2005 - February
Injuries to the skin, especially the hands, can be caused by numerous work processes. So why not use our checklist and procedure to help you reduce the risk of injury to your staff, or of a claim which may follow?
How should you keep your staff health records in light of a new Code of Practice? And what is its status anyway?
Your premises have their own grounds and you’re looking to appoint specialist contractors to manage them for you. In order to reduce your potential liability, what are the key health and safety issues to get right before they start?
As you’re probably aware, the police are taking a far greater interest in work-related road traffic accidents. Following a recent case, what implications could this have for you as an employer?
Due to your work processes, you need to make respiratory protective equipment available to your staff. However, you need to ensure that you’re testing and maintaining it properly. What should you be doing?
Several of your male employees use lead in their work and you want to ensure that you’re managing their health properly. What are the main health risks from using lead and what should you have in place?
Safety for the visually-impaired
A new employee is sight-impaired so you need to know what reasonable adjustments should be made so as to provide him with a safe working environment. Could this be easier and cheaper to achieve than you think?
A female employee complains she’s being sexually harassed. You’re worried that you could be liable so believe her and dismiss her colleague. Safe?
Wiping the slate clean (of dividend tax)
The new dividend tax has been in force for nearly a year now, and some companies with low profits who paid out dividends are starting to receive higher tax bills. But there is a way to neutralise this tax. How does it work?
You know that since October 1, 2004 you have to follow the statutory minimum dismissal and disciplinary procedure before you can dismiss an employee. But does this apply to short-service staff too?
You’ve decided to issue existing staff with questionnaires to find out if they have any concerns over fitness to work. What steps can you take to ensure they’re completed and returned to you?
As the end of the 2004/5 tax year draws to a close, heralding the usual mad panic of form filling, what should you be doing now to make your life easier in meeting the Taxman’s deadlines?
With most policies, the insurance company will only pay the net cost of any claim you make. You have to pay the VAT. How can you recover this tax through your VAT return?
Road transport - new restrictions
The Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005 will come into force on March 23, 2005. They will then provide extra protection against long hours for drivers. How should you prepare for them?
Your offspring is a brilliant child and will surely qualify for University, but how are you going to pay for 3-5 years at law or med school when the time comes? The Child Trust Fund sounds promising, but is it the solution?
The Taxman has recently announced a cash incentive for businesses who set up a payroll giving scheme. Is it worth it?
Is reducing salary a detriment?
You know that a worker has the right to withdraw from the opt-out that limits the week to 48 hours. Following recent case law, is it safe for you to reduce his salary accordingly?
An ex-employee is claiming that you unfairly dismissed him. However, he found replacement employment whilst working his notice. Will this be taken into account if you lose the case? What does recent case law say?
The Taxman won’t let businesses deduct excessive wages paid to the proprietor’s spouse. So how should you calculate the correct wage to keep on the best side of both your spouse and the Taxman?
With property prices making the headlines, the question of tax-free accommodation for employees or directors could be of interest. Is this something your company could provide you with?
You’ve spent a lot of time and money recruiting the right person for the job. After six months, he’s asking for more money or he’ll leave. How can you persuade them to stay? Pay them more? Too expensive. So what can you do?
Following the recent media coverage, concerns have been raised by staff on the amount of time they spend using their company mobile phones. What’s the latest government position on their safe use and how can you reassure them?
You need some agency staff to help out for a couple of months. You need to know if using them could prove to be a bigger health and safety risk than relying on your own staff. If so, how can these risks be reduced?
According to a new report by the TUC, up to 2.9 million workers are affected by dyslexia. This could have some impact on how you manage health and safety in your workplace. So what should you be aware of?
The Health & Safety Executive has produced interim statistics on the main causes of fatal accidents in 2003/4. What are the key points to be aware of?
Safe planning of maintenance activities
Maintenance and repair work may require the lifting of heavy equipment in order to gain access. Recent case law shows what can happen if this isn’t properly assessed first. What can you learn from it?
If your fire alarm sounds, you’d probably dial 999 and wait for the fire brigade to arrive. However, following some recent changes, their arrival may no longer be guaranteed. What’s the latest news and how could it affect you?
A visitor slipped and sustained an injury on a recent visit to your premises. How should you assess the risks to visitors and what sort of control measures do you need to introduce?
The documents requested are…
With the notification on an enquiry into your tax return the Taxman normally includes a list of documents he’d like you to provide him with. Do you have to give him everything he asks for?
A company has the power to buy-back its own shares from its shareholders. In certain circumstances this facility can be used to save tax. How could this work for you?
Religious beliefs v poor performance
A tribunal has just decided the first case under the new Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations. What’s the latest news?
You have to move into new offices because your current lease is coming to an end. Everyone’s jobs will still be available but of course they’ll be at the new premises. What’s the legal position on this?
Naturally, you like to cover all your personnel dealings in writing so have extensive employment contracts. However is having the contracts enough? Do you have to draw their contents to the attention of your staff?
On April 6, 2006 (A-day) the rules for making tax-free contributions to pension schemes change. What do you need to know now, from a tax point of view, to stay ahead of the game?
You want to introduce a random search policy to deal with your suspicions of theft. However you’re worried that unhappy staff could object and claim constructive dismissal. Is this actually true?
In an unannounced move, the time limit for recovery of under-deducted NI from employees has been extended into the next financial year. What advantage could this have for you?
For the avoidance of doubt the Taxman recently published his views on directors’ travel expenses. What should your response to this be?
Our subscriber sold goods to a US company but delivered them to its UK subsidiary for export to the US. When the VATman came to call he demanded evidence that the goods had left the country. Solution? Read on…
When the price of fuel changes, is that the time to reconsider whether your company should pay for all your fuel? Or is this still fixed for a whole tax year at a time?
Suppose you have an employee who’s not performing well. Or maybe there are disciplinary issues. You sense that it’s going to result in dismissal so offer him favourable terms to leave now. Are there dangers with this?
You’ve just told an employee that you’re commencing disciplinary action against him. The following day he submitted a doctor’s certificate signing him off sick for a few weeks. What should you do now?