2010 - January
Employing a Volunteer Forces Reservist
An employee wants to join the Territorial Army as a Reservist. Commendable, but you’ve heard they will be entitled to months of paid leave which you can ill afford. But is this really true, and could there be some benefits for you?
How to deal with bereaved staff
No two people will deal with a bereavement in the same way and each situation will throw up different issues for you as an employer. So how should you go about dealing with this sensitive issue?
Avoiding SMP if there’s another employer
A female employee is coming up to her maternity leave but she also has another job. So what happens about her Statutory Maternity Pay? Does she get two lots, and if she goes back to work for the other employer, does your liability cease?
When do they get to see the evidence?
You want to bring disciplinary action against an employee and plan to hold an investigatory meeting so they can give their side of the story. But at what point must you disclose any written evidence that you have about their misconduct?
Do you pay them if you closed due to snow?
A bit of snow usually brings with it excuses from staff that they can’t get in. But recent weather has been so bad that many employers have been forced to shut temporarily. So, if the worst happens, do your employees still get paid?
Mistake in the wording of the ad
One foolish employer has ended up in tribunal after posting a job ad that asked for “Polish workers only”. The excuse - the person who drafted it didn’t know employment law! So what steps should he have followed?
Religion v sexuality - who wins?
One employee disapproves of another’s sexuality due to their religious beliefs. You can’t discriminate against either, so how should you play it?
As you probably know, there are special pens which allow you to save handwritten notes directly onto your computer. A wide range of models is available. We put two pens to the test.
Create your own website using an online web editor
Do you fancy learning to work with a dedicated program such as DreamWeaver or Expression Web? Then use an online web editor or web hoster, at least if you can live with the limitations of such services. Here are three suggestions.
Some Internet radios come with a particularly useful feature: you can train them by marking songs as good or bad. We put two new services to the test: Stereo8 and Jelli. How good are they?
How do I remove my data from the “cloud”?
More and more people store photos, e-mails, contacts, etc. in a “cloud”, with an online service. What if this cloud should disappear all of a sudden? How do you make a backup of your online data?
Windows Media Center: something for you?
You may not have noticed but most versions of Windows contain the Windows Media Center. What exactly does it do? And what’s the alternative if you don’t have it?
Better bookmark management in Firefox
In Firefox, you can manage your bookmarks relatively efficiently using the built-in tools. Still, there’s room for improvement, especially if you wish to use your bookmarks on other computers as well. What are the options?
Better translations thanks to Google
You probably know Google Translate as a useful online translation assistant. More and more tools make use of this service, including the new Client for Google Translate. So it’s high time for an update!
Exchanging business cards online
When you meet new people in a business context, they will typically ask for your contact details. What’s the best way of exchanging your contact information online?
Social networks are great. However, your “friends” may be scattered over different networks such as Facebook, Netlog, Myspace or Twitter. Fortunately, there are good tools for monitoring all your online friends efficiently.
Looking beyond the job websites
When looking for a new job, you will probably check out the traditional job sites first. However, there are various other networks and channels which could help you as well.
The UK is still officially in recession and the job market reflects that fact. With jobs being scarce, we look at how you can use the Web to your advantage.
A new breed of VCT or just good marketing?
A number of our subscribers have received marketing information for investments in environmental Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs). These are being pushed as a new breed of VCT with financial incentives from the government. What’s the full story?
Avoiding the Corporation Tax instalment trap
Corporation Tax is payable nine months after your company’s accounting period ends... but not always. If profits tip even a few pounds over the limit set by the Taxman, he could be after your money a year sooner. How can you avoid this happening?
Salary sacrifice schemes designed to save tax and NI have become very popular. But according to the Taxman in many cases the conditions for them to be effective haven’t been met. Now he’s on the hunt for those concerned...
Eleventh hour higher rate tax dodges for investors
In just two months some of you will be facing income tax rates of up to 60%. Tax boffins have been inventing some pretty complex schemes to avoid these. But are there some simple steps you could be taking now?
Is there now an advantage to fuel benefit?
For some years the consensus among tax advisors has been that it doesn’t pay for those with company cars to also have their fuel for private motoring paid for by the business. But with fuel prices on the up once again, is this still true?
Taxman starts an investigation war
The Taxman used a partial amnesty to lure in those with undeclared offshore income. It paid-off big time. Now he’s widening the target and you might be next!
Injured at client’s home - who pays?
Workplace accidents can and do happen. But what if an employee slips over and is hurt whilst visiting a client’s premises? Will it be you as the company director, your member of staff, or the client who is responsible for their injury?
More pension contributions pain
In his Pre-Budget Report last year the Chancellor waded in with further changes to the rules for tax relief on pension contributions. These included amendments that could affect directors’ pension arrangements. What’s the full story?
Protecting directors from personal liability
Despite working in the best interests of their company, directors are increasingly finding themselves in the firing line when things go wrong. Is there any protection available, and if so, at what cost?
Who’s liable for a sub-contractor’s mistake?
If you bring in outside help to complete work for one of your customers and something goes wrong, who will be in the firing line? And what steps can you take to protect yourself?
The weight of your solicitor’s bill
If you need a solicitor to help with a personal or company matter, you won’t want any nasty surprises when it comes to their fees. But this shouldn’t happen as there are strict rules they must follow. What do these say?
Does no company car mean no tax charge?
The recent snow has led to treacherous driving conditions and consequently busy car repair workshops. So one of our subscribers asked us what the tax position was while their company car was off the road for repair.
Information now required up front
The Provision of Services Regulations 2009 recently came into force. Do they apply to your company, and if so, how easy is it to comply with them?
Do you have the right mix of extinguishers?
You’ve been told that you need to swap some of your water fire extinguishers for carbon dioxide ones. Apparently, this is to satisfy the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Is this strictly true?
When must you inform your insurer about an injury?
You believe that if there’s an accident on your site which results in an injury you must inform your insurer within 24 hours. Is this really the case, and if so, how should you do it and what information must you provide?
How to deal with released asbestos
There have recently been a number of high-profile cases which saw businesses prosecuted for failing to deal with asbestos that had been released on their premises. To help you to avoid following suit, why not use our new checklist?
An inspector from the HSE has recently been prosecuted because of her bizarre behaviour in court. What did she get up to and what, if anything, can be learned from this case?
Is a standard first aid course suitable for all?
When you sent staff on an HSE-approved first aid course, the trainer told them that they may require additional training to take on the role of a first aider. Is this necessary, or is the trainer simply looking for extra income?
Do all forklift truck drivers need a medical?
You’ve been told that anyone you permit to drive one of your forklift trucks must have a formal medical check-up every year. Is this an explicit legal requirement, and if so, how should you go about complying with it?
Some safety service suppliers are sending marketing e-mails that look as though they are from the HSE. What should you look out for?
How to choose the best in-house mediator
Mediation can be a cost-effective solution to disputes and it can be undertaken in-house. But if you go down this route you’ll want to select the right mediator. So what skill set and background should you look for?
Raising a grievance “out of hours”
One of your employees has called you up after work to rant about another member of staff. They end the conversation with “do something about it!”. So do you have a grievance on your hands or not?
Going to work for a competitor
An employee who has access to confidential information has resigned and you believe that he’s going to work for a competitor. You want to bring disciplinary proceedings but the trouble is he’s gone off sick. How should you play it?
£25,000 pay in lieu for employee’s accrued holiday
The Working Time Regulations allow a worker to recover pay in lieu for statutory holiday in their final year of employment. OK - but what if their contractual entitlement just happens to be far more generous than this?
What’s the real deal on childcare vouchers?
First they were in, then they were out. Now the government has changed its mind again and ordered a shake-up on how childcare vouchers work. So what’s the actual position and how much can you save through this scheme?
£2.8 million for unfair redundancy selection
Abbey National was recently ordered to pay an ex-employee £2.8 million for discriminating against him during its redundancy selection process. The award may still be reduced, but what’s the other hidden risk you need to be aware of?
You can’t ask the doctor questions
New rules on “confidentiality” now make it much harder for you to ask any doctor about an employee’s health. So, what’s the best way around this?
When to insure against an IHT bill
Mr Darling’s decision to freeze the nil rate band for the next five years means an increase in Inheritance Tax in real terms. So, what, if anything, can you do to protect the value of your estate from the Taxman?
When completing the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) section of your self-assessment return it would be useful to know where the Taxman can catch you out. Apparently, his CGT “toolkit” tells you just that. So what does it offer in the way of help?
Are dividends always the best option?
The general view is that paying dividends rather than a salary or bonus can save you and your company tax and NI. But one of our subscribers was not so sure that it was always the case. Were they right?
Preserving tax relief on the cost of buildings
If your business owns a building on which you’ve been claiming a tax deduction, you may have already heard that the Taxman is scrapping this tax relief. But there’s something you can do that may preserve at least some of it. Which is?
Your financial advisor has suggested transferring the company offices into your pension fund to bump up its value and save tax. It sounds like a great idea but a colleague has told you it could trigger a big tax bill for the company. Is he right?
From January 1 2010 new VAT rules apply to services supplied outside the UK. Along with these there’s a new reporting regime which potentially carries stiff penalties for not complying. What do you need to know?
There wasn’t much to shout about in the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report (PBR). But we’ve looked at the fine print and come up with a couple of tax-saving tips.
For anyone thinking about learning new skills online, we look at ways of ensuring a course is authentic, together with some suggested actions.
Inspiration for a dinner party
It’s your turn to have some friends over for dinner. Which websites can help you to prepare a great meal as well as decorate the table? Here are some useful ones.
Use videos to attract visitors to your site
Every month, more than ten billion videos are viewed online. Internet users therefore expect even the most modest websites to offer one or more videos. How do you enrich your company website with videos?
Faster wireless surfing thanks to 802.11n
It has taken years, but the definitive version of the 802.11n wireless standard is finally here. How substantial is the gain in speed, and what should you pay attention to when replacing your current wireless equipment?
Are you thinking of buying a new desktop computer? Or has the time come to replace your old monitor with a flashy flat screen? What’s on offer, how expensive are they and what should you pay attention to? Here’s the lowdown.
Have you made the switch to Windows 7? This new version of Windows boasts many useful options, but there are various software tools around which purport to make it even better. Which ones should you download and install?
Opera Unite: running a server in your browser
Version 10.10 of Opera integrates the long-awaited Opera Unite technology. It turns your browser into a fully-fledged server which allows you to, e.g. share photos directly. How does it work and what exactly does it do?
Each year around New Year, eBay welcomes 50% more visitors. A great proportion of these are unwanted presents, which the unfortunate recipients offer for sale again! Which three tools make this auction site easier to use?
Finding e-mail messages on your computer
You’re desperately looking for that one single e-mail among the thousands sitting on your hard disk… Sound familiar? Which tools can help you find a specific e-mail message quickly?
Scanning sites for updates automatically
The Web is a huge repository of information, so it’s a daunting task to constantly check all the addresses that interest you for updates. Why not be kept informed automatically?
The new year is here. You’re probably already using an electronic diary, but it can also be useful to have a “paper” alternative to hand. How can you create one on the Web?
Get with the (computer) program Mr Taxman!
We recently heard from a subscriber who has been doing battle with the Taxman over use of company resources. He reckons that the directors should pay tax for using the company’s software at home. Does he have a point?
Making a short-term loan to the company
Your company needs a short-term loan. Rather than waste time asking the bank, another director has suggested you lend it the money and charge interest. You’re happy to do this, but want some safeguards. So what can you put in place?
Who’s checking on the builders?
You’ve decided to employ a firm to build an extension on your office. But a fellow director warns you that you need to make some checks on the contractor’s safety record before you sign a contract. Is he right?
An end to the (un)fair bank charges saga?
There’s been a long-running case, brought by the Office of Fair Trading, on the fairness of bank charges. The Supreme Court has given an unexpected decision. So how does it affect directors’ personal accounts?
When it comes to finances it’s easy to think of your company as just an extension to your personal bank account. So, dipping into it for cash to tide you over might not seem like a big deal. But what’s the Taxman’s view?
Malicious complaint to the HSE
You recently dismissed an employee who said he would be telling the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that the directors have “no idea” about health and safety. Will you really get a visit if he makes the call?
No festive cheer in Pre-Budget Report
“It could have been worse” seems to be the general consensus about the latest PBR. But is there anything in the detail that directors need to watch out for?
Client prosecuted for employing unsafe contractor
A property developer has recently been prosecuted and fined by the HSE because he employed a contractor who wasn’t capable of completing work safely. What can be learned from this particular case?
Formal inspections covered by an insurance policy
You’ve heard that you can satisfy a number of specific legal requirements which relate to lifting equipment and save money, by investing in an engineering insurance policy. Do you really need this type of cover?
Do your staff need screen break software?
You know that staff who use a PC for most of the day need to take regular screen breaks. To ensure they do, you’ve heard that installing software which prompts staff to take a break is the best option. Is this really the case?
Fined for leaving scaffolding up too long
The death of a seven-year-old, who’d managed to gain access to scaffolding, led to a successful prosecution by the HSE. What had the contractor done wrong, and how can you prevent a similarly tragic accident?
The General Election campaign starts now
On December 1 2009, the Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, outlined his vision for changing the way health and safety issues are managed. What did he say, and how might his proposals affect your business?
The HSE is stressing stress, again!
You’ve heard that the HSE is talking about stress for the umpteenth time and has created some new “tools” which it thinks you’re going to find invaluable. You reckon that’s pretty unlikely, but should you be taking notice?
High street retailer, New Look, has just been hit with a record £400,000 fine, following a fire at one of its stores. What happened?
When it comes to cutting costs, the media often reports on unusual strategies adopted by some employers. It says one has gone a step too far by docking staff pay for taking toilet breaks. Sounds fair, so why is this really such a bad idea?
Client demands employee is dismissed
An important client has heard a nasty rumour about one of your employees and they are now insisting on his removal from their contract. But you have no other work available, so where would you stand legally if you sacked him?
Appealing redundancy decisions
When dismissing an employee for misconduct you know that you must follow a fair procedure and give them a right of appeal. But what if it comes about via a redundancy situation? Should they be given the same opportunity?