2009 - April
Who has the right to flexible working?
A member of staff has heard about some recent changes to the laws on flexible working. As a result, they’re now saying that you must give them this type of arrangement. Are they right?
Should you now take women off the night shift?
The media has been full of stories saying that women who work at night for prolonged periods have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. So does this mean that you must stop all female staff from working night shifts immediately?
Approaching reluctant employees
You’ve come up with some ideas to cut costs via flexible working. If you get enough volunteers you should avoid the need to make redundancies. So how should you deal with those employees who are against your proposals?
The danger of trying to avoid “worker” status
In the current economic climate, it could be financially advantageous for you to take on a new hire as a “self-employed contractor” rather than a “worker”. What’s the latest from the Employment Appeal Tribunal on this?
Claiming sick pay instead of holiday pay
Employees will often look for ways to try it on at your expense. One trick is to get signed off sick just before they’re due to go on holiday and then say that they shouldn’t lose that leave. If this happens, how should you deal with it?
The Home Secretary was recently left blushing after a claim for expenses was found to include “adult movies”. So what can you learn from her mistake?
The new pre-claim conciliation service
To coincide with the introduction of its new Code of Practice, ACAS has launched a “pre-claim conciliation” service. It aims to resolve workplace disputes quickly. So what do you need to know about it?
Turning a blind eye will breach your duty
In a recent case the Court of Appeal said that where one director simply “rubber-stamps” another director’s decision they’ll be in breach of their duty. So does this mean you have to question every decision they make?
Scam alert - training doesn’t exist
There’s a new scam your company needs to watch out for. This time it’s in the form of bogus training. So if you’re looking at training options, how can you be sure that the provider is genuine and you won’t lose your hard earned cash?
Can you always rely on a non-waiver clause?
Your company has a contract with a supplier but they’re not keeping to the terms. You’re not saying anything now as there’s a clause that allows you to end the agreement for this reason at a later date. But for how long can you rely on it?
Tax enquiries tied up in more red tape
April 1 saw the introduction of the Taxman’s radical new rules for checking and making enquiries into your tax affairs. There’s also a new system for settling disputes. What do you need to know about this?
Reclaiming VAT on entertainment costs
Businesses can’t reclaim VAT on entertaining expenses, but there are circumstances where this rule doesn’t apply. And a recent case in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has created a further opportunity. When can you make a claim?
Flexible working rights extended
On April 6 2009 the right to request flexible working was extended to parents with children aged under 17. How can your company dodge new requests?
Is Income Protection Insurance taxable?
You’re considering introducing Income Protection Insurance as a staff benefit. What’s the most tax-efficient way of doing this for directors and other employees, especially if there’s a claim?
When is a sale final for Capital Gains Tax?
A recent case has confirmed an earlier ruling that although a contract for sale of property has been signed, it doesn’t stop the original owner transferring the property to someone else in the meantime. Does it open the door for last-minute tax planning?
Getting caught for jury service
You’ve received a notice of selection for jury service. But in the current economic crisis your company can’t spare you. What are your chances of escaping service on the grounds that, as a company director, you’re vital to the business?
The hidden advantages to benefits
A new financial year has begun and with it comes fresh tax planning opportunities. Deferring NI payments for a year would be a good start. But how do you do this without getting the Taxman hot under the collar?
Inheritance Tax - relief for loans
Your business uses a property that you own. You’ve been told that when it comes to IHT you can leave the value of this out of the equation because it will be covered by Business Property Relief. But can you improve on this?
You’ll soon need to fill in your PAYE Form P35, but Part 3 contains some awkward questions. Is the Taxman looking for a way to start an investigation?
Is a loss worth something to your company?
The Chancellor’s Pre-budget Report announced help for companies hit by tough trading conditions. But his apparent generosity is not all it’s cracked up to be. What can you do as a company director to make the most of a bad situation?
A subscriber recently posed a question regarding tax relief on equipment. She was using her brand new top-of-the-range computer for business, but it hadn’t cost her anything. So how much tax relief could she claim on zero cost?
You want to organise a special event for staff. However, the fun police have stepped in and stated that you’d better complete risk assessments first. Is this really necessary?
You’ve heard that you could win contracts with accreditation from a health and safety contractor selection scheme, such as EXOR or Safecontractor. But is this really the case?
Don’t rely on a consultant too much
A recent case has seen the HSE prosecute a health and safety consultant and the business he provided support to. What prompted the case and what can be learned from it?
To ensure that staff and visitors have sufficient information to enable them to evacuate your premises safely in the event of an emergency, why not use our new emergency plan document?
Has the risk of legionella increased?
In the past month or so you’ve been contacted by companies offering legionella management services. Why have you started to get calls now - have the risks associated with legionella suddenly increased?
The Driving Standards Agency is implementing a new EU Directive aimed at improving the standards of commercial drivers. When is this happening and who will it apply to?
Schools are currently asking businesses to take in pupils to provide them with work experience. What are the potential health and safety implications?
Weather sites are becoming more and more sophisticated. We check the best sites for national and international forecasts, and for other information.
Everyone will agree that Gmail is an excellent e-mail service. And yet there are lots of useful tools which extend its possibilities even further. Here’s our selection.
Be social, share your bookmarks!
Regular surfers tend to bookmark lots of favourite websites. Bookmarks saved online can be accessed anywhere. But “social bookmarking services” also let you share your own bookmarks as well as discover those that other people like.
We’ve just reviewed a couple of new functions in IE8 which should make surfing more pleasant. However, the emphasis in the revamped Internet Explorer is on improved speed and security. What exactly does this involve?
iTunes is probably the most popular tool for managing large music collections on your computer. And yet this software has several disadvantages. That’s why we went in search of two alternatives.
The return of Windows Live Hotmail
It has been silent around Hotmail, the godfather of all webmail services, for a long while. However, a couple of useful new features were added recently. Can they make Hotmail a match for Gmail?
Looking for opinions and answers
Google has become the standard Internet search engine. But there are other dedicated search sites which may prove useful. If you need e.g. opinions, discussions or frequently asked questions on a topic, the following can help.
Stickware: tools for your USB stick
USB sticks are not only very useful, they have also become really cheap of late. Here are some free tools and tips which can make using these sticks even more efficient.
Internet Explorer 8: back on track
In response to the growing popularity of Firefox, Microsoft has at last released a new stable version of its Internet Explorer browser, version 8. Here are some of the new features.
Designing your interior online
Are you planning to redesign your business premises, your office or your living room? Before you start moving the furniture about, here are some good online services which enable you to try out everything first on your computer screen.
Creating your own audio recordings
It may come in handy to be able to make a sound recording yourself, for instance for creating a podcast, but also for recording a telephone call, interview, speech, etc. How do you do this?
Giving the right feedback to job applicants
Unsuccessful job applicants will sometimes ask you for feedback following the interview process. But with the increase in discrimination claims, what steps can you take to protect yourself should you receive such a request?
Get the most from employees’ notice periods
You’ve become aware that a key employee will be leaving soon and is currently working out their notice period. What steps can you take to ensure that you use their final days to your advantage?
Calculating paid leave entitlement on termination
As you know, since April 1 2009 employees have been entitled to increased annual leave. But if someone leaves part-way through your holiday year, what’s the best way to calculate their accrued holiday entitlement?
Maternity pay to rise to £370 p.w.?
If recent media reports are to be believed Statutory Maternity Pay is soon set to triple. But is this really true, or just another exaggerated headline?
Can we tempt you to say “I don’t like it”?
A company is offering £1,000 in a “pay-you-to-go” scheme if new recruits don’t like their jobs. It says the incentive will allow them to keep only those truly committed to their business. An interesting idea - but can it really work?
Dismissing short-service employees
You can usually dismiss an employee with less than one year’s service without the fear of an unfair dismissal claim. But now that the statutory procedures have gone should you handle these dismissals any differently?
Is forced retirement at 65 now discriminatory?
We previously told you that a challenge to the default retirement age of 65 had been brought by “Heyday”. The European Court of Justice recently published its ruling. What was the outcome and how does it affect you?
Tax efficient dividends for 2009/10
Despite the Budget being delayed until April 22 we already know the tax rates for 2009/10. So how does this help when it comes to working out how much you should take from your company in dividends?
Do you want to get some cash out of the company tax-free? You could hand over the keys to your family’s second car in exchange for cash, and keep using it. But will having more than one company car land you with a big tax bill?
Claiming VAT on a new office at home
The recession means that many business owners are turning to homeworking to avoid renting premises. What’s the situation regarding VAT you pay on building work to create an office in your home?
Don’t lose out on letting relief
We’ve been alerted to a Capital Gains Tax problem that’s increasingly catching people out. If you’ve rented out your home at some time and are about to sell it, you may need to plan carefully to avoid the Taxman’s trap.
Tax avoidance scheme using children
A recent case involved a couple that set up a scheme to shift income to their children. The Special Commissioner’s decision raised some interesting tax planning points. What’s the full story?
Not too late to code-out 2007/8 tax
The Taxman mistakenly told people who filed their tax returns online in January that they could spread the cost of tax due. What’s he going to do about it?
Your friend has told you that he has set up a bare trust for his grandchildren to avoid Inheritance Tax. You’ve met with your accountant to discuss doing the same but he seemed rather cool on it. So is a trust a good or bad idea?
Apprentice killed because of poor storage solution
An apprentice working at a joinery workshop died from serious head injuries after a stack of MDF boards fell on him. How did the accident happen, and how can you avoid a similar incident on your premises?
How to respond to an inspector’s comments
During a recent campaign your business was selected for an inspection. However, the experience wasn’t pleasant because the inspector made comments about almost everything you put in front of them. How should you deal with this?
HSE launches “new” stress website
Now, thanks to the HSE, there’s no reason to get stressed about managing stress - its new website will solve all your problems. Or will it?
The perils of letting building maintenance slip
Even though the current economic climate may mean that you have to think twice about spending money on building maintenance, a recent case highlights what can happen if you let things slip. What’s to know?
Results of the HSE asbestos campaign
In February, HSE and local authority inspectors visited 355 sites in Kent as part of a joint asbestos inspection campaign. What did they find and what can you learn from the results?
A new forklift operator has informed you that some of your forklift trucks are illegal because they’re not fitted with seat belts. Are they correct, and if so, what steps must you take to ensure your vehicles comply with the law?
Must you have BS OHSAS 18001 accreditation?
On some contractor competence assessment questionnaires you’re being asked if you’ve achieved BS OHSAS 18001 accreditation. What’s involved and is it something your business should seek?
It’s not easy to find websites of interest among the millions available on the Web. Why not take ones that you know are reliable as your starting point? Here’s how to find “similar” sites.
Make your blog more attractive
The popularity of your blog or site not only depends on the quality of your texts, but also on the attractive presentation of the content. How do you add images and audio to your writing without any hassle? The free Apture service can help.
The average desktop computer consumes as much energy as four light bulbs. Laptops are more economical, but they can still add pounds to your electricity bill every year. How can you make them consume less energy?
Synchronising files using Syncplicity
Synchronising folders and files via the Internet is a “hot” topic. Syncplicity is yet another synchronisation service. How does it compare to the others?
People are increasingly using the Internet to find health information before visiting their GP. Here are some reliable sites packed with facts about health and sickness.
Sending large attachments without detours
Attachments exceeding 10MB can’t be sent via your e-mail program just like that. How can you solve this?
For collaborating on projects, the Internet is the medium par excellence. In previous issues we’ve recommended several online collaborative services already. But now there’s a newcomer: WizeHive. How good is it?
Free drawing and photo-editing programs
More and more commercial software has a free “open source” counterpart these days. For instance, there are free alternatives for CorelDraw, Illustrator and Photoshop. How good are they?
How to transfer online videos?
There’s a huge array of online videos available these days. However, how can you transfer a video to your computer or smartphone? These online services can help you.
New to the job market, planning to make a change or looking for a job due to the recession? The Internet has help for everyone.
Dreaming of a place in the sun?
The summer holidays may still be some way off, but it’s best to start making travel plans already. Here are a few useful and original travel sites that can help you.
Buying a new car? Thought about going electric?
They might get flak from some corners, but electric cars are being touted as a money and environment saver. Is this really the case and are they an option you should give consideration to?
Are employment contracts really necessary?
The list of clauses which should go into a contract of employment seems to grow and grow. But are they really all necessary, and if not, what’s the absolute minimum you can get away with?
To assist with the changeover between the statutory dispute resolution procedures and the new ACAS Code of Practice, there are some “transitional provisions”. What are they and when do they apply?
Don’t get dirtied by greenwash
The government has just announced plans to help make it easier for businesses to avoid the accusation of “greenwashing”. The new guidance won’t be around for a few months, so in the meantime what do you need to watch out for?
The Carbon Trust has just doubled the limit of its interest-free loans to £200,000, to help businesses buy more efficient equipment. Is it worth considering?
Can men be sexually harassed too?
Research shows that 77% of male employees have been sexually harassed by a female colleague. But if you receive a complaint of this nature, can you ignore the problem, or should you step in and do something about it?
Using flexible working to avoid redundancies
You might have heard that some employers are introducing flexible working as a means of avoiding redundancies. If this idea appeals, what key areas should you consider carefully before you approach staff about it?
Snow recently managed to bring the country to a standstill. Although it’s unlikely we’ll see any more for a while, the risks of other extreme weather events, such as heavy rain and flooding, must be considered. What should you be doing?
The Environmental Damage Regulations 2009 came into force on March 1 2009. Why has this legislation been introduced and what, if any, impact could it have on your business?