#travel-compensation

#travel-compensation

"For the first time, a rigid office attendance mandate has been broken and replaced with a more sensible, flexible approach based on what actually works," General Secretary Fran Heathcote said. "This has been a long campaign and reaching a deal members could accept reflects the determination of PCS members at ONS, the hard work of their reps and the value of trade unionism."

In the EU, when a train is significantly delayed or cancelled altogether, affected passengers are often entitled to compensation, according to the EU Passenger Regulation. This also applies to disruptions caused by strikes. A delay of one hour entitles you to a reimbursement of 25 percent of the fare you paid, and a delay of two hours entitles you to 50 percent back.

If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, I'll be happy if they only stayed at $4 a gallon. This situation is bound to impact budgets for commuters significantly.

Resume Builder reported last October that 30% of companies will eliminate remote work in 2026. According to a survey of business leaders by Vena Solutions , a private financial software company, 83% of CEOs globally anticipate a return to full-time office work in 2027. But what if there's a better way to frame this conversation? What if the focus shifts away from where employees are working to when employees are working?

Traveling is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, but it comes with its share of risks especially when it comes to your health. Whether you're backpacking through Southeast Asia, road-tripping across Europe, or taking a luxury cruise, unexpected medical issues can turn an amazing trip into a nightmare. That's where travel health insurance steps in offering peace of mind and financial protection when you're far from home.

If you run a business, there's a familiar email you probably opened this fall: the one from your benefits broker with your 2026 health insurance renewal. You scroll. You see a double-digit increase, and your stomach drops. You want to do right by your team. You also have a P&L to protect. And the three standard options you're handed - pay the increase, raise deductibles or push more cost onto employees - all feel bad in different ways.

Q I manage an engineering company in the north-west, with a staff of about 50. Recruitment and retention are key issues, because staff are constantly being poached, and are then difficult to replace.

I manage a team of four. One of my staff members, Jeff, asked to go to a conference that was about a five-hour drive away. I approved the request as the conference would be good for his professional development. Three other staff members from our closely connected teams were also going. Jeff registered for the conference. A couple of weeks later, he asked me about booking a flight to it. I was surprised by this, as the conference was a reasonable driving distance. I explained that the department would rent a van and the attendees would drive there together. (Our department wants to minimize expenses when reasonable, so this is normal unless it doesn't make sense logistically or financially.) He pushed back with a couple of reasons that he wanted to fly, such as it would save time and he didn't feel comfortable driving.

"Creating a modern, fair and dynamic labour market is central to this Government's plan for growth," she said. "We want to make it easier for employers to find the people they need, while ensuring that work pays and feels secure. "Through clear guidance, we are giving businesses the practical support they need to understand these changes and get things right first time. By improving fairness and security at work, we boost productivity, strengthen retention and support businesses to succeed."

In today's job market, amid persistent inflation, job seekers want more compensation. In many cases, though, employers simply can't give more. In fact, nearly three-quarters of employers are concerned about meeting candidates' salary expectations, according to Robert Half's 2026 Salary Guide. To fill the gap, many are coming to the negotiation table with a focus on everything else in the compensation package.