About Keoghs

Keoghs is one the UK's leading law firms and insurance specialists. They have 400 staff based in Bolton and Coventry. They are a progressive employer who have achieved not only the Investors in People standard but were listed as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2003 and 2004.

Reviewing their benefits strategy

Keoghs articulate a number of key business values, which are summarised as; Approachability, focus, variety and innovative added value. In reviewing their benefits strategy they were keen to translate these business relationship principles into the company's pay and reward structure.

In carrying out the review, Keoghs also had a number of specific objectives in mind.

Firstly, they wanted to ensure that their benefits package was competitive in the market and would continue to help them attract new talent into the business.

Secondly, Keoghs consider that strategies enabling employee choice are fast becoming a requirement in the legal sector. Feedback from existing employees indicated that they wanted to see more flexibility in their benefits and new methods of communication. For example, a survey of employees carried out by thomsons showed that more than 85% of employees wanted more information about their benefits, and more than 90% wanted more choice over their benefits.

Following a tender process, Keoghs selected thomsons online benefits to help them implement their new reward strategy.

Beginning the benefits journey

As the first step on their benefits journey, Keoghs have implemented thomsons online benefits' Perquisite platform which offers employees an online total reward statement, a new pension scheme with signatureless enrolment facility and a range of voluntary benefits. Employees are also now able to choose to utilise salary sacrifice on their pension contributions.

The next steps

Later this summer Keoghs plan to take the next steps in their benefits journey towards the introduction of flexible benefits which will include:

• thomsons online benefits carrying out a review of their current benefits and providers;
  
  
• A pilot project to assess the business impact of enabling employees to flex their holiday entitlement.

Frances Cross, HR Director at Keoghs comments: "We felt it was important to move towards full flexible benefits in bite sized chunks. The early indications are that the work we already done has given employees a clearer picture and appreciation for the benefits that they receive. I am sure that as we increase the flexibility and choice of benefits on offer further this understanding and appreciation will only increase."

More press releases from Thomsons Online Benefits:
Most employers consider the introduction of compulsory employer pension contributions likely