2011 -
April
CONTRACTS - 28.04.2011
Are non-reliance clauses legal?
The directors have been negotiating a lucrative deal with a third party. It’s now produced a contract which states: “We will not be liable for any verbal representations made prior to the contract being signed”. Is this clause legal?
INHERITANCE TAX - 28.04.2011
IHT and CGT double hit on director’s shares
A recent court case involved a Capital Gains Tax saving scheme on a company buy-out that went wrong. It cost the directors/shareholders £1.3 million in tax. What’s the full story?
INSURANCE - 28.04.2011
Property insurance: “the rule of average”
To reduce costs, the directors are thinking about lowering the current “sum insured” under the company’s buildings insurance policy. But due to the “condition of average”, this could turn out to be a false economy. Why?
DIRECTORS’ BENEFITS - 28.04.2011
Legitimately deferring tax on your earnings
There’s no escaping tax on the benefits-in-kind (BiK) you receive from your company, but a loophole in the rules means that you can delay payment for a long time. How can you take advantage of this?
PERSONNEL - 28.04.2011
Who does the (health and safety) buck stop with?
When it comes to matters of health and safety, employees often assume that the buck stops firmly with the directors. But, as a recent case demonstrates, this couldn’t be further from the truth. So what should you tell them?
COMPANY CARS - 28.04.2011
The hidden cost of lower car insurance
Car insurance is currently one of the most competitive markets, which is good news for companies aiming to cut costs. But before you sign up for that unmissable deal, what should you be looking out for in the small print?
FINANCE - 28.04.2011
Watch out for backdated energy bills
Energy suppliers plan on hitting thousands of small companies with missed charges from the past six years. So how should you deal with a backdated bill?
DISCIPLINARY MATTERS - 27.04.2011
Disciplinary hearing unearths other misconduct
You’ve been conducting a disciplinary hearing for misconduct. During that meeting the employee confesses to other serious wrongdoing. Can you take this fact into account when imposing a sanction?
DRESS CODES - 27.04.2011
How far can you go with a dress code?
A leading law firm recently directed 105 female trainee solicitors to “dress far more appropriately” and “brush their hair”. It seems this was justified, but exactly how far can you go when telling your employees how they should look?
GROSS MISCONDUCT - 27.04.2011
Self-preservation or an act of gross misconduct?
In a recent case, an employee selected for redundancy sent vast amounts of confidential information to her private e-mail address. She said it was “self-preservation”, the employer argued it was gross misconduct. Who won?
AGENCY WORKERS - 27.04.2011
Guidance on the Agency Workers Regulations 2010
The controversial Agency Workers Regulations 2010 will finally come into force on October 1 2011. To help you prepare, the government’s official guidance has just been released. What does it include?
MATERNITY LEAVE - 27.04.2011
Pregnancy and maternity leave costs £100,000+
An employee, who’s currently on maternity leave, calls to tell you she’s pregnant again. “Dismissal” rather than “congratulations” probably springs to mind. But, as a recent case shows, this reaction could cost you over £100,000; why?
PAYE - 27.04.2011
Urgent: mandatory PAYE changes
Each year, you must file an Employer Annual Return by May 19. From now on, however, it must be submitted online. So what happens if it’s not?
ADVISORY AGENCIES - 21.04.2011
Local Enterprise Partnerships to the rescue
A victim of the government’s austerity drive, the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have been replaced with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). What are the implications for businesses in the UK regions?
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - 21.04.2011
Get back on track
Even the best laid plans don’t always go as intended. To deal with instances of non-conformance and to prevent similar problems in the future, make use of our new document.
HEATING - 21.04.2011
Time to upgrade the old boiler?
If you’ve been considering investing in a biomass boiler, or a ground source heat pump, the government’s new Renewable Heat Incentive deal may make it a more appealing option. Why is this?
CONTAMINATED LAND - 21.04.2011
Is new contaminated land legislation on the way?
You’ve heard that the government is planning to introduce new regulations which will tighten up the contaminated land legislation. Is this happening and if so what will it mean for your business?
ENERGY SAVING - 21.04.2011
New source of funding revealed
Interest-free loans from the Carbon Trust have been scrapped. So what are the options for businesses wanting to borrow money to pay for energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon technologies?
MARKETING - 21.04.2011
Price first, green credentials a distant second
A recent study has identified that although 75% of Britons want to do the right thing when it comes to the environment, the perceived costs associated with doing so put them off. So could this create an opportunity for your business?
ADVISORY AGENCIES - 21.04.2011
Climate change tool
The government has launched a new tool to help businesses mitigate the risks associated with climate change. Is this something that you should use?
INHERITANCE TAX - 18.04.2011
Who really owns the money in your joint account?
Having a joint bank account can streamline the transfer of funds when one of the account holders dies. But it can mean each joint holder is liable to Inheritance Tax on all the money in the account. What steps can you take to avoid this trap?
VAT - 18.04.2011
VAT refund on samples
Following the European decision last year, VAT law on samples is being amended to help businesses. The change won’t be made until the summer but the Taxman says you can take advantage of it now. What should you be doing?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 18.04.2011
Maximising entrepreneurs’ relief
Last year one of our subscribers gave shares in his company to his wife to save tax. Now she’s received on offer to sell and make a big gain; the trouble is her shares won’t qualify for entrepreneurs’ relief. Is there a way to rescue the situation?
INVESTMENTS - 18.04.2011
Dodging tax at source on your investments
If you’re lucky enough to have £50,000 in the bank, you can receive interest without tax being deducted. However, the Budget announced the end of this tax break. Are there other ways to receive gross interest, and on much smaller deposits?
CARS - 18.04.2011
Tax saving on company car contribution
You can reduce the tax and NI bill on your company car by making a personal contribution to its cost. But the saving can be outweighed by the depreciation on the car. How can you make sure this doesn’t happen?
CORPORATION TAX - 18.04.2011
Giving and receiving from charity
The Budget increased the tax incentive for giving to charity, but there’s still a trap which can jeopardise the tax relief on gifts. What is it and how might this affect your company?
PENALTIES - 18.04.2011
New penalties for late tax returns
The Taxman has hiked penalty charges by over 500% for late self-assessment returns. What steps should you take now to avoid being hit with a fine?
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 14.04.2011
Labs and apps for Gmail
Gmail is an excellent webmail service offering many features and options. Labs, gadgets or Web apps allow you to customise Gmail even further. Here are some useful examples.
CONSUMER - 14.04.2011
Getting personal
If you have a special birthday or anniversary to buy for, it can be hard to pick the perfect present. We check out personalised gifts you can find on the Web.
WEB SERVICES - PERSONAL START PAGE - 14.04.2011
Your online desktop with Jolicloud
Jolicloud is a new free Web service which gives you a private area for links to the services you use most often, so that you can access them everywhere. How does this work and is it useful?
ENTERTAINMENT - VIDEO - 14.04.2011
Watching YouTube videos comfortably
You probably don’t wish to be distracted by all the comments and ads surrounding YouTube videos or other online films you want to watch. The following browser extensions can enhance your YouTube experience.
WEB SERVICES - VIDEOCONFERENCING - 14.04.2011
Video communication, the easy way
Video communication is becoming increasingly important in business. And it’s not all that complex: all you need is a webcam and a simple tool for organising video meetings.
COMPUTER - HARDWARE - 14.04.2011
iPad 2 or another tablet PC?
The iPad 2, the latest Apple tablet computer, has recently been released. However, in the meantime a number of alternatives have been launched as well. What do they have to offer and how do they compare with the iPad 2?
SOFTWARE - SOCIAL NETWORKS - 14.04.2011
Live news via Twitter
Twitter was originally meant as a tool allowing friends to communicate what they’re doing. But it has developed into the method par excellence for following events live via the Twitter site. However, a Twitter tool is much more convenient.
COMPUTER - PRINTER - 14.04.2011
Assistance for printing problems
You use your printer almost every day, but sometimes it refuses to work and you’re left with a list of “pending” print jobs. Here are some tips and tools that can help you.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE CALENDAR - 14.04.2011
Online post-its: anything new?
Online tools for jotting down your to-dos, appointments, shopping lists, etc.: there are plenty of them. But here are some good simple Web tools you probably aren’t yet familiar with.
PERSONAL NEWS PAGE - 14.04.2011
Customised news reviews via Google News
The Internet is the ideal place for following up-to-the-minute news. To keep abreast without being swamped by the news avalanche, it’s best to create your personal newsfeed. Here’s how, using Google News and Google Reader.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE PHOTOS - 14.04.2011
How to create a “collaborative” photo album?
Popular Web services such as Picasa Web Albums or Flickr allow you to create online photo albums. However, can you allow other people - for instance, colleagues, family members - to post photos in these albums too?
WORKING AT HEIGHT - 14.04.2011
How to decorate a stairway
Your building needs redecorating and most of it will be pretty straightforward, but you’re concerned about the stairway. Your maintenance man says he will use a ladder and a plank, but will that be compliant?
FIRE SAFETY - 14.04.2011
Do you need emergency voice communications?
You’ve received a flier which states that there’s a new standard which requires businesses to install an Emergency Voice Communication system (EVC). You’ve never heard of them, so do you need one?
POLICIES & RECORDS - CONSULTANT CHECKLIST - 14.04.2011
Selecting a competent consultant
If you need the services of a health and safety consultant, ensure that anyone you employ is able to provide advice that suits your business. To help you do this, use our new consultant checklist.
WORKING WITH CHEMICALS - 14.04.2011
Paint sprayer developed allergic reaction
If you fail to take adequate precautions to protect staff against the risks associated with isocyanate paints, as a recent case proves, you could find yourself on the wrong side of the law. What happened?
CONSTRUCTION - 14.04.2011
HSE inspector takes employer’s side
Although most enforcement action for breaches of health and safety law is directed against employers, a recent case has proved that this isn’t always the case. Why not?
WORKPLACE - PASSENGER LIFTS - 14.04.2011
Can you use the lift?
You’ve just taken on new commercial premises that has a passenger lift. However, you’re not sure whether you should use it, as you can’t find any evidence of it having been inspected or maintained recently. What should you do?
PERSONAL INJURY - 14.04.2011
No win, no fee changes announced
The Justice Secretary has told the Commons of plans to shake up the civil litigation system. What’s happening and how might this affect you?
ENERGY SAVING - 14.04.2011
Feed-in tariffs under review
The government is thinking about changing its feed-in tariffs mechanism only shortly after it was introduced. So what, if anything, might be the implications of this review?
WOOD PRODUCTS - 14.04.2011
Avoiding illegal timber
According to a new study completed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), many businesses are buying and using wood that’s come from potentially illegal sources. What’s to know?
CONTRACTORS - 14.04.2011
Is there such a thing as a “green builder”?
You’ve come across a number of construction companies who are claiming to be “green builders”. Does this really mean anything and, if so, how do you go about finding those who are making reliable claims?
PESTS - 14.04.2011
Prosecuted for causing a fly infestation
A poultry farm has been prosecuted by the Environment Agency (EA) because it caused an infestation of flies. How did it manage to do this and how can you avoid a similar problem?
WEEE - 14.04.2011
WEEE Regulations to be tightened up
The European Parliament is keen to revise the Waste Electrical and Electronic Waste Directive (WEEE). What’s going to change, when might this happen and what could the implications be for you?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 14.04.2011
Are you green enough for BT?
BT has just launched a new procurement policy that places strong green demands on its small and medium sized business suppliers. Is it alone in doing this and how might the evolution of such strategies affect you in the future?
CARBON TRUST - 14.04.2011
Is the free money running out?
The Carbon Trust is to have its budget cut by up to 40%. Does this signal a change of approach by the government?
PROPERTY - 14.04.2011
Business rates cut in Budget
Mr Osborne’s Budget included measures to reduce business rates and property renovation costs in selected areas. Can your company benefit from these?
PERSONNEL - 14.04.2011
Does your company have the right to search staff?
In the last twelve months, employee fraud has been on the increase. As a result, many companies have introduced right to search policies. But in order to reap the benefits, they must be approached correctly. What do you need to know?
COST CUTTING - 14.04.2011
What can StartUp Britain do for your company?
A new resource for business owners has been launched. Backed by the government and supported by big business, it aims to offer you more than just advice, there’s also a hint of a cost-saving opportunity. What’s the full story?
FINANCE - 14.04.2011
Losing the right to compensation
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) protects consumers buying financial products from an “authorised seller”. If you’re taking out insurance, investments etc., on behalf of your company, how can you be sure that the seller is authorised?
LANDLORD AND TENANT - 14.04.2011
Landlord has money problems - what now?
There’s a rumour circulating that the company’s landlord has significant money problems. Assuming this is true, where would it stand in respect of the lease? And what could the directors do now to protect its position?
LEGISLATION - 14.04.2011
A date for the Bribery Act 2010 (at last)
On July 1 2011, the Bribery Act 2010 will come into force. To help companies prepare for it, the government has released guidance on the “adequate procedures” they can adopt to prevent bribery. But what’s the good news?
APPRAISALS - 11.04.2011
Is your appraisals system a guaranteed success?
Even where you’re confident that your appraisal system meets all the business’ needs, it will fail if your managers don’t approach it correctly. So what should they remember when conducting this process?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 11.04.2011
Dealing with employees who have cancer
Every year, 100,000 people of working age are diagnosed with cancer. Many will want, or may need, to work during their treatment. So what are your legal obligations here and where can you find specialist advice?
GRIEVANCES - 11.04.2011
Damaged clothing: must you pay for it?
A member of staff has raised a grievance regarding some damage that was caused to their clothing. The bottom line is that they think it’s your responsibility and want compensation. How should you handle the situation?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 11.04.2011
Offensive e-mails sent from home computers
Suppose that an employee has used their own home computer to send an offensive chain e-mail. You might think that this is a private activity. But according to the tribunal it can justify dismissal. What do you need to know?
INSURANCE - 11.04.2011
Holidays: is your equipment properly insured?
80% of employees stay in touch during periods of annual leave, even when holidaying abroad. But suppose that their company-owned laptop or mobile phone is stolen during their trip. Whose insurance covers it - theirs or yours?
DISCRIMINATION - 11.04.2011
“Spongebob Squarepants” nickname costs £142,000
An office worker nicknamed “Spongebob Squarepants” by her colleagues has just been awarded £142,000 compensation by the tribunal. So why has her employer ended up paying such a vast amount?
RECRUITMENT - 11.04.2011
Positive action: is it compulsory?
Media reports about “positive action”, which came into force on April 6, have made many employers anxious. But why is the concept not worth all the worry?
