2012 -
September
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS - 28.09.2012
Egg producer fined for breaching permits
In a case led by the Environment Agency (EA) an egg producer has been fined £65,000 for operating without the required environmental permits. What can be learned from this?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 28.09.2012
New sustainability indicators on the cards
The government has published a consultation document which spells out its ideas on how the environmental impact of a business could be calculated. What’s covered and is this something that could be of use to you?
WASTE - 28.09.2012
A definition of waste
Need assistance in determining what is and isn’t waste? Help is at hand in the form of some new guidance from Defra. What’s included, and how might you benefit?
LEGISLATION - 28.09.2012
DECC takes its turn to cut red tape
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is the latest Whitehall body to scrap “unnecessary” regulation as part of the government’s Red Tape Challenge. What has been removed and what do you need to know?
FLOODING - 28.09.2012
Flooding risks increase
Over the summer more than 3,000 properties were flooded. Might your business be at risk and, if so, what should you do to prevent water getting in?
TRANSPORT - 28.09.2012
Will your vehicles be green enough?
In recent years, the government has introduced incentives to encourage green car ownership. However, proposed changes to the emission threshold could mean that many cars will no longer qualify. What’s on the cards?
MICRO-GENERATION - 28.09.2012
Could you benefit from an anaerobic digestion system?
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is proving a popular choice among those who have the right feed to create electricity and useful by-products. But is it a good investment? And what conditions are needed to get the most from this technology?
POOR PERFORMANCE - 24.09.2012
Apply the right (capability) procedure
The Court of Appeal has come down hard on an employer that used its disciplinary procedure to dismiss a poorly performing employee on capability grounds. So why was this a clear-cut case of unfair dismissal?
TAX/NI - 24.09.2012
One-off compensation payments: is tax and NI due?
Let’s suppose that you’re looking to withdraw a contractual benefit from one, or more, of your employees. In return for this, you’ll be making a one-off lump sum compensation payment. Should it be subject to tax and NI deductions?
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION - 24.09.2012
Six weeks to make reasonable adjustments?
In a recent case involving British Airways Plc (BA), the tribunal said that reasonable adjustments for a disabled employee should have been put in place within six weeks. Is this the new rule?
MISCONDUCT - 24.09.2012
Crying at the drop of a hat
One of your employees routinely bursts into tears at the slightest problem. Not only is this behaviour disruptive to your workplace, other staff have started to complain about the situation. What’s the best way to tackle it?
FIT NOTES - 24.09.2012
The new electronic fit notes
By the beginning of 2013 most GPs will be using the DWP’s new electronic fit note system, “e-Med”. Why is this change good news for employers?
TERMINATION - 24.09.2012
Departures announced via social media
When a Minister was recently removed from the Cabinet, she decided to spill the beans on Twitter. How can you ensure that your own staff don’t announce their departures via social media before you’ve made things official?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 24.09.2012
Open plan offices: please cut out the noise!
To increase productivity you’ve decided to move to an open plan office design. Trouble is, a few employees have now complained about the high noise levels. How can you solve this problem cost-effectively?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 24.09.2012
Lawnmower maintenance
The failure to ensure that a lawnmower was properly maintained led to a gardener almost losing a thumb and severely damaging his fingers. Why did this happen and how can similar accidents be avoided?
CONTRACTOR SELECTION - 24.09.2012
You need to pass an Achilles assessment
A major client has employed the Achilles audit and assessment scheme to complete checks on its sub-contractors - this means that you need to get through the process. What does it involve?
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES - 24.09.2012
Challenge Panel’s dangerous substances ruling
The HSE’s Myth Busters Challenge Panel recently passed a decision which provides useful clarification for those who store flammable substances. How might you be affected?
FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE - 24.09.2012
Fire service charges
Now that the HSE has started to charge for its inspectors’ time can you expect the Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) to follow suit? And if it were to go down this route, how much would you have to pay?
INSPECTIONS - 24.09.2012
No more low-risk site inspections
The government has announced that the HSE and local authorities will be banned from completing safety inspections of low-risk premises. What’s to know?
WORKPLACE - 24.09.2012
Do you need to install finger guards on doors?
If young children or vulnerable adults use your premises, then they’re likely to be at risk of trapping their fingers between doors and door frames. How do finger guards prevent these accidents and when should they be fitted?
STORAGE - 24.09.2012
£140,000 fine for racking collapse
A company was recently prosecuted in connection with a fatal accident in a storage area. What was the cause and how can you avoid finding yourself in a similar situation?
PENALTIES - 20.09.2012
HMRC overzealous on penalties
A tribunal recently sided with the taxpayer in an argument over whether a penalty was due because his tax return contained an error. Why might this ruling prove to be very good news for you and your accountant?
VAT - 20.09.2012
How to handle VAT on discounts
Some of your customers are pushing you on price so you’re considering whether to offer volume or loyalty discounts and cashbacks. The trouble is not all discount schemes are treated the same for VAT. What do you need to know?
PAYE - 20.09.2012
PAYE dispensations - how not to use them
Directors and employees are entitled to claim tax deductions for business expenses. However, HMRC says that some employers have been incorrectly using dispensations to shortcut this procedure. What’s the problem?
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES - 20.09.2012
Maximising your AIA claim
This is the final year that the £100,000 annual investment allowance (AIA) comes into play for purchases of equipment etc. What steps can you take now and after your current accounting period to make the most of this?
COMPANY CARS - 20.09.2012
The ins and outs of advisory fuel rates and VAT
There have been recent changes to the rules affecting income tax and VAT where you pay for fuel etc. used by your employees for private journeys. What are these and how might they affect your business?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 20.09.2012
A future tax-saving idea for your SEIS shares
Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) tax breaks are worth at least 50% of your investment, but your money will be tied up for some time. How long before you can get your hands on it and what should you do with it then?
TAX CREDITS - 20.09.2012
Time is nearly up for Tax Credits
If you missed the July 31 deadline for renewing your Tax Credits, you stand to lose your entitlement. But can a recent concession help you avoid this disaster?
WEB SERVICES - VIDEO - 20.09.2012
Doing more with YouTube
YouTube offers an outstanding video channel, both for entertainment and for professional purposes. Here are some handy tips for making optimal use of this site.
SECURITY - MISCELLANEOUS - 20.09.2012
Beware… of your own employees!
Your corporate IT system will probably be well protected against hackers and malware. However, did you know that more than half of all data abuse happens internally, often inadvertently? How can you protect yourself?
COMPUTER - DESKTOP - 20.09.2012
An original computer desktop
Windows comes with several desktop backgrounds. They are cool, but they can hardly be called original. Which sites supply good background photos? And how do your install them?
SOFTWARE - SECURITY - 20.09.2012
Hiding folders and files on your computer
Do you think that some files are a bit too sensitive to be sitting on your hard disk for all to see? What can you do or what tools are there to hide such files on your computer?
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 20.09.2012
Top tips for working faster and more efficiently
Do you want to work faster and more efficiently - launch programs faster, execute recurrent actions automatically, open documents in the right program? The following top tips will make you work more professionally and efficiently.
WEB SERVICES - VIDEOCONFERENCING - 20.09.2012
Tried and tested: Web meetings with Blue Jeans
Videoconferencing hasn’t made a spectacular breakthrough yet. It does, however, offer plenty of possibilities. The new cloud solution “Blue Jeans” makes it really easy. We tried it out...
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 20.09.2012
A neat inbox thanks to smart filters
By making use of smart filters you can keep your mailbox tidy and separate important messages from less urgent e-mails. How exactly do you set about doing this?
SOFTWARE - OFFICE - 20.09.2012
Office documents on your iPad?
Do you have an iPad and work with Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)? Normally speaking, there’s not much you can do with them on the iPad, but here are some apps which can help.
WEB SERVICES - MISCELLANEOUS - 20.09.2012
Connecting social websites thanks to IFTTT
Wouldn’t it be great if every photo which is tagged with your name on Facebook was sent to your personal Dropbox automatically? IFTTT lets you create such connections between Web services automatically. How does it work?
TRAINING - COURSES - 20.09.2012
“Learn as if you were to live forever”
With summer holidays a distant memory, autumn is the time when thoughts turn to studying for work or pleasure. What and where are the opportunities?
COMPUTER - PERIPHERALS - 20.09.2012
Make the most of your keyboard
Your computer makes life much easier for you. But you can increase efficiency even more by making optimal use of the computer keyboard. Here are some practical tips.
PERSONNEL - 14.09.2012
Getting your company property back
You’re about to summarily dismiss a senior employee for gross misconduct. They have a company car, PC and mobile phone in their possession. Do they have any right to keep these items?
COMPANY LAW - 14.09.2012
Next steps for new directors
These days you can form a company with just a few clicks of the mouse and payment of £18 to Companies House. But what are the key steps directors should take next?
INSURANCE - 14.09.2012
Warranties hidden in the (insurance) small print
Insurers are ramping up their efforts to turn down claims from businesses wherever possible. As a result, one area that’s coming under much closer scrutiny is warranties. So what do the directors need to know?
CORPORATION TAX - 14.09.2012
Tax relief for personalised number plates
Where a company buys a personalised plate for a director’s car, the Taxman says this counts as capital expenditure and so isn’t a tax deductible expense. But there’s an alternative method of claiming tax relief. Is your company missing out?
FINANCE - 14.09.2012
Loans: is the credit reference agency correct?
In a recent case, a credit reference agency had incorrectly listed a director as “bankrupt”. As a result, his company was turned down for finance. How can you ensure that you’re not the victim of any financial inaccuracies?
DIRECTORS’ TAX - 14.09.2012
Directors - get on your tax-free bikes!
If, following the Olympic Games, you’re inspired to get back on a bike, the Taxman might be willing to subsidise this via the cycle-to-work scheme. How does it work and are there any special wrinkles for directors?
LEGISLATION - 14.09.2012
Changes to distance selling rules
When the Consumer Rights Directive (CRD) comes into force, the distance selling rules will be more onerous. The government wants to know how this change will affect you. How can you have your say?
EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS - 14.09.2012
Be prepared for all sorts of emergencies
You have an emergency procedure in place but it’s fairly limited in scope. Will it suffice or should you amend it to cover all eventualities in case something more out of the ordinary arises?
POLICIES & RECORDS - SMOKE-FREE POLICY - 14.09.2012
Bring your no smoking policy up-to-date
Smoke-free legislation is now well established. So to take account of business experience to date, and in view of forthcoming minor changes to the law, it’s a good time to review our smoke-free policy. What’s changed?
WORKPLACE - 14.09.2012
Safety alert - platform lifts for the disabled
The HSE has issued a safety warning that bad habits associated with using platform lifts are putting lives at risk. What do you need to know if you have one of these commonly used lifts on your premises?
H&S LEGISLATION - 14.09.2012
Legal changes coming soon
The HSE is currently consulting on proposed changes to a number of pieces of legislation and the supporting guidance material. What’s on the cards and when can you expect the changes to take effect?
PPE - 14.09.2012
Can you make staff pay for PPE?
According to a recent survey, more than one in five workers are paying for PPE out of their own pocket. Should you ask your staff to do the same?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 14.09.2012
Controlling dust from cutting tools
You use portable stone cutting tools and are aware of the health risks they pose, e.g. exposure to hazardous dusts. So, according to research completed by the HSE, what are the most effective suppression options?
CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER - 14.09.2012
What’s the latest on corporate manslaughter?
Finally, the corporate manslaughter prosecution of Lion Steel Equipment Ltd has concluded. What happened, and is there anything to be learned from this case?
SPREADSHEETS - 07.09.2012
Making spreadsheets easier to understand
MS Excel is a very flexible business tool. With that flexibility, however, you will often find worksheets where it’s difficult to fathom exactly how to use them. What can you do to make your spreadsheets easier to follow?
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING - 07.09.2012
Controlling bank reconciliations
You’ve just started a new job and discovered that the bank account per the ledger has not been properly reconciled to the bank statements for some time. How do you regain control of this fundamental procedure?
MARKETING - 07.09.2012
The cheapest way to e-mail
A temporary price discount, a new product range, your business relocating - these are all good reasons for sending a mailing to all your customers. Are there web-based services that can help you and, if so, which are the best value?
OFFICE COSTS - 07.09.2012
Video communication the easy way
Video communication is becoming an increasingly important business tool. The good news is that it’s not all that complex and is now cheaper than ever. So what are the best deals?
More efficient
CARS - 07.09.2012
A man with a van pays less tax?
One of our subscribers is looking to change his company car. He mainly uses it for carrying equipment for his job so he’s considering a van instead. He’s heard that this will save tax and NI; is this right?
PERSONNEL - 07.09.2012
Making sure staff stay
Even in these gloomy economic times, there’s a need to hire new staff. But as recruitment is such an expensive exercise you need to be sure you hire the right person. What’s involved?
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS - 07.09.2012
Are the numbers ready yet?
You’ve had to downsize the accounts team and are concerned about meeting your monthly deadlines. What can you do to ensure that management reports are produced on time and to the satisfaction of the board?
VAT - 07.09.2012
Dealing with a VAT inspector
As the financial controller, it’s likely to be your task to deal with the VAT inspector when he comes to call. So what records can he ask to see and how much power does he really have?
CREDIT CONTROL - 07.09.2012
How to avoid overstating debtors
The debtors control account balance is a very important figure on the balance sheet as it represents the cash you expect to receive in the subsequent month(s). How can you ensure it isn’t overstated?
ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE - 07.09.2012
Avoiding an accounts black hole
The transfer to a new accounting system caused the maker of London’s black cabs to “lose” £3.9m from its accounts. How can you avoid this happening to you?
DISCRIMINATION - 06.09.2012
Don’t like football? You must be gay!
In a recent case, an employee who had said he didn’t like football was called gay by his colleagues. The tribunal said this was discriminatory and awarded him £44,000. Why was this employer hit with such a large penalty?
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS - 06.09.2012
Drugs at work: is random testing the answer?
It’s been reported that nearly one million employees have illegal drugs - mainly cannabis and cocaine - in their system at any one time. As this presents significant risks for you, can you randomly test all staff?
CONTRACTS - 06.09.2012
The contract that was never signed
You need to invoke a clause in an employee’s written contract of employment. However, they’ve just smugly claimed that it’s “totally unenforceable” because they never signed the document. Is this true?
REDUNDANCY - 06.09.2012
How to answer questions about redundancy risk
The CIPD recently reported that 62% of employers will be forced to make redundancies if the economy doesn’t improve within the next year. So if staff start asking about the risks, what’s the safest way to play it?
PAYROLL - 06.09.2012
Payroll: it’s (not) the place for fraud
A payroll clerk who diverted £20,000 of his employer’s money into his partner’s account has just been jailed for 14 months. Although stupidity was his ultimate downfall, what lessons can we learn from this case?
TRIBUNALS - 06.09.2012
Tribunal fees are now a done deal
The Ministry of Justice recently confirmed that fees for employment tribunal claims will be introduced in the middle of next year. It’s about time too! So what’s on the cards for employees who have an axe to grind?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 06.09.2012
Please use public transport!
To cut costs, the Legal Services Commission has told its lawyers to use public transport, not cars, for work-related journeys. Could you do something similar?
PENSIONS - 06.09.2012
A little extra in the form of pension lump sums
Tax rules mean those with small funds dotted around a number of pension schemes often face difficulties getting their hands on the money. The good news is that the Taxman has changed the rules to allow easier access. What’s new?
PAYE - 06.09.2012
Student tax scheme to be scrapped
Where you employ a student, perhaps one of your own youngsters, they can sign a Form P38S which means you don’t usually have to bother with PAYE tax. The Taxman is to scrap this concession, but can PAYE tax still be avoided?
COMPANIES - 06.09.2012
Dividing a business tax-efficiently
One of our subscribers has fallen out with his co-director and they have decided to go their separate ways; however, they both want to carry on the existing business. How can they divide the company tax-efficiently?
CARS - 06.09.2012
Company car tax-saving arrangement quashed
If you provide cars for directors, they’ll usually be caught for tax under the benefit-in-kind (BiK) rules. But one business came up with a special scheme to get around these by using a partnership. What’s the tribunal’s current view on this?
VAT - 06.09.2012
New businesses missing out on reclaiming VAT
Generally, when a business registers it can reclaim VAT paid for goods on hand. There’s also scope for reclaiming VAT on services received before registration but tough conditions apply. What exactly are you allowed to claim for?
INHERITANCE TAX - 06.09.2012
Can the new 36% IHT rate boost your estate?
The rules surrounding the new lower rate of Inheritance Tax (IHT) are not as straightforward as originally anticipated. However, it’s not all bad news and some estates might gain an unexpected advantage. What is it?
CORPORATION TAX - 06.09.2012
Taxman demands CT forms early
The deadline for Corporation Tax forms hasn’t changed in years. So why is the Taxman sending out early demands, and how should you respond to these?
