Employee Benefits articles from June 2002

Employee Benefits archives from June 2002

Editor's note.(Benefits Book published by Employee Benefits magazine)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... WELCOME TO the inaugural edition of the Benefits Book, which is published by Employee Benefits to provide employers with an extensive directory of benefits providers. The past decade has seen tremendous growth in the benefits arena. Employers...

Editorial contributors.
June 1, 2002... Nic Austen Nic joined Employee Benefits in September 2001 as events and web producer, having previously worked in PR and the music industry. She is responsible for the seminar programme and speakers at the Employee Benefits Exhibition &...

Ensuring staff aren't fuming: new taxation criteria has forced employers to rethink their fleet options. With cars perceived as both a major benefit and a status symbol, how you communicate and implement changes can become something of a divisive issue. (Cars).
June 1, 2002... FROM 6 APRIL 2002, the benefit-in-kind company car tax has meant that drivers of company cars registered after 1 January 1998, are taxed according to a calculation based on the price of the vehicle and its C[O.sub.2] emissions. This makes...

Using IT workhorses, firms say nay to glitz: in a technology-driven age, IT learns to take a back seat in the way that benefits are communicated. (Communication and Technology).
June 1, 2002... TWO TRENDS are emerging in benefits communications. Firstly, the initial enthusiasm for IT as the main communication medium has evolved into a more mature attitude which sees the most appropriate role for IT in an administration capacity rather...

Gurus instil mantra of human capital: as the reward package has played a greater strategic role over the last five years, so have consultants. (Consultants).
June 1, 2002... THE STRATEGIC use of employee benefits as a management tool to recruit and retain the right staff, is a relatively new phenomenon. Until just over ten years ago, an employer of choice (although the term hadn't yet been coined by...

Sharing risk with rewards: staff woes at Enron, Marconi and Railtrack made British workers rethink their investment decisions, but ever evolving tax incentives still make share schemes enticing. (Employee Share Schemes).
June 1, 2002... The golden age of share schemes started in the late 1990s and hit a peak during the dotcom boom of 1999/2000. However, poor stock market performance over the past two years has led to some share plans, particularly in technology, media and...

Flex needn't be about contortionism: the costs of implementing flex have been tying employers in knots but the feel-good benefits could just be worth it. (Flexible Benefits Plans).
June 1, 2002... FLEXIBLE BENEFITS have been on most employers wish lists for years. Flex plans allow employees to tailor benefits to their needs, because instead of spending money on a set package, employers allocate each employee an allowance, and lets them...

Coughing up for good cover: seen as the poor relative of private medical insurance, cash plans gain ground in the fight against absenteeism. (Healthcare).(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... HEALTHCARE benefits come in many guises. The most common is private medical insurance (PMI) which, according to the Employee Benefits/Simplyhealth Healthcare Survey 2002, 82% of employers provide. Generally, because of the costs, PMI tends to...

Pensions law holds court: legal services are commonly needed for pensions and share schemes, but in every case you must get a specialist. (Legal Services).
June 1, 2002... THERE ARE two types of legal services related to benefits. One is legal advice offered to employees as a benefit, and the second is legal advice for employers dealing with benefits. Legal advice for employees allows them to access advice on...

Gee 'em up till you're hoarse: there's a war against complacency, and rallying the troops isn't 9 to 5 even if you know which buttons to push. (Motivation Plans).
June 1, 2002... KEEPING STAFF motivated is vital if you want a productive workforce. And there are as many ways to motivate staff as there are individuals. For some, it is the culture of employer they work for (employers with a strong ethical or community...

Pensions with a non retiring disposition: new accounting standards, court rulings and the aftershock of Myners recommendations have put pensions centre stage. (Pensions).
June 1, 2002... FIGURES FROM the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) show that defined benefit/final salary (DB) schemes remain the most popular way for employers to offer a pension plan to staff, however, occupational defined contribution (DC) is...

Care is the keystone: a tight labour market and a rash of European employee friendly legislation has pushed flexible working to the fore. (Work/Life Balance Policies).
June 1, 2002... WORK/LIFE BALANCE issues have moved up the corporate agenda over the past three years, and have evolved from more narrowly defined family-friendly policies. Part of the reason has been a number of government initiatives and EU legislation, such...

Absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder. (Sponsor's Comment).(absenteeism and cost)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... A caring approach Over recent years we have seen a move away from a `personnel' function to a strategically focussed HR function. Gone are the days of the Personnel `tea and sympathy' approach for all employees' personnel needs. More...

Improving staff ills bodes well for healthy balance sheets. (Comment).(healthcare survey)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... This is our fourth annual healthcare research into what health benefits employers offer their staff and the reason behind their choices. Looking back to our first survey in 1999 I can't help noticing some marked differences. The most...

The package: keeping staff healthy is being forced to the top of our commercial priorities, it now ranks as a corporate objective for 68% of employers.
June 1, 2002... A number of results from this year's data point to something of an upheaval in employer attitudes to staff health and their strategic objectives for health benefits. Nothing does more to confirm this than the jump in employers who state that...

Sickness absence: the cost of sickness absence is at a record level, but over a third of organisations don't have a strategy in place to reduce it.
June 1, 2002... Sickness absence is costing UK employers more money than ever before--but a third (34%) of those who responded to our survey, don't have a strategy in place to reduce it. According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), absence cost UK...

Managing staff absence. (Advertising Feature).(CIGNA HealthCare)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... With recent figures from the Office for National Statistics showing the biggest leap in sickness absence levels in 20 years, staff absence has never been a more important issue. The survey shows that almost 2.2 million days were lost in...

The costs: this year's survey shows the growing influence of financial directors in healthcare purchasing decisions.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Two thirds of respondents said cost was their main concern when selecting healthcare benefits, and it's hardly surprising, because healthcare is increasingly expensive. But the steady rise in costs isn't dramatic. Almost half of...

Respondents: employers of all sizes and from all sectors have said that keeping employees healthy is a corporate objective.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... The survey was carried out in March and April this year, and received 614 replies. The larger an employer was, the more responsibilities tended to be divided, so health strategies were less likely to be driven by health and safety...

In practice case histories: organisations may use healthcare benefits to curb absence, or as an add-on to stringent safety regulations. But in every case their aim is to keep staff working.
June 1, 2002... When we asked our survey respondents to rate the top priorities of their health strategy, the most popular answer was "improving the health and welfare of staff". It sounds lovely doesn't it? But it also sounds highly unlikely. When an employer...

Simplyhealth. (Company Profiles).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
June 1, 2002... SIMPLYHEALTH Stag House Old London Road Hertford Hertfordshire SG13 7LA Tel 01992 515 515 Fax 01992 515 516 Email marketing@s8implyhealth.uk.com www.simplyhealth.uk.com Simplyhealth is a specialist providing...

Sovereign Health Care since 1873. (Company Profiles).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
June 1, 2002... Sovereign Health Care Royal Standard House Bradford BD1 3DN Tel: 01274 729472 Fax: 01274 722252 e-mail: sales@sovereignhealthcare.co.uk Contact: Paul Kitching Sales & Marketing Manager Sovereign Health Care helps...

Westfield Health Scheme. (Company Profiles).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Contact: Angela Smith Tel: 0114 250 2095 fax: 0114 278 6628. Or visit the Westfield website: www.westfieldhealth.com The award-winning Westfield Health Scheme is one of the UK's leading providers of corporate healthcare cash...

Does the Jubilee really mark a golden era? June is going to be a month to remember. Not only for the Football World Cup and the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, but for a commemoration of all that's important about our nation's future--National Childcare Month. (eb.Comment).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... Although many readers would have been around for the Queen's coronation, the majority would have been children and certainly not of working age. So I conducted some research into the workplace of 50 years ago to find out whether any of today's...

Centrica powers ahead with flexible package. (update.News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IN MAY, Centrica, the energy and services company, began rolling out a new package, The Total Incentive Reward Scheme, to its 800 top UK executives. The package includes flexible benefits, an improved company car scheme and a bonus. ...

Cache in on PC loan boom. (Flexible Benefits).(Sodexho and Nationwide offer used computers to employees)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... TWO MAJOR UK employers introduced computer loan schemes for staff, leading to speculation that it could be the next big benefit boom. Legislation from 1999 allows employers to loan computers to staff without paying benefit-in-kind tax. ...

ABI relax prostate cancer definition.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Association of British Insurers changed the standard definition of prostate cancer, allowing insurers to exclude mild cases from critical illness cover. As yet, no insurer has changed its policy, but if employers switch to cover with this...

BA to close DB pension scheme.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... British Airways announced it will close its defined benefit pension scheme to new entrants in the autumn, and open a defined contribution scheme for new staff. The decision came after an FRS 17 valuation revealed a shortfall of 394m [pounds...

Cogent manager wins `best boss'.
June 1, 2002... Head of benefits at Cogent Investment Operations, Ian Barnard, won the Parents at Work and Lloyds TSB Best Boss com petition 2002. Barnard was commended for starting flexible working at the City firm. It offers annualized hours, homeworking,...

Caterpillar's fund must perform.(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2002... To ensure that its consultants add value to its pension, Caterpillar Pension Fund negotiated a performance-related fee deal with Mercer Investment Consulting. Both fund manager selection and strategic advice will be assessed.

HBOS gives shares Scot free. (Shares & Bonuses).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IN MAY, HBOS shareholders approved several share schemes at its AGM. As well as a controversial executive scheme, it voted for an annual bonus plan, an all employee share option plan, and a share incentive plan (Sip). The option plan has been...

Diageo site proves big hit. (Communication).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IF DIAGEO'S EXPERIENCE is anything to go by, the internet can be a valuable way for employers to stay in touch with pension fund members. A survey completed by the drinks giant in May, showed 46% of the 72,000 Diageo pension members...

Utilities firm launches Sip. (Shares & Bonuses).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... UNITED UTILITIES launched a share incentive plan (Sip) for its 16,000 UK staff. The first shares will be allocated in August. In May the company sent packs to staff and ran seminars. Staff could also read up on the scheme and apply online....

E&Y pension plans change. (Pensions).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... ERNST & YOUNG may have to modify plans to close its defined benefit pension to future accruals for existing members. Staff contested plans on legal grounds. Nicholas Bennett, principal at Buck Consultants, said legal problems can arise "if...

Choice helps focus Philips staff. (Package).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... CONSUMER electronics company: Philips UK, launched a flexible benefits package for 3,000 of its British workers in April. The package, known as Profile, aimed to cement Philips' position as an employer of choice in the high-tech sector, and...

BT dishes out reward targets. (Shares & Bonuses).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IN JULY BT WILL, INTRODUCE an incentive plan for 14,000 management staff on personal contracts. This will replace their annual salary reviews which usually result in market-linked pay increases. Paul Cox, acting group compensation and...

Forces face woe as old bills mature.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... By 2010, pension payments to retired officers will cost the combined 43 police forces up to 2bn [pounds sterling]--a fifth of their annual revenue. They currently use 15% of their 8bn [pounds sterling] funding on pensions. Many officers who...

C&W rolls out self service access.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Cable & Wireless rolled out self-service benefits to its global workforce of 12,000 in June.

BAT keep DB despite shortfall.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... British American Tobacco (BAT) will retain its defined benefit final salary (DB) pension schemes, despite reporting a 470m [pounds sterling] liability under FRS 17. BAT's position contrasts with other high profile employers who have closed DB...

Consignia looks at phantom scheme.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Postal group, Consignia, plans a new employee reward scheme when it completes restructuring in 2004 or 2005. One scheme said to be under consideration is a profit-related phantom share scheme with bonuses of up to 1,000 [pounds sterling]....

Big city hunters join the fat cat shooting party. (in the news).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... THE STORY In May, shareholder activism by institutional investors prompted the Prudential to withdraw an executive bonus scheme from an AGM vote and encouraged Selfridges to put a cap on its executive scheme. HBOS put its executive bonus...

Zurich launch car modeller on web.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Zurich financial services has launched an interactive car modeller on the intranet to help staff decide between a car or the cash alternative, and experiment with the tax implications of their choices. The move came following Zurich's fleet...

LRT Pension to spot hidden costs.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The London Regional Transport Pension Fund will identify hidden costs in investment transactions through a monitoring system. Where costs are too high it will negotiate for their reduction. The system allow the fund to meet Myner's monitoring...

Part-timer loses pension case.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The High court ruled a school hadn't discriminated by excluding a part timer, earning less than the lower earnings limit, from its pension. It ruled trustees didn't have to pro rate her salary when deciding whether to include her.

Safeway closes DB to all new staff.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Safeway closed its defined benefit final salary scheme to new members, and opened a career average scheme--based on an employee's average salary over their career.

Pizza firm offers staff a slice. (Shares & Bonuses).(Pizza Express)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... PIZZA EXPRESS will launch a share incentive plan (Sip) in June for all employees with over a year's service. The company hopes the scheme will lower staff turnover at its restaurants, a common problem in the restaurant sector. "People...

Reckitt moving pensions. (Pensions).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS giant, Reckitt Benckiser, began rolling out a new pension plan online to its executive cadre and to other globally mobile employees, in May. The company offers two defined contribution schemes, one for executives, and...

NHS' pick of poet tree. (Motivation).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... ALL NHS STAFF in Birmingham received a copy of The Gift, a poetry book compiled to recognise their dedication and celebrate 50 years of the NHS. The book was distributed to 33,000 employees in April and a private launch was held in May. ...

Doubling of Marconi sums. (Investment).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... MARCONI more than doubled its pension fund contributions in order to reassure members, investors and employees of the fund's health. The move was made after the disclosure of a 137m [pounds sterling] fund deficit last September. Though it...

Wincanton swaps PMI brokers.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Wincanton, the distribution and outsourcing firm, changed brokers for its private medical insurance from Phoenix to PMI. Cover has been upgraded from cost plus to a fully insured basis.

DFID opens wellness centre.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Department for International Development (DFID) has set up a wellness centre for its London staff. Energy Fitness Professionals runs fitness and weight management courses, physiotherapy and a gym at the centre.

Council to grow round the clock.(Pendle Council)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Pendle Council hopes to improve recruitment by offering flexible working for its 650 staff. It aims to attract workers who don't want traditional hours, and will help the council provide a 24 hour service, Options include compressed weeks...

Sara Lee merges five schemes.(Mercer HR Consulting to manage UK schemes)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Sara Lee will set up a new defined benefit (final salary) scheme to incorporate its five existing UK schemes. The new plan will have 18,000 members and a 600m [pounds sterling] fund. It will be administered by Mercer HR Consulting. The aim was...

Telco connects with 6,000 staff. (Communication).(T-Mobile remuneration statements)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... MOBILE communications provider, T-Mobile, launched total remuneration statements to its 6,000 UK staff, at the beginning of May. Karl Ward, compensation and benefits manager, said: "It's the first time employees have received anything from...

IoA publishes SMPI guidance. (Legislation).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... IN MAY, the Institute of Actuaries published mandatory guidelines for annual statutory money purchase pension illustrations (SMPI), which will apply to employers running occupational defined contribution pension schemes. From April 2003...

Employers care for kids. (Work/Life).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... JUNE'S National Childcare Month, won plenty of support, but hasn't inspired many new strategies. HSBC will hold tea parties at its in-house nurseries, and launch a report with the Kids Club Network, on the future of care for young school...

Employee benefits interactive. (update.Webwatch).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... A selection of the latest benefit innovations and events which appeared on EBi this month. For the latest additions and more information log on to employeebenefits.co.uk.

What is EBi? (Information).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... EBI is the UK's first online research tool for benefits decision-makers. The website offers free access to an archive of Employee Benefits magazine articles, along with a contact directory, situations vacant listing, benefit surveys, full...

National Childcare Month. (Work/Life).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... THE FIRST EVER National Childcare Month takes place in June, celebrating all that's good and new in childcare, and EBi will be alerting registered users to all the news around the event. The month will include major research on employers...

Voucher scheme extended. (Shares & Bonuses).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... THE RANGE OF goods and services staff can spend reward vouchers on has increased. Capital Incentives has announced that its Capital Bonds vouchers can now be redeemed at Arcadia Group outlets, including Burtons Menswear, Dorothy Perkins, Miss...

Managers sabotage work/life. (Work/Life).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... YOUR WORK/LIFE balance policy may be undermined by your managers, according to a new report from Roffey Park. Work-Life Balance: The Role of the Manager explains that regardless of whether formal policies are in place, it is the attitudes,...

Diary dates.
June 1, 2002... * 6 June: Hot topics pensions course. Birmingham. Contact Eldorna Mapp at Mercer HR Consulting on 020 7963 3193 * 11 June: Practical trusteeship. Edinburgh Zoo. Call 020 7448 7000 or visit www.buckconsultants.co.uk * 13 June: Medical...

Diversity policies multiply.(in UK companies)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Two in three (61%) employers have diversity policies, but only 46% set clear goals. Most respondents offer support through benefits though. For example, almost all helped staff with care responsibilities, and over 80% offered flexible working....

Young managers crave more.(Brief Article)(Polling Data)
June 1, 2002... To recruit young managers employers must offer more than benefits--the top attractions for this group were career prospects, challenge, and the chance for personal growth. When it came to benefits the top perks were an occupational pension...

Scheme closures accelerate.(defined benefit plan closures)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... The closure of defined benefit schemes to both new and existing members is likely to accelerate. One in ten (11%) private sector employers plan to do it in the next two years. This is in addition to the 23% which will close their scheme to new...

Boom in flexible benefits.(UK survey)(Brief Article)(Polling Data)
June 1, 2002... A survey of the UK's top 1,000 companies showed 37% of them offer flexible benefits. But even flex didn't ensure all employees appreciated the value of the package. Only half of the respondents (51%) said their staff appreciated the value, 46%...

Support for car phone ban.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Nearly 65% of fleet professionals felt their organisation should advocate a ban on phone use in cars. However, 62% admitted that they used the phone in the car themselves, and 48% didn't always use a hands free kit. * For more information...

Wobbly economy drives absence to 15 year low. (update.Research).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... ABSENCE has fallen. In 2001 the average employee took 7.1 days off, the lowest level since the CBI started tracking in 1987. This was partly because staff showed commitment in hard times, and partly because employers took control--79% monitored...

The survey: James Buckley asks: before you offered a career break, would you insist on approving what the employee did during their time away? (Update).
June 1, 2002... Absolutely not! We offer sabbaticals so that staff can go away and come back revitalised. It's totally their choice where they go and I wouldn't dream of changing that. If an employer feels they have to stress that a member of staff shouldn't...

Test results in savings: screening and early diagnosis can prevent more expensive claims later on, so stop looking at it as a perk and start seeing screening in a strategic light. (focus on.Healthcare).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... What should you do if your boss trips over his wallet and bangs his head? You get him to invest in health screening before the concussion wears off--because if you wait until he recovers, you'll never convince him it's essential. He may...

Crunch time for fleets: as well as helping employers with claims for accidents involving business drivers, James Buckley says an audit can reveal hidden costs. (focus on.Cars).(risk audits for fleet vehicles)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Such has been the impact of emission-based taxes on the fleet industry that for the last year any other issue has paled into insignificance. However, if one new topic is set to begin occupying minds, it is fleet heath and safety and the need...

Change of lifestyling: lifestyling pension investment options have seen striking developments recently, but Sarah Ball asks if they are right for your GPP scheme members. (focus on.Pensions).(group personal pension scheme management)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The debates surrounding pensions seem to get endlessly more nuanced for benefits managers. The extent to which lifestyling avoids the need to offer better education to group personal pension (GPP) scheme members, is no exception. Lifestyle...

Wearing the label: a strong internal brand helps employers deliver their external brand. Benefits are one tool you can use to build your internal brand. (in depth.Branding).(includes related article)
June 1, 2002... Since it was first tackled by Employee Benefits twenty months ago, the concept of employer branding, and using benefits to build that brand, has rocketed in popularity. Having been limited to a handful of large firms, the idea has now spread...

Take a break: there's a new business model in town--instead of laying off workers, let them take career sabbaticals. Sarah Ball questions its validity and assesses its widespread mimicry. (in depth.Career Breaks).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Employees in the professional services sector have been leaping off the hamster wheel of their long hours culture, headlong into career breaks--a scenario which wouldn't have been entertained previously. This is a world where twelve months ago...

Team building: the world of sport provides plenty of role models for how to build a team, but rewards can be tricky to implement whilst keeping a level playing field.(includes related articles)(Cover Story)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... With World Cup fever gripping the nation, it's been virtually impossible to leave the house without hearing the names David Beckham, Sven-Goran Eriksson, or Michael Owen. The stars of the pitch have been making grown men cry, starting pub...

Body and sole: Adidas moves in one of the world's most competitive marketplaces. To attract and retain people who have their finger on the pulse is essential in a business that can turn on a heartbeat. (employer profile.Adidas).(Company Profile)
June 1, 2002... Adidas plays a central role in this month's football World Cup--it is sponsoring the official ball, all the referees and nine of the finalist teams. It is not surprising, because sport, and football in particular, is its corporate lifeblood....

Voluntary benefits: voluntary benefits have proved a cost efficient way to get more benefits bangs for your bucks. (employee benefits.buyer's guide).
June 1, 2002... Most of the human resource and benefits community will see the increases in National Insurance (NI) announced in the last Budget as just another cost pressure. But for voluntary benefits providers it presents a marketing opportunity. As the...

Get the message.(international share plans)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... For multinational companies, launching an international share plan is an extremely effective way of improving their staff's motivation and performance, and creating a sense of ownership in the company. Viviane Kaiser of Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow...

Moving the goal posts. (Bennie Fitz).(Manchester United offers player goal posts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Even the fabulously rich value a good employee benefit. Witness David Beckham. Despite being offered a pay packet of just under 100,000 [pounds sterling] per week to renew his contract with Manchester United, the deal clincher was the team's...

Tequila sunrise. (Bennie Fitz).(survey of World Cup soccer fans)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Football seems to go hand in hand with benefits at the moment. A new survey sounded alarm bells about absenteeism during the tournament-again-but seems to have interviewed just alcoholics. While it doesn't seem particularly strange that 50% of...

Golden handcuffs. (Bennie Fitz).
June 1, 2002... Personally I plan to save my alcoholic indulgences for the Jubilee. Whether you're a royalist or not, you have to admit that sticking out fifty years in the same job is impressive stuff. Admittedly it starts to look less so when you think about...

Bubble under the surface. (Bennie Fitz).
June 1, 2002... Mind you I tend to find it hard to turn down champagne--particularly when they're giving away gallons of free fizz like they were at the NAPF conference last month. I asked my host- "Do freebies like this really influence trustees' decisions?"...