2010 - October
Carpet industry look to make collective savings
The carpet business is the latest sector to consider self-imposed environmental targets. Why are those in this industry going down this route, and is there any merit in following suit?
Nine more polluting substances have been added to the list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that have to be monitored and controlled by law. Might these changes affect you?
A study carried out by the Environment Agency and the Energy Saving Trust, has found that rainwater harvesting (RWH) and greywater recycling (GWR) systems are bad for the environment. What’s to know?
Waste recovery notes prosecution
Western Wines has been fined over £200,000 for failing to purchase the appropriate number of packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs). What are these and why did the company need to buy them?
The government has announced that the Environment Agency (EA) isn’t on the list of bodies to be culled. However, it has stated that it will be subject to a significant overhaul. What can you expect to happen?
Businesses both large and small, are being invited by the government to test their resilience to flooding as part of Exercise Watermark. Why is it doing this and are there good reasons to get involved?
The “10:10” carbon emissions campaign scored an own goal with a recent promotional video. Why, and can you learn from its mistake?
Which type of fire detector do you need?
Your automatic fire alarm system has been plaguing you with false alarms. What might be causing them and what options do you have to fix the problem once and for all?
Dealing with COSHH emergencies
You’ve heard that if you use hazardous substances, you must prepare a plan which spells out what actions need to be taken in the event of an emergency. Is this necessary, and if so, what information must it contain?
New health and safety qualification
The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) has launched a new health and safety qualification. What does it involve, how does it compare with other options and should you consider taking it?
Failed hay bale fall arrest system
A company has been prosecuted for failures which led to the death of a worker who was repairing a roof. They had tried to use hay bales as a “safety net”. Where did it go wrong, and does this rule out unusual fall protection ideas?
Get ready for European Safety Week
The HSE is out and about campaigning on maintenance safety issues in support of the European Week for Safety and Health at Work. What can you expect to be asked and should you do anything to participate in the campaign?
Plumber not warned about asbestos
As a council recently found out to its cost, having your buildings surveyed for asbestos isn’t enough if you want to avoid incidents. You actually need to do something with the information. What did it get wrong?
Fire extinguishers are valuable
A recent survey has identified that hand-held fire extinguishers put out 88% of the fires they’re used on. What’s to know?
More and more digital cameras and smartphones produce videos in HD quality. How can you transfer them to you computer, edit them and post them on the Internet?
Do you wish to give your presentation or website a bit more punch? You don’t want to go over the top, but a couple of animated illustrations could add a certain something. What tools can help you create them?
Making web articles more readable
Some webpages are so messy or cluttered that it’s hard to read the text they contain. Are there any browser plug-ins which can make such pages more readable, even when the letters are too small?
The iPhone, Nokia and BlackBerry smartphones are facing increasing competition from Android devices. What should you know about Android and what should you pay attention to when buying such a device?
Getting started with Windows 7
If you’ve just installed Windows 7 or bought a computer equipped with it, there are a couple of things you can customise and configure so that you can get started with Windows 7 immediately.
Keeping your software up-to-date
Your computer contains loads of software, including system software, drivers and applications. How do you keep them all up-to-date? Are there any tools that can help you?
Research shows that of all the pages we print every day, one fifth isn’t read at all. This entails a serious waste of paper, ink or toner and electricity. Here are five tips for more efficient printing.
How efficient is Gmail’s Priority Inbox?
Google recently added a Priority Inbox to Gmail. This feature highlights important e-mails automatically. How does it work? And does Gmail have other new features up its sleeve?
Your files within reach everywhere
A PC at the office, a smartphone on the road, a laptop at home: this combination is more the rule than the exception today. How do you make sure that you’ve always got your files synced on these devices, free of charge?
Recording streaming music on your hard drive?
The Internet is the medium par excellence for discovering new music, and the number of interesting music-streaming sites is booming. But how can you record streaming music and save it on your hard disk?
Prize-winning shopping comparison site Foundem.co.uk is continually adding features. It’s time to see how it does against the competition?
Employees who ask to sit on their (swiss) balls
An employee has said that they would prefer to swap your perfectly good office chair for their own “swiss ball”; apparently their gym instructor has told them it’s a great idea for overall fitness. Should you go along with this request?
Reference: “They threatened to sue us in the tribunal!”
Any reference given about an ex-employee must be fair and accurate. But suppose you tell the truth, for example, they threatened you with a tribunal claim, and it leads to a job offer being withdrawn. Could this cause you problems?
Can you check messages when staff are off sick?
An employee is off sick and their e-mail and voicemail messages are starting to stack up. As this could mean lost business, you want to check them. What’s the legal position here, particularly if they don’t appear to be business-related?
Was it an “oversight” or unfavourable treatment?
During a period of maternity leave, a woman has the right to be notified of any internal job vacancy; even if she lacks the required skills or won’t be interested in it. But what if there’s a genuine error and she’s missed out of the loop?
It’s one employee’s word against another
An employee has made an allegation of misconduct about another which they strongly deny. It’s a case of one word against the other, so whose do you take? What’s the latest advice from the Court of Appeal?
Has workplace banter been banned?
It’s been reported that the new Equality Act 2010 bans all workplace banter; if it occurs, you could be sued! Is this really true or just another media myth?
Are you confused by online services?
We’re all slaves to our computers these days and the Taxman is making things worse by issuing multiple user IDs, passwords, activation codes etc. Is there a way to make accessing your online tax services easier?
Why should the directors clear up commission?
Some employees and directors are able to earn commission on any sales that they make for the company. But, as a recent case in the Court of Appeal shows, it’s vital that the payment details are crystal clear. So what do you need to do?
Don’t pay for energy you haven’t used!
If your company is moving to new premises, you’ll need to be wary of inherited energy bills. You can end up paying for energy that the previous occupant used, and at an exorbitant price. What steps can you take to avoid this?
Is a personal guarantee binding if the contract fails?
It’s not uncommon for directors to be asked to give a personal guarantee when the company enters into a contract. But suppose that it’s later held to be unenforceable. Can the personal guarantee still be pursued?
Do you have a right to reclaim NI on car allowances?
Salaries are subject to NI; there’s no argument. But recently, the tax tribunal ruled that this didn’t apply to certain allowances paid to directors and employees. Will this decision mean that your company can dodge NI?
Can sickness absence (legally) influence pay rises?
According to recent reports, one NHS Trust is going to deny pay rises to its employees who have taken “excessive” sickness absence. Could the directors adopt a similar approach to save the company money?
Big PAYE changes are on the way
Recent headlines suggest that the Taxman is to take over the role of collecting PAYE from your employees. Is this true and what would it mean for your company?
Can VAT be payable on employees’ salaries?
Taking on an employee means you’ll also take on a stack of other responsibilities as their boss. But at least you won’t have to pay VAT on their salaries as you would if they were contractors. However a recent case showed this isn’t always so, why?
Tax efficient gifts to the next generation
Drawing up a will is a sensible step to look after your spouse and children’s financial wellbeing after you’ve gone. But at the same time you’ll want to avoid handing over a large chunk of your wealth to the Taxman. Can a will trust help?
It’s been a busy couple of years for the Taxman overhauling the time limits and penalty system. But do you know where you stand under these new rules if he makes a mistake processing your tax return?
Are your company assets available for private use?
One of our subscribers got into a tricky argument when the Taxman claimed that his company had undeclared the benefit-in-kind in respect of old equipment it had given to its employees. What’s the story?
Boost your bonus and defer your tax
You can easily find yourself in a Catch 22 position when, on the one hand, trying to save your company tax and, on the other, aiming to reduce your own self-assessment tax bill. Is paying yourself a larger bonus a solution?
EIS or ER, which should you opt for?
When the time comes to close down your current company and move on to bigger and better things, or even retire, will the recent changes in capital gains rules mean you’ll have to hand over more money to the Taxman?
Get it right! - the Taxman’s toolkits
The Taxman has released more toolkits aimed at cutting errors on tax returns. This time he turned his attention to employee benefits and VAT. But is his advice sound?
Are staff properly insured to travel?
If your company has overseas contracts, have you made sure that your employees are adequately insured when abroad? What factors do you need to consider?
You can make your monthly management accounts more accurate by adjusting for prepayments. But what expenses can be included as prepayments and what’s the easiest way to calculate them?
How to make outsourcing work for you
Your business is looking to save money and you are considering outsourcing as an option. What factors do you need to look at when deciding whether it will be the right move for your company?
Many businesses stick with the same mobile phone provider because it’s widely perceived that changing networks is far too complicated. But by shopping around it’s easy to find deals that can save you money. How much?
Your business has always manually stamped all its postal items, but you’re now looking for a way to streamline your mail operations as well as save money. Could a franking machine provide the answer?
Vast sums of cash are being spent on greener products and services nowadays, and you don’t want to miss the boat. But you need to be careful about the claims you make as they could be costly. What’s to know?
Save with knowledge transfer partnerships?
With the cost of employing expert knowledge increasing year on year, is there a way you can bring in a qualified person to manage a long-term strategic project and save money? Knowledge transfer partnerships could provide the answer.
You have a spreadsheet showing the detailed profit and loss for each month of the year. However, this mass of figures is too much for the MD. How can you help him pick out the figures he wants?
Paying an employee a salary advance is something you probably discourage. However, you may need to do this from time to time, particularly with new starters. What are the associated traps and tips?
Cuts in public spending are likely to be at least 25% over the next four years. If you supply the public sector, what can you do to prepare?
If you prepare, sell or serve food or drinks on your premises, you need to ensure that basic food hygiene standards are met and maintained. To set out your position on food safety, why not use our new policy?
You’ve been told that you need to designate a fire assembly point for use in an emergency evacuation, but you’re not sure how to go about it. What are the considerations?
When an inspector visited your site he wasn’t particularly interested in talking to management - he wanted to spend time with your staff instead. Is this a common approach and, if so, how can you prepare for such a visit?
Compensation for hearing damage
The retailer Argos has been forced to compensate a warehouse worker for damage to his hearing. How did this happen and what can you do to minimise the likelihood of a similar claim being made against your business?
Don’t ban the use of unsafe work equipment
A recent case shows that by going out of your way to prohibit the use of dodgy equipment, you may, contrary to your intention, increase potential liability. What happened and how can you avoid the same trap?
Business has been good and you want to have a bit of a celebration to boost staff morale. With November 5 landing on a Friday this year an after-work party with a few fireworks seems to fit the bill. Can you do it?
A summary of Lord Young’s review of how health and safety is managed in the UK has been leaked. What does it identify?
Is it (always) worth fighting a tribunal claim?
Employers who end up on the wrong end of a tribunal claim often decide to fight as “a matter of principle”. Although understandable, what factors must be carefully weighed up before going down this route?
Can a pregnant employee take next year’s holiday?
Several weeks before starting her maternity leave an employee asks to take all her paid annual leave entitlement for the current year, plus all of next year’s too! Do you have to allow her request?
Are “two-tier” sick pay schemes discriminatory?
It’s not uncommon for businesses to operate a two-tier sick pay scheme. Usually managers will receive enhanced sick pay whilst everyone else gets Statutory Sick Pay only. Is this system OK, or could it be potentially discriminatory?
Banning intimidating staff from disciplinary hearings
When facing disciplinary action, not all employees act politely; some become verbally abusive and will try to intimidate you and any witnesses. So what’s the tribunal likely to say if you exclude them from the proceedings?
You must publish staff salaries: true or false?
An employee is adamant that under the new Equality Act 2010 they have a right to know precisely what all their colleagues earn. As a result, they’re demanding that you publish those figures. Do you really have to do this?
(Not) telling you about their criminal record
Apparently, 61% of employees think that “having a criminal record” is the worst thing they can disclose to a potential employer. But at least 25% of the adult population has one. So can you ask about any previous convictions?”
Wrong claim costs employee £10k
Employees have a wide range of employment rights. But those who abuse them will come unstuck at tribunal. What can we learn from this case?