Notes to the financial statements
9. Employee information
The average number of persons employed by the Group (including directors) was as follows:
| Group | 2008 Number |
2007 Number |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time* | 5,640 | 5,157 |
| Part-time** | 4,589 | 4,665 |
| 10,229 | 9,822 |
*Includes 207 agents in Hungary (2007: nil).
**Includes 3,954 agents in Hungary (2007: 4,110).
Agents are typically self employed other than in Hungary where they are required by legislation to be employed.
Group employment costs – all employees (including directors):
| Group | 2008 £m |
2007 £m |
|---|---|---|
| Gross wages and salaries | 102.7 | 81.7 |
| Social security costs | 24.9 | 20.9 |
| Pension charge / (credit) – defined benefit schemes (note 23) | 0.3 | (3.6) |
| Pension charge – defined contribution schemes | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Share-based payment charge | 2.1 | 3.5 |
| Total | 130.5 | 102.8 |