Dear Dawn,
Thanks for your reply. This has been set up as a salary-sacrifce
scheme. There was a comprehensive communications strategy
which included posters, articles in our newsletter, lots of information
on the website, a helpline for staff etc. We also wrote to all staff who
were on materniy/paternity or parental leave.
Our initial contract with Care-4 (part of the Grass Roots Group) is for
a year and we will review the service and more than likely, extend it
for a further two years. That is part of the reason that there is a
registeration period or annual joining date. For 2005, we have set up
the scheme to coincide with the Govt's changes on Tax and NI
(April).
It is always difficult to predict what the take-up might be to a scheme
of this kind. This scheme does not cover chidlren who are looked after family
members who are not approved/registered childcarers.
Best wishes
Fehmeeda
On 14 Mar 2005 at 12:19, D.Steel wrote:
Date sent: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 12:19:47 -0000
Send reply to: HE Administrators equal opportunities list <[log in to unmask]>
From: "D.Steel" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: care-4 childcare scheme
To: [log in to unmask]
> Dear Fehmeeda
> I presume you have set this up as a salary sacrifice scheme? We
looked at salary sacrifice schemes in some detail at the end of 2002
but did not proceed at that time. We are going to look again as soon
as we can in light of a number of enquiries from staff who are
interested because of the changes in tax and NI exemptions effective
from April this year (i.e. first £50 of vouchers per week tax and NI free
providing carers are registered/approved). I am surprised at the low
number of takers for your scheme (though I am obviously not sure
what percentage of your staff this represents). When we looked at
this in 2002 a number of people I contacted who had such schemes
seemed to have very low take up but I would have expected the new
provisions to make the prospect more attractive. Presumably you
would have publicised the new tax and NI provisions? Also I see that
you have set up a registration period. Have you set this up in line
with the tax year? Does this mean that employees can't register part
way through the year? Sorry to answer your question with more
questions Fehmeeda, but your response (or comments from anyone
else who has set up a scheme) would be very helpful to us.
> Regards
> Dawn Steel
> HR Adviser
> The Open University
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:ADMIN-
[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fehmeeda Riaz
> Sent: 14 March 2005 11:00
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: care-4 childcare scheme
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I hope you are all well.
>
> We have just launched an electronic childcare voucher scheme
(care-4). The registeration period has just ended - 16 members of
staff have enrolled for the 2005 scheme.
>
> I was wondering how this compares with other colleagues who
have launched similar schemes.
>
> With all best wishes
>
> Fehmeeda
>
>
> Fehmeeda Riaz
> HR Adviser - Diversity
> University of Westminster
> HR Department
> 5th Floor, Copland Building
> 115 New Cavendish Street
> London, W1W 6UW
> Tel: 020-7911-5776
>
> This email and its attachments are intended for the above named
only and may be confidential. If they have come to you in error you
must not copy them or show them to anyone, nor should you take
any action based on them, other than to notify the error by replying to
the sender.
Fehmeeda Riaz
HR Adviser - Diversity
University of Westminster
HR Department
5th Floor, Copland Building
115 New Cavendish Street
London, W1W 6UW
Tel: 020-7911-5776
This email and its attachments are intended for the above named
only and may be confidential. If they have come to you in error you
must not copy them or show them to anyone, nor should you take
any action based on them, other than to notify the error by replying to
the sender.
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