Industry News - April 2011

• The Pensions Regulator to support payroll companies
  - The Pensions Regulator has released a guide to help payroll software companies adjust to pension reforms
• Over a third of financial industry disappointed with bonuses
  - Over a third of financial industry employees in London were disappointed with their bonuses last year, according to a new study
• Working long hours could increase risk of heart disease
  - Employees who work long hours may be increasing their risk of developing heart disease, according to new research
• UK employment figures up
  - 143,000 more people are on the payroll, according to new figures announced by the Office of National Statistics (ONS)
• NEST may encourage introduction of life insurance schemes
  - Next year's pension auto-enrolment scheme could increase the amount of employers offering life insurance, a new survey suggests
• HMRC issues PAYE change reminder
  - HMRC has warned employers not to get caught out by changes to the PAYE system this spring
• National minimum wage to increase
  - The UK's national minimum wage is set to rise to £6.08 an hour
• HMRC dragged into intern pay row
  - HM Revenue & Customs has been accused of not doing enough to prevent intern workers being underpaid
• Real Time Payroll trial for April 2012
  - The pilot scheme for submitting daily payrolls will be in April 2012, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed
• Government creates employee engagement taskforce
  - A government taskforce has been established to improve motivation, time and attendance in the UK workforce, reported People Management
• Fathers can take up to six months' paternity leave
  - From 3 April, new fathers will be legally entitled to up to six months' paternity leave, should they wish, reported Workplace Law Network
• Pay deals picking up for many Brits
  - The pay deals being offered to many Brits are improving, as recent reports have confirmed some 87 per cent of pay deals were settled at two per cent or more, between December 2010 and February 2011
• Employers need to establish "pre-employment" links with graduates
  - Research shows that employers are now looking beyond a graduate's educational qualifications when it comes to finding that perfect new recruit, according to Changeboard, and are establishing links with individuals much earlier