIBU XF WF MJTUFOFE UP UIFN BOE UIBU T SFBMMZ increased motivation.

AW: Thinking back to your original objectives for the programme, how do you think Asperity is performing in helping you engage your employees? MS: 0VS QSFWJPVT QSPHSBNNF IBE MFTT UIBO PG PVS FNQMPZFFT SFHJTUFSFE PWFS B QFSJPE

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Benefits Connection e: hello@benefitsconnection.co.uk www.benefitsconnection.co.uk

Asperity Employee Benefits Ltd 90 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RT t: +44 (0)20 7229 0349 f: +44 (0)70 9201 0022 e: benefits@asperity.co.uk www.asperity.co.uk