2010 -
November
PATERNITY LEAVE - 30.11.2010
Does statutory paternity leave cover childbirth?
One of your employees, a first-time father-to-be, insists that he has the right to paid time off to attend the birth of his child. Do statutory paternity leave rights cover this event? If not, what’s the legal position?
PENSIONS - 30.11.2010
What does “pension auto-enrolment” mean for you?
The government plans to force all employers to auto-enrol staff in company pension schemes. Although this won’t start until 2012, what will it mean for your business? And what could you be paying out?
FLEXIBLE WORKING - 30.11.2010
Flexibly working as they please!
A few months ago an employee made a flexible working request and it was agreed that they could alter their hours. But they’re now coming and going as they please. How should you handle this situation?
DISCRIMINATION - 30.11.2010
Reasonable adjustments: do “job swaps” count?
After careful consideration it’s clear that no reasonable adjustments can be made to a disabled employee’s job. So what about swapping their role with another employee’s? How can you dodge objections from that person?
PAYROLL - 30.11.2010
Pay rises: are they getting enough already?
Around this time of year employers are often asked about pay rises; many employees think it’s an automatic entitlement. But it’s possible that you’re already paying above market rate. So how do you go about finding this out?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 30.11.2010
Conflicting evidence on fitness to work
You obtained a medical report on an employee which stated they are “currently unfit for work”. But a manager has just seen them and they appear to be in fine health! The tribunal recently dealt with such an issue. What guidance does it offer?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 30.11.2010
Unfair dismissal: only after two years?
According to reports, the government intends to double the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from one to two years. So is it time to celebrate?
CONSUMER - ONLINE PAYMENTS - 30.11.2010
PayPal, online and mobile
When buying something online, you’re quite often offered the possibility to pay using a system known as PayPal. How does it work, and what are the alternatives?
TELEPHONY - MOBILE - 30.11.2010
Handy Android apps
Apps are available not only for the iPhone: owners of an Android smartphone have a wide array of apps at their disposal as well. Here are some useful or fun examples.
ENTERTAINMENT - MUSIC - 30.11.2010
What song was this again?
Suppose you’re looking for a specific song to spruce up a presentation. The melody’s in your head, but what was the title again? And who was the artist? The Internet can help you!
SOFTWARE - GRAPHICS - 30.11.2010
Designing with the new Google SketchUp
Google SketchUp is a relatively easy to use 3D modelling program. Version 8 of this versatile tool was released recently. Can it turn you into a fully-fledged designer?
SOFTWARE - MUSIC - 30.11.2010
Listen to your music… everywhere
Do you have hundreds or even thousands of songs on your hard drive which you’ve also copied to your MP3 player or smartphone? Audiogalaxy lets you listen to your entire music library everywhere… via the Internet!
SOFTWARE - CD & DVD - 30.11.2010
How do you copy DVD films?
Copying a DVD is, in principle, not illegal, at least if you’re the owner of the original. There are lots of free programs for making a “backup” of your DVDs. Here’s our pick…
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 30.11.2010
Who’s on leave during the Christmas period?
The end of the year is drawing near - typically the period when staff shortages may threaten. Can the new Leave Wizard service help you, or should you stick to WhosOff?
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 30.11.2010
Zoho Mail for business use
Zoho Mail mainly targets business users who need a reliable webmail service. Can Zoho Mail live up to expectations? What do the paid and the free versions of this e-mail service have to offer?
SEARCHING - INTERNET - 30.11.2010
Google: faster searching and better site analysis
Google recently introduced two new features. The Google Instant function is claimed to make searching Google faster. And website owners will find a handy new option in Google Analytics.
SECURITY - PRIVACY - 30.11.2010
Get rid of unsavoury cookies
Cookies - tiny files which websites deposit on your computer - are a necessary evil. However, not all cookies are bad, but how do you prevent the installation of “third-party cookies” which keep track of what you’re doing on the Internet?
CONSUMER - ONLINE SHOPPING - 30.11.2010
Saving money on top Xmas toys
Christmas is a very expensive time of year. We check out what the top toys of 2010 are and where you can find the best deals on them.
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 26.11.2010
Bonus more tax efficient than a dividend?
Your company’s financial year is ending soon and projections point to a reasonable profit. If you draw this as a dividend, you’ll pay higher rate tax, whereas your spouse would only pay at the basic rate. Can you simply shift the income to them?
VAT - 26.11.2010
VAT entertaining update
The Taxman has issued a statement acknowledging that he was wrong about businesses claiming VAT on entertaining costs. Is there something in this for you?
IHT - 26.11.2010
Don’t get hit twice by IHT
Having to pay Inheritance Tax once is bad enough, but it’s adding insult to injury when the same estate is hit twice in a short space of time. What steps can an executor take to avoid this tax disaster?
PROPERTY - 26.11.2010
Property rental tax break withdrawn
A change to the rules in 2008 led to a rash of claims for tax deductions on capital expenses against residential property rental income. The Taxman has now put a block on these. What’s changed and what’s left that you can claim for?
INVESTMENTS - 26.11.2010
Are junior ISAs the new Child Trust Fund?
The government has announced that a new type of tax-free savings account is to be created especially for children. Some are heralding this as a replacement for the Child Trust Fund. What’s the full story?
EXPENSES - 26.11.2010
Foreign trip tip for business travellers
The Taxman has recently published his revised list of “benchmark expenses” for overseas business trips. On the face of it this is just a time-saving concession. But can you convert them into a tax-free benefit?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 26.11.2010
Dodging the 28% rate
In his Emergency Budget the Chancellor upped the rate of tax for capital gains, but not for everyone. The new higher rate is linked to the level of your taxable income; does this mean an income tax deduction can also save you Capital Gains Tax?
DEBT RECOVERY - 24.11.2010
New EU rules on late payments
To help small companies, the EU Parliament has voted to strengthen existing legislation that deals with the late payment of invoices. What’s going to happen?
IT - 24.11.2010
Why have company website terms and conditions?
83% of smaller companies have a website - it’s a vital business tool. But visitors should always be given clear terms and conditions (T&Cs) on usage. Why is this step important and what must the directors make sure they include?
TAX - 24.11.2010
New codes - another tax grab by the government?
In the next couple of months most directors will be receiving tax code notices for 2011/12. There’s a suggestion that these will incorporate adjustments that will result in you paying tax sooner. Is the Taxman within his rights to do this?
BANKING - 24.11.2010
A better (company) credit card deal is on the way!
You use credit cards for business and personal use. If you’ve taken advantage of a balance transfer you may not know that repayments are applied in an “adverse order”. From January 1 2011 this practice must stop. Some good news at last?
BENEFITS - 24.11.2010
No benefit from watching sport
In a recent case a director claimed that watching football from the company box was really work. The Taxman said that it was a taxable perk. It was an interesting contest, but which side came out on top?
PERSONNEL - 24.11.2010
Who foots the additional paternity leave bill?
Additional paternity leave rights take effect from April 3 2011. A fellow director is concerned about what this means for the company and if it will leave you short-staffed. What can you tell him to put his mind at rest?
TAX - 24.11.2010
Less is more when it comes to IHT reliefs
As a director, a large part of your estate might rest in the value of your company shares. And when drawing up your will it might seem the obvious thing to leave these to your spouse, but will this play straight into the Taxman’s hands?
WASTE - 23.11.2010
Do you need to register as a waste broker?
You’ve recently been told that if you are dealing with the disposal or recovery of waste on behalf of others, you need to register as a broker with the Environment Agency (EA). Is this necessary and, if so, what’s involved?
ENERGY MANAGEMENT - 23.11.2010
Combined heat and power systems
With more government-backed financial incentives being introduced, combined heat and power (CHP) technology is becoming more attractive. How does it work and is it worth investing in?
CARBON REDUCTION - 23.11.2010
Carbon reduction commitment tax bomb
The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme has fallen foul of the government’s spending review and is now considered purely as a tax on carbon emissions. What’s changed and how will it affect participants?
POLLUTION - 23.11.2010
Don’t make the numbers up
A major paper recycling company has been prosecuted by the Environment Agency (EA) for falsifying effluent quality records for one of its mills. What lessons can be learned?
WASTE - 23.11.2010
Landfill targets
The government has decided against introducing restrictions on the landfilling of certain wastes, including paper, food and textiles. Why has it made this decision and how might it affect you?
GREEN PRODUCTS - 23.11.2010
New printing fonts save ink and energy
Although paper saving is usually seen as the best way of reducing printing costs, changing the font you use could help to cut costs and gain green points to boot. What’s the deal?
ENFORCEMENT - 23.11.2010
Enforcement shake-up
The government has announced that the Environment Agency (EA) is to become more customer focused. What does this really mean?
SOFTWARE - MISCELLANEOUS - 19.11.2010
Handy tools for USB sticks
USB sticks are cheap, sturdy and compact, and this has made them highly popular as a portable data-storage medium. The following free tools make working with a USB stick even more comfortable and safe.
SECURITY - BACKUP - 19.11.2010
Free backups for your computer
As you know, it’s very important to make a backup of your computer at regular intervals. Yet very few people actually do so. The following programs make backups a breeze... and they’re free.
SOFTWARE - DOWNLOADING - 19.11.2010
Downloading (and more) with SoMud
Do you have a download manager but you also sometimes download files using a P2P-tool, torrents or via FTP? The free open-source program SoMud does all this, adding some video options as well. Sound promising?
BUSINESS - MISCELLANEOUS - 19.11.2010
Presentations: extra tools and hardware
For your presentations you probably confine yourself to the combination of a computer and a projector. And yet there are many other tools you can use. Here are some suggestions for extra tools and hardware.
ENTERTAINMENT - MUSIC - 19.11.2010
Cheaper than iTunes?
People wishing to buy music legally via the Internet almost automatically turn to the iTunes Store. But competitors have recently launched new features to attract customers. Does iTunes have to fear this competition?
SOFTWARE - NETWORK - 19.11.2010
Sharing files with colleagues
Suppose you wish to share some large files with a colleague sitting next to you. However, you’re not in a network and you don’t want to use an online service such as Dropbox. In that case, Windows 7 has a convenient solution.
WEB SERVICES - MISCELLANEOUS - 19.11.2010
Design your own business cards
Has the time come for some new business cards? The Internet lets you design and print them yourself or have them printed and delivered at your place of business. We put two online services to the test.
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 19.11.2010
Business e-mail, courtesy of Google Apps
Google Apps bundles Gmail with several other online Google office applications. It’s therefore clearly aimed at business users. How does it work and how expensive is it?
WEB SERVICES - LANGUAGE - 19.11.2010
Bing Translator: worthwhile?
Google Translate is a handy tool for making a rapid translation of a word or a short text. Bing has recently launched its own translation service. Can it match Google Translate?
SECURITY - PRIVACY - 19.11.2010
Facebook and your privacy
Facebook doesn’t enjoy a great reputation when it comes the privacy of its members. However, in the past few months a couple of new options have been added which give you greater control over your own data.
ENTERTAINMENT - TRAVEL - 19.11.2010
Xmas or New Year breaks in Europe
Thinking of getting away for a festive break? We’ve put together a selection of websites to help you decide where to go and how to get there.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS - 19.11.2010
Disciplinary proceedings and police investigations
Following an allegation of serious misconduct, an employee is under police investigation. Should you press ahead with your own disciplinary action or postpone it? What does the Employment Appeal Tribunal say?
COMPANY CARS - 19.11.2010
Keeping tabs on staff with vehicle tracking devices
You’ve serious doubts about an employee: you’re not convinced that they’re going to all business-related appointments (some might even be faked). Can you fit a tracking device to their company vehicle without them knowing?
MATERNITY PAY - 19.11.2010
20 weeks’ maternity leave on full pay?
MEPs recently voted to extend maternity rights to 20 weeks’ leave on full pay. But this isn’t quite the “done deal” that’s being suggested. What’s the true story?
CONTRACTS - 19.11.2010
Imposing confidentiality clauses on contractors
Like many employers, you’ve hired in staff on a self-employed basis to plug gaps during the economic crisis. It’s a cheaper option than recruiting permanent employees. But how can you stop them exploiting your business information?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 19.11.2010
Phonecall: “I’m sick”, Facebook: “Having a great time!”
Many employees call in “sick” only to post a comment on Facebook which spills the beans about what they’re really up to. How do you tackle this problem and decide whether it’s fraudulent sickness absence?
HARASSMENT - 19.11.2010
Justifiable criticism or sexual harassment?
An employee claims that her manager’s aggressive tone amounts to sexual harassment. He says it’s simply “justifiable criticism” as she’s not pulling her weight. What is the tribunal likely to say?
COMPROMISE AGREEMENTS - 19.11.2010
Has the Equality Act killed compromise agreements?
Nearly a third of employers say that their use of compromise agreements has increased over recent years. But, apparently, a drafting error in the Equality Act 2010 means that they’re now totally useless. Is it time to panic?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 18.11.2010
Scaffolding over public footpaths
If you need to have a scaffold erected against a building which has a public walkway adjacent to it, there are a number of precautions you need to take. What are they, and who is responsible for taking them?
RISK ASSESSMENT - 18.11.2010
The devil is in the detail
You know how important it is to get your risk assessments right. So what should you now be doing to ensure yours give proper legal protection? What’s the court’s current thinking?
CONSULTANTS - 18.11.2010
HSE to launch consultants register
In response to Lord Young’s review, the HSE is set to launch a register of health and safety consultants in the New Year. Why has this been recommended, and what, if any, impact is it likely to have?
FIRE DOORS - 18.11.2010
Horizontal bar or push pad panic bolt?
Until you employed a consultant to review your fire safety arrangements you were under the impression that a push pad panic bolt was a suitable device to open a door in an emergency. What is the situation?
COMMUNICATION - 18.11.2010
Making information meaningful
You’ve put together your policy, risk assessments and procedures and now you want to share them with staff. But you’re concerned that they won’t take it all in. How should you go about it?
FIRE ALARMS - 18.11.2010
Too many false alarms
Because of the large number of false alarms, some Fire & Rescue Services are reviewing their responses. What’s likely to happen and how should you prepare for any changes?
DRIVING - 18.11.2010
Better labelling of medicines
Doctors have warned that those driving and using heavy machinery whilst taking over-the-counter drugs are putting themselves at risk. What’s to know?
HMRC - SELF-ASSESSMENT - 12.11.2010
Watch out for incorrect tax bills
We’ve received reports of the Taxman ignoring corrections made to self-assessment returns and demanding payment of the original bill. What’s going on and what should you do if this happens to you?
INHERITANCE TAX - 12.11.2010
Passing your business to the next generation
When you pass on the family business, you can make use of a special Inheritance Tax break. But without your guidance the next generation can easily scupper this and land themselves with a massive tax bill. What should you be telling them?
BENEFITS - 12.11.2010
Tax-free meals for weekend workers
A seasonal rush on business or just a tight deadline might mean you have to ask your staff to come in at the weekend. As a sweetener you offer to buy lunch for them, but will the Taxman want a bite out of it?
VAT - 12.11.2010
The forgotten VAT claim
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently delivered a shock decision which could open the way for UK businesses to reclaim the VAT paid on goods they bought and used before they were registered. What’s the full story?
CORPORATION TAX - 12.11.2010
How to make the most of losses
The temporary rules which allow companies to make more tax-efficient use of trading losses by carrying them back up to three years will cease to apply very soon. When can you still claim this type of tax break on losses?
INVESTMENTS - 12.11.2010
A gilt-edged and tax-free investment
Gold is still the investment of choice for many. But if you want to get in on the act, what’s the best option to keep the Taxman from sharing in your profit. Should you buy Sovereigns, Krugerrands, bullion or just shares in a gold mine?
PENSIONS - 12.11.2010
Pension planning now more vital
The recently announced changes to the pension rules include the withdrawal of a tax break for those nearing retirement. How might this affect you?
WELFARE - 12.11.2010
Do we have to fit mixer valves?
A member of staff has complained that they’ve been scalded because the water flowing from the hot taps is too hot. They say that to prevent this from happening, you’re legally obliged to fit thermostatic mixing devices. Are they right?
H&S MANAGEMENT - 12.11.2010
Common Sense, Common Safety?
The government has finally published Lord Young’s review of health and safety. What does it contain and how might its findings affect you?
CONTRACTOR SELECTION - 12.11.2010
Another contractor selection scheme?
If, like many, you’re fed up with completing numerous contractor competence questionnaires, the British Standards Institute (BSI) may have come up with a solution to end the current farce. What is it?
POLICIES & RECORDS - FIRE STRIKE CHECKLIST - 12.11.2010
Be prepared for a fire strike
There’s turmoil in the public sector and the recent Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) strikes are unlikely to be the last. So how can you make sure that your business is well prepared to deal with them? Our new checklist will help.
CONSTRUCTION - 12.11.2010
Hoarding collapse
When a major construction company commissioned a contractor to erect hoardings around a shop they were fitting out, it’s a safe bet they didn’t envisage that a court appearance would follow. Why did this happen?
OFFICE - RISK ASSESSMENT - 12.11.2010
HSE launches office risk assessment
The HSE has launched a new online tool with claims that you can complete a risk assessment of your office in just 20 minutes. What’s prompted it to do this, and is it something that you should be using?
ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN - 12.11.2010
Are we seeing a change in enforcement tactics?
If you had any doubts about how strong the links between the HSE, the local authorities and the Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) are, a recent event should dispel them completely. What’s to know?
