2013 -
June
VICTIMISATION - 26.06.2013
Multiple grievances: a reason to dismiss?
You have an employee who routinely raises groundless grievances. Does this irritating behaviour give you solid grounds to dismiss them or would such a decision lead you into dangerous territory?
MOTIVATION - 26.06.2013
The Lush secret ingredient to motivation
In a recent interview, the bosses of cosmetics company, Lush, revealed an interesting workplace idea which they say has proved to be highly motivational for their managers. What is it and could it work well for you too?
RECRUITMENT - 26.06.2013
The downsides of “refer a friend” schemes
Employers are often encouraged to run a “refer a friend” scheme in order to save on recruitment costs. Whilst this idea has its benefits, there are also some drawbacks. What do you need to know?
DATA PROTECTION - 26.06.2013
ICO prosecutes employee for harvesting data
Employees put at risk of redundancy often harvest personal data from their employer’s IT systems. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has just prosecuted one for doing this. So what must you do in light of this case?
TRIBUNAL PROCEDURE - 26.06.2013
The tribunal: two good news changes
On July 29 2013 the tribunal fees system goes live. In addition to this new charging regime, a further procedure is going to be implemented at the same time to weed out weak claims. So what’s on the cards?
DISCRIMINATION - 26.06.2013
Is “teenager” a discriminatory word?
An 18-year-old employee was recently awarded £2,000 by the tribunal because her manager kept referring to her as a “teenager”. Does it mean this word is now a no-go for employers?
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - 26.06.2013
Who owns that creation: you or the employee?
Let’s suppose that one of your employees has come up with a fantastic design which has the potential to earn your business a lot of money. Who owns the intellectual property (IP) rights to that design: you or your employee?
TAX RETURNS - 21.06.2013
What’s new with HMRC’s toolkits?
HMRC has revised and updated some of its toolkits for tax returns. So if you’re about to start work on yours, what should you be looking out for?
COMPANY BUY-OUTS - 21.06.2013
How to buy out a colleague tax efficiently
After a difference of opinion on the future of your company your co-director has agreed to sell her shares to you. You’ve arrived at a fair price, but the trouble is you now have to find the cash. What’s the most tax-efficient way to do this?
IHT - 21.06.2013
New rules can reduce business property relief
New rules, which aim to stamp out certain Inheritance Tax (IHT) avoidance debt schemes, will soon come into force. But as a side effect, anyone who has financed their business with personal loans might be hit. What’s the full story?
VAT - 21.06.2013
When must you charge VAT on shared business costs?
If you purchase goods or services that are used by more than one of your business ventures, which of these is entitled to reclaim the VAT? And can one business pass the costs to another without triggering a VAT charge?
TAX RETURNS - 21.06.2013
Don’t forget the Form 42 deadline!
You formed a company a year ago and duly gave HMRC the information it asked for. A colleague now tells you that you have until July 6 to submit details of the shares issued by your company or face a fine. What’s he referring to?
DIRECTORS’ LOANS - 21.06.2013
Can you save money with a director’s loan?
With all the fuss over HMRC’s new anti-avoidance rules for loans to director/shareholders, are you overlooking the most important point? Can borrowing from your company still be a tax and cost-efficient benefit in kind?
MICRO-GENERATION - 21.06.2013
Biomass funding uncertainty
If you’re running a biomass electricity project, it will need to go through a government notification process to see if it qualifies for long-term subsidies. Are you affected, what can you expect and what might be the likely outcome?
STATUTORY NUISANCE - 21.06.2013
Peak season for dust and noise complaints
During the summer months the likelihood of a neighbour making a complaint about dust or noise pollution increases significantly. Why is this and what can you do to keep them at bay?
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - 21.06.2013
Is your management system effective?
According to new research, third-party audits of environmental management systems aren’t capable of providing the level of assurance needed by regulators. Why is this and what can you take from the findings?
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES - 21.06.2013
Money for green investments made available
The government has just published a guide to obtaining finance through the Regional Growth Fund. This is one of the few ways you might get a grant or loan to make green improvements to your business. What’s to know?
CLIMATE CHANGE - 21.06.2013
The future of non-financial reporting
At present, all Stock Exchange listed companies must report their environmental impacts under mandatory reporting rules. But the European Commission is making plans to extend this programme. How might this affect you?
LABELLING - 21.06.2013
Standardisation of green labels
If you want to market your products as “green”, then you’ll have to wade through hundreds of different accreditation schemes. But could a new European initiative make life easier?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 21.06.2013
Plan A really is working
Marks & Spencer’s “Plan A” is delivering significant financial savings and an abundance of green points. What can you learn from its success?
TAX - 21.06.2013
HMRC attacks directors in partnership
Proposed new rules aim to stop popular tax-saving arrangements that involve companies operating in partnership with their directors. What’s the full story?
FINANCE - 21.06.2013
Borrowing to get more difficult for directors
New regulations come into force next year that will require lenders to take greater account of a borrower’s ability to repay a mortgage. Why might this make it more difficult for directors to raise finance?
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY - 21.06.2013
The director who wrongly shut up shop
When the UK Border Agency (UKBA) imposed a £25,000 fine on a small company its director thought he would get around the problem by shutting up shop. Why did this turn out to be a fatal mistake for him personally?
COMPANY LAW - 21.06.2013
Simple ways to keep control of a family company
As your family company expands to include younger generations and their partners so does the risk of disputes and the worry that a divorce could split the business. What steps can you take to stop this happening?
DATA PROTECTION - 21.06.2013
Cloud computing and data protection
The directors have been discussing the pros and cons of cloud computing. It seems like a good idea in principle, but what are the company’s and your own personal obligations when it comes to data protection?
EXPENSES - 21.06.2013
Tax-free late night travel for directors
Your accountant has handed you the firm’s P11Ds to look over before they’re sent to HMRC. Yours includes several taxi fares for journeys home late at night after board meetings. Will you have to pay tax on these?
PERSONNEL - 21.06.2013
Why did they really leave their last job?
During their interview, a new hire stated that they left their last job “on good terms”. It turns out the relationship actually turned sour because they launched a tribunal claim. Can the directors dismiss them for their dishonesty?
WEB SERVICES - VIDEOCONFERENCING - 21.06.2013
Webmeetings in a click
You no longer have to leave your office to meet customers, suppliers or colleagues. ClickMeeting is one of the web services allowing you to organise an online meeting. We put it to the test.
SECURITY - ANTI-MALWARE - 21.06.2013
How to steer clear of false or dangerous apps?
The popularity of mobile apps (for iOS and Android) has turned them into an easy target for malware developers. How can you avoid installing an app which isn’t what it claims to be, or which could even be harmful?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE STORAGE - 21.06.2013
Your photos in the Amazon cloud
The Amazon Cloud Drive has been offering 5GB of free online space for a while now. However, there’s a new free app which lets you upload your smartphone and tablet photos automatically. Is it useful?
CONSUMER - ONLINE HELP - 21.06.2013
Technical and practical help is at hand
A new Android app - Fixya - lets you ask for help on technical and household problems. It got us thinking, so we checked online ways to get all kinds of help.
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 21.06.2013
Enhancing Windows 8
The most conspicuous new feature in Windows 8 is the tiled start screen. However, there are quite a few other useful innovations which are less obvious. Especially in the field of security and recovery.
SEARCHING - AUDIO - 21.06.2013
Audio effects for your projects
Do you need a specific tool to enhance a presentation, video clip or other project? Lots of websites offer free audio. Here are some examples.
TELEPHONY - INTERNET CALLS - 21.06.2013
Free calls with (or without) Facebook
Recently it has become possible to make phone calls at no cost via the Facebook app. How does it work, and are there any alternatives for making free or cheap calls?
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 21.06.2013
Cleaning your inbox in one hour
Are you looking forward to a couple of weeks of holidays shortly? Great, but on your return, you know what’s in store for you: an inbox containing perhaps more than 1,000 e-mails. How do you process them efficiently?
LEISURE - TRAVEL - 21.06.2013
Booking a cheap hotel room
Are you planning a trip for the summer holidays? There are lots of sites claiming they will help you to find a suitable hotel room. We put a few of them to the test for you.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 21.06.2013
How to filter Tweets
When you follow lots of people, or when a specific topic suddenly becomes hot, you will receive lots of Tweets via your Twitter account. How can you filter this flood of messages?
SOFTWARE - BROWSER - 21.06.2013
Top tips for Google Chrome
Google Chrome has been around for more than four years now. This browser is used by one out of three surfers today and was updated again recently. Here are a few more tips for making even more efficient use of Chrome.
CONTRACTING - COMPETENCE - 18.06.2013
Are questionnaires really the answer?
You’re wondering whether there’s any value in asking contractors to complete pre-qualification questionnaires as it isn’t proving to be a particularly reliable process. Should you continue to use them?
HOT WORKS - 18.06.2013
Hot work mistakes cost company £4 million
A recent case heard by the Court of Appeal considered liability for a fire caused by welders. The outcome delivered lessons for both those undertaking hot work and their clients. What’s the story?
ENFORCEMENT - 18.06.2013
Greater control over inspections
The HSE has issued the National Enforcement Code for local authorities. When does this take effect and what could be the impact?
MANUAL HANDLING - 18.06.2013
Choosing a sack truck
A simple way to reduce the amount of manual handling required of your delivery drivers is to provide them with sack trucks. What are they and what should you consider when purchasing one?
CONFINED SPACES - 18.06.2013
When a room becomes a confined space
As a recent case shows, not all confined space accidents occur in drains, tanks or pits. What happened here and what should have been done to avoid the accident?
FIRE SAFETY - 18.06.2013
Updated British Standard - fire alarms
There have been some important changes to BS 5839-1, which is one of the primary sources of information on fire alarm installation and maintenance. What’s different and does it affect you?
LEGISLATION - 18.06.2013
More changes to come
Buried within the recently enacted Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, are some fundamental changes for health and safety. What can you expect and when?
DATA PROTECTION - 11.06.2013
When can you covertly monitor telephone calls?
You’re concerned that some employees may not be handling customers’ telephone calls properly. To establish the facts, you’re thinking about secretly recording those conversations. Is this legal or a complete no-no?
DEDUCTIONS - 11.06.2013
We’ve received a Deductions from Earnings Order
The CSA has sent you a Deductions from Earnings Order (DEO) in respect of child maintenance payments which it says are owed by an employee. Must you notify the employee that this DEO has been received?
ALCOHOL - 11.06.2013
Fingerprinting staff for alcohol
Employers are being offered a new testing device which can tell if an employee has alcohol in their system from their fingerprints. Should you introduce it into your workplace or steer well clear?
RACE DISCRIMINATION - 11.06.2013
Applying for a job in two different names
When a black African man was turned down for a job he submitted a new CV using the name “Craig Owen” and was called in for an interview. However, he lost his subsequent race discrimination claim. Why?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 11.06.2013
Booked holiday - then they went off sick!
An employee is due to start ten days’ annual leave shortly. However, they’ve just presented you with a fit note which says “no work for four weeks”. What should that period of time now be classed as: sickness absence or holiday?
DISMISSAL - 11.06.2013
Inappropriate comments on social media
Apparently, many public sector employees have been sacked for posting inappropriate comments on social media websites. Do you have the right to dismiss someone if you don’t like what they’ve said online?
ACAS CODE OF PRACTICE - 11.06.2013
Does the ACAS Code apply to SOSR dismissals?
When the relationship between you and an employee breaks down, it’s possible to dismiss them on the grounds of “some other substantial reason” (SOSR). Do you need to follow the ACAS Code in this situation?
DIRECTORS’ LOANS - 11.06.2013
New rules on loans to directors who are also partners
A second new attack on directors will target those who run their business in partnership with their company. This arrangement offered the chance of tax-free use of company money, but has this loophole now been closed?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 11.06.2013
Winding up your company to maximum tax effect
Sheltering profits from your business in a company is all well and good, but at some point you’ll want to retire and get your money out. When the time comes how can you ensure maximum tax efficiency?
TAX ASSESSMENTS - 11.06.2013
HMRC starts tax calculations process
Around 5.5 million people will receive tax calculations, P800s, between now and October. Will you be sent a letter and what should you do if you receive one?
VAT - 11.06.2013
Selling overseas - do you need to register for VAT?
The Internet means you can advertise your products to a customer in, say, Italy, as easily as you can to one just around the corner. But if you make a sale will you need an overseas VAT registration, and what’s the best way to get one?
INHERITANCE TAX - 11.06.2013
The IHT catch on loans
Lending money to family is Inheritance Tax (IHT) neutral. But if you decide to write off all or part of the loan, you must do it by the book or face a potential tax trap. What’s the problem and how is it solved?
CAPITAL GAINS TAX - 11.06.2013
Homes - the CGT planning advice that increases tax
You’re selling a property which you bought as your home before you were married. A friend suggests that you transfer a share to your spouse before the sale as this will save Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Is he right?
PENSIONS - 11.06.2013
Defer your state pension to save tax
If you’ve reached state pension age you can defer taking it, say, until you stop working. This will entitle you to a higher regular pension or a lump sum payment. You can also use deferral to obtain a tax saving. How does this work?
BANKING - 07.06.2013
Can a director’s credit rating affect your company?
You might assume a new company has a clean slate when it comes to opening a bank account. But actually even minor problems in a director’s credit record can cause trouble. How can this be avoided?
OVERSEAS TRADE - 07.06.2013
Australia wants to do business!
Apparently, Australia is crying out for trade links with smaller UK companies and is able to offer you some “massive business opportunities”. Where can you find out more information?
INSURANCE - 07.06.2013
Are your company records safely stored?
Secure off site lock-ups are big business these days and offer a convenient place to archive old records. But there are hidden costs to using these and business users must take extra care; why?
TAX - 07.06.2013
Do you need to complete a P11D?
The deadline for declaring directors’ benefits and expenses on Form P11D is approaching and there are stiff penalties for being late. But are you wasting time and putting yourself at risk by reporting transactions you don’t need to?
DATA PROTECTION - 07.06.2013
ICO to scrutinise company websites
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will soon start examining companies’ websites to ensure that their privacy policies don’t breach data protection laws. Do the directors need to be worried about this?
INSURANCE - 07.06.2013
Sole directors and injuries at work
In a recent case, a sole director sustained a serious personal injury at work. When he sought financial compensation from the company, its insurers successfully defended the claim. Where did this director go wrong?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 06.06.2013
Need help parking?
Parking is never easy. Websites and apps can assist businesses plan parking for employees, help everyone find a place to park and even find your car.
WEB SERVICES - MISCELLANEOUS - 06.06.2013
Taking notes using Google Keep
A couple of months ago, Google Keep was launched: a free service allowing you to take notes, both on the Web and on your smartphone. What exactly is Google Keep, and what are the alternatives?
ENTERTAINMENT - SPORT - 06.06.2013
Working out with your smartphone
Smartphones are highly versatile devices, but did you know that they can also help you to keep fit? We tested a number of apps that can help you with your workout.
SECURITY - BACKUP - 06.06.2013
BitTorrent Sync: syncing files outside the cloud
Cloud drives, such as Dropbox, are ideal for exchanging and synchronising files. But what if you don’t like the idea of your files sitting somewhere on an online server? Can BitTorrent Sync help you?
BUSINESS - SELLING - 06.06.2013
“Pushing” information to your colleagues
Are your salespeople or mechanics on the road a great deal? Using a tablet, they can have constant access to your company information. Showpad promises to make this easier still. Does it deliver?
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 06.06.2013
Useful tips for Windows 7 and 8
Are you using Windows 8 or have your remained loyal to Windows 7? Here are some useful tips and tricks for working more efficiently in either version. Some of these tips also apply to older versions of Windows.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 06.06.2013
Your e-mail attachments in the cloud
When you receive an e-mail with an attachment, you will typically open this attachment or store it somewhere. New cloud services now also make it possible to transfer the attachment directly to your cloud account. How does it work?
SOFTWARE - SMARTPHONE - 06.06.2013
Android apps shops
Apple leaves you no choice: you have to buy all your apps at the official Apple App Store. But for Android, there are other online app shops besides the Google Play Store. Where are they and what should you pay attention to?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 06.06.2013
Online tools for customer support
Listening to your customers’ questions, complaints and suggestions is of the utmost importance. Tender Support and Qhub are two cloud services that try to help you. We put them to the test.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COMMUNITIES - 06.06.2013
What are they saying about you online?
What are your customers - or your employees, for that matter - saying about your business? Or what do they say about your competitors? The Mention service promises to deliver this information. We put this monitoring tool to the test.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 06.06.2013
Moving your e-mail
Suppose you’ve bought a new computer. What do you have to do in order to transfer all your e-mails, contacts, calendars and even the settings of your former e-mail program?
