2013 -
October
CONTRACTS - 31.10.2013
How to make a non-binding settlement offer
For commercial reasons, the directors want to settle a long-running dispute with a third party. How can they ensure that the company won’t be bound by the settlement offer when it’s put in writing to the other side?
FINANCE - 31.10.2013
Correcting errors on your credit file
You must ensure that, for personal and business reasons, you have the best possible credit history and rating. But suppose an error crops up on your credit file through no fault of your own - how can you get it removed?
NATIONAL INSURANCE - 31.10.2013
A £2,000 NI gift for all employers
The government has unveiled the final details of its new business incentive - the employment allowance. What could this mean for your company?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 31.10.2013
Dividends - maximising your cash-flow advantage
Dividends are an efficient way of drawing income from your company and can defer when tax is payable. But HMRC has a couple of tricks to get its hands on the money sooner. What legitimate steps can you take to get around these?
COMPANY LAW - 31.10.2013
Directors at risk from employee-shareholder contracts
You plan to offer employee-shareholder contracts to staff as an incentive for them to work hard and stay loyal. But a colleague says these can lead to trouble when an employee leaves. What’s the problem and how can you avoid it?
ENERGY SAVING - 28.10.2013
Use energy more efficiently
You’ve heard that so-called power factor correction (PFC) solutions technology can help you to save significant amounts of energy. How does it work and is this something that you should consider investing in?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 28.10.2013
Hand-towel recycling: what are the options?
You were under the impression that paper hand towels could be recycled with other paper and cardboard products - however, this doesn’t appear to be the case. Why not and are there other options available?
CARBON REDUCTION - 28.10.2013
Inform clients about how you’re cutting carbon
As part of a tender, or during an accreditation process, many organisations have started asking their supply chain for details on how they’re reducing the amount of carbon they produce. If you’re asked, how should you respond?
WILDLIFE - 28.10.2013
Don’t mess with Sites of Special Scientific Interest
A Sussex hotelier has been fined £45,000 and ordered to pay costs of £90,000 for damaging a protected conservation site. What happened and how might the business have avoided getting into trouble?
WASTE - 28.10.2013
New waste disposal rules for Scotland
In January 2014, new legislation will force businesses in Scotland to separate and sort all waste for recycling. If this applies to you, what should you be doing to get your arrangements in line with the law?
MARKETING - 28.10.2013
Green direct-mail service from Royal Mail
Although it’s not been promoted heavily, Royal Mail is offering a green deal for those wishing to continue with direct mailings to its customers. Is this something you may want to consider?
CLIMATE CHANGE - 28.10.2013
Climate change - what’s the latest?
The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has published a new report. What does it identify and how might it affect you?
LEISURE - PHOTOGRAPHY - 28.10.2013
Photo editing in the cloud
There are loads of tools around for editing your photos. If you don’t have any photo software or don’t want to install any, cloud services can come in handy. We looked for web services which combine multiple functions.
TRANSPORT - MAPS & ROUTES - 28.10.2013
Create custom Google Maps
Google Maps includes places all over the world. However, did you know that you can also create maps containing your own information and share these with others? Here’s how.
CONSUMER - CARS - 28.10.2013
All about cars
Several car-related websites and apps have been either launched or revamped recently. They cover buying, selling, servicing and safe driving.
PERSONAL WEBSITE - SITE DESIGN - 28.10.2013
Safe landing!
Through a so-called landing page, you can welcome customers who, for example, clicked through via your online ad. What requirements should such a page meet in order to be effective? Here are some tips.
SMARTPHONE - APPS - 28.10.2013
Ifttt from your smartphone
Ifttt has become a popular web service: it lets you establish automatic connections between web services - for instance, “If I take an Instagram photo, save it to my Dropbox automatically”. Ifttt is now also available as an iOS app.
INTERNET CONNECTION - VPN - 28.10.2013
A secure connection to your home computer
To set up a secure connection with your computer at work, you probably use a secure VPN connection. But the reverse is possible as well: you can set up a remote encrypted connection with a computer at home.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE OFFICE - 28.10.2013
CloudOn in your browser
The existing CloudOn app allowed you to create, open and edit Office documents on your smartphone or tablet. In addition to the free app, there’s now a web service which you can use simply via your browser. How well does it perform?
SMARTPHONE - BATTERY - 28.10.2013
Six tips for extra battery life in iOS 7
Have you upgraded your iPhone or iPad to iOS 7? You may have found that your battery life is shorter. Here are some simple tips for making it last longer.
E-MAIL - E-MAIL USE - 28.10.2013
Healthier e-mail use
Are all your daily activities dominated by e-mail? Then it’s high time to analyse and change your e-mail habits. We checked out the options available.
SOFTWARE - COMPUTER MANAGEMENT - 28.10.2013
A healthier computer thanks to Puran Utilities
There are lots of utilities which claim to help you to make your computer perform better. Puran Utilities is completely free and yet has lots of goodies on board. How does it work?
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 28.10.2013
Responding to questions or propositions
Do you need to organise training sessions or presentations for your customers or staff? mQlicker, a so-called “audience response system”, wants to help you. We put this cloud tool to the test.
FIRE ALARM - 28.10.2013
Do you need to change fire alarm warning beacons?
You’ve heard that a new standard is being introduced for the flashing beacons which form part of your fire alarm system. What are the implications, and will you need to replace your existing equipment?
COMPETENT ADVICE - 28.10.2013
Can you remember what you said?
One of our subscribers runs a health and safety consultancy. His recent experience highlights the need to keep detailed records of what advice has been given and when. What can be learned from his ordeal?
PERMIT TO WORK - 28.10.2013
Who should control permits to work?
For certain high-risk tasks, you know that using a permit-to-work system is the best option to keep safe. However, you’re not sure who should issue and manage the active documents. Is there a definitive answer to this?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 28.10.2013
Machinery safety warnings for the public
A recent case considered whether more should have been done to alert a gym user about a trapping point. The findings are of interest to anyone operating machinery, particularly where the public are concerned. What happened?
SIGNAGE - 28.10.2013
Is your signage secure?
A London developer and its contractor have been ordered to pay over £600,000 in fines and costs after a sign fell into a busy street seriously injuring a passer-by. What was the cause and how can you avoid a similar situation?
EMPLOYEES - 28.10.2013
What’s your duty towards self-employed workers?
From time to time you use skilled self-employed workers to cover peaks in workload. You’re sure that you have some responsibility for their health and safety, but how far does it go?
CONTRACTORS - 28.10.2013
Why such silly requirements?
Although the government is pushing businesses to adopt a reasonable approach to managing safety risks, many are choosing not to. Why is this and what should you be doing in response?
DATA PROTECTION - 21.10.2013
Covert surveillance of suspicious employees
In a recent case, the employer suspected that an employee was fraudulently claiming pay. To put the matter beyond doubt, they put him under covert surveillance. What did the Employment Appeal Tribunal say about it?
GROSS MISCONDUCT - 21.10.2013
Gross misconduct: does it always justify dismissal?
Let’s suppose that, following a fair and thorough disciplinary investigation and hearing, you’ve found an employee guilty of gross misconduct. Does this finding automatically justify their summary dismissal?
CONTRACTS - 21.10.2013
Failure to provide a contract = £1,800 fine?
It was recently reported that “thousands of smaller employers are risking fines of £1,800 because they haven’t issued their employees with written contracts of employment”. What’s wrong with this statement?
MATERNITY - 21.10.2013
No part-time work, no discrimination
An employee who was initially denied part-time working on her return from maternity leave has just lost her claim for sex discrimination. What did the canny employer do that prevented her winning?
TRAINING - 21.10.2013
Pre-training study: does it count as work?
One of your employees is due to attend an external training course which requires some compulsory reading beforehand. Does this activity count towards their overall working hours?
HOLIDAY PAY - 21.10.2013
How to properly calculate a week’s holiday pay
In recent months, there have been a number of legal developments in relation to holiday pay and we can certainly expect more in the future. But, as matters currently stand, how do you calculate a week’s holiday pay?
RECRUITMENT - 21.10.2013
Recruitment: they’ve had a much better offer
After a lengthy recruitment process, you’ve made a formal job offer to the ideal candidate. However, rather than accepting it immediately, they’ve informed you that a better deal has been “put on the table elsewhere”. How do you play it?
CORPORATION TAX - 15.10.2013
New businesses - how to fund them tax efficiently
Your daughter has a brilliant idea for a new business, but she wants you to help fund it. You could dig into your personal savings or use some of your company’s money, but which will give you the best tax result?
EXPENSES - 15.10.2013
Are entertainment costs ever tax deductible?
You’ve taken a stand at a trade fair, and to pull in the punters you’ve splashed out on some booze and fancy nibbles. Normally there’s no tax deduction for this type of expense, but you can take steps to change this - what are they?
PROPERTY - 15.10.2013
Does that empty plot of land come with a tax break?
If you’re looking for extra room or a new home for your business, the government is keen for you to site it on derelict land and it will give you a tax break for doing so. How much is this worth and how does it work?
INCOME TAX ALLOWANCES - 15.10.2013
New tax break for married couples
The government has at last decided how much transferable tax allowances will be worth and how you can qualify for them. But if you don’t meet the conditions is there an alternative way you can achieve the same or a better tax saving?
LOANS - 15.10.2013
Is your cashback deal taxable or not?
One of our subscribers was looking for a loan with tax-free cashback. A colleague said he thought all cashbacks were taxable. HMRC’s website seems to say some are and some aren’t. So what’s the real position?
VAT - 15.10.2013
How to reclaim VAT you haven’t paid
If you make a refund to a customer, you can usually reclaim the corresponding VAT you accounted for on the original sale, but not in every case. When are you not allowed to do this and how are the rules changing?
CHILD BENEFIT - 15.10.2013
Warning over child benefit tax
HMRC is threatening all those liable to the high income child benefit charge (HICBC) with a fine unless they’ve registered for self-assessment. What’s the full story?
SOFTWARE - DOWNLOADING - 15.10.2013
Watch out when downloading software!
When downloading software from the Internet, you have to be very careful that you don’t install unwanted software as well. What are the traps to watch out for?
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 15.10.2013
Gmail and Outlook.com: an update
Gmail regularly comes up with new features and Outlook.com has also been revamped in the past few months. What has changed in these popular webmail services?
PERSONAL WEBSITE - SITE ANALYSIS - 15.10.2013
Google Tag Manager: something for you?
The Google Tag Manager lets you insert tags on your website and manage them without the intervention of your webmaster or IT people. What exactly are these tags, and how can they be useful for you?
SOFTWARE - IOS - 15.10.2013
iOS7: what are the improvements?
Together with the new 5C and 5S iPhones, Apple also released its new operating system iOS7 for almost all its iPads and iPhones. What are the main innovations and improvements?
PERSONAL WEBSITE - POLLS - 15.10.2013
Your visitors’ opinions matter
It’s important that you should know how your customers feel about your products or services. There are lots of cloud services which claim they can help you. We put a newcomer to the test: Opinion Stage.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE STORAGE - 15.10.2013
Doing more with Dropbox
Do you use Dropbox to save your files online and synchronise them between different devices? We’ve tested a number of tools which let you extend the possibilities of this service.
SOFTWARE - COMPUTER MANAGEMENT - 15.10.2013
Tuning up your system
Even operating systems need an overhaul once in a while. Windows offers various kinds of tools for this purpose, but for an easy and fast solution, it’s best to use a suite of dedicated tune-up tools. Here are three free “system suites”.
INTERNET CONNECTION - MISCELLANEOUS - 15.10.2013
Access to “country-specific” web services
A number of “interesting” websites and web services operate only in one specific country. How can you have access to these “restricted” websites in another area?
SOFTWARE - MISCELLANEOUS - 15.10.2013
Adobe Photoshop and the rest: affordable?
Adobe Photoshop remains top of the bill for image editing, plus Acrobat and Illustrator are headliners in their respective domains. What are the options if you wish to buy or “rent” Adobe programs?
SECURITY - MISCELLANEOUS - 15.10.2013
Your webcam as watchdog
Webcams are not only useful for skyping or videoconferencing, they can also come in handy for surveillance purposes, especially if you combine your webcam with a dedicated tool. We put the Russian Ivideon to the test.
BUSINESS - MISCELLANEOUS - 15.10.2013
Office renovation or relocation?
If an organisation needs more office space, it can be achieved by renovation or relocation. What advice is out there?
ESTATE PLANNING - 15.10.2013
Where there’s a will... there should be a review
A director should have a will that clearly sets out what will happen to their personal property and other assets following their death. But how often should this all-important document be reviewed?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 15.10.2013
Home help - getting your company to pay
Paying a nanny or any other home help will come out of your net salary, making it very costly. A colleague has suggested that putting the expense through your company will save a stack of cash. Is he right?
CONTRACTS - 15.10.2013
Contractual indemnity: limiting your risks
The company is chasing a new contract and has been asked to provide the other side with an indemnity. What is this exactly and can the directors do anything to try to limit the company’s exposure?
E-COMMERCE - 15.10.2013
Direct e-mail marketing rules
The directors are thinking about conducting a new direct e-mail marketing campaign. However, you’ve heard that they are subject to strict legal rules. How can you stay on the right side of the law?
NATIONAL INSURANCE - 15.10.2013
NI refunds for young companies are still available
For the last two years the government has offered new companies a National Insurance holiday. The offer closed last month, but HMRC says that if you missed the boat there’s still time to get on board. What’s the full story?
SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS - 14.10.2013
Employer liable for care worker’s slip on icy path
A recent case highlights the need for employers to think laterally when sending staff out during freezing conditions. With winter just around the corner, what extra measures can you take to avoid injuries?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 14.10.2013
Work at height on an excavator
You’ve heard that it’s now a statutory requirement to have edge protection around the top of an excavator engine/counterweight. Is this really the case and, if so, what’s the best way of complying with your legal duties?
POLICIES AND RECORDS - DOCUMENT CONTROL - 14.10.2013
Document control
It’s highly likely that you’ll have a number of safety documents in your files. But do you know which ones should be used, reviewed or even scrapped? If not, you should use our new register to help you keep on top of the situation.
ASBESTOS - 14.10.2013
Seeking clarification on asbestos work
It’s easy to be confused about which categories of work with asbestos require a licence and which work needs notifying to the HSE. What’s your best source of guidance?
FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE - 14.10.2013
Strike out at the FRS
All is not well at the fire & rescue service (FRS). Significant restructuring and cuts are causing major problems. How might this affect you?
COMPRESSED AIR - 14.10.2013
Compressed air risks
Although pneumatic tools have many practical advantages, as a recent case shows, using compressed air isn’t without risks. What should you make your staff aware of to manage the situation?
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS - 09.10.2013
Settlement agreements: time off for legal advice
In order for a settlement agreement to be “legally valid”, the employee must receive advice from a “relevant independent advisor” on its terms and effect before signing the document. Must you grant them paid time off for this purpose?
TRIBUNAL PROCEDURE - 09.10.2013
Eagled-eyed employer fends off tribunal claim
An eagle-eyed employer has seen off a tribunal claim for unfair dismissal because it spotted a fundamental problem with the former employee’s paperwork early on. What can we learn from this case?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 09.10.2013
Sickness absence: it’s too embarrassing to say
When an employee returns to work following an episode of sickness absence, you should meet with them to discuss their recent non-attendance. But what if they refuse to talk about it because it’s too embarrassing?
RESIGNATIONS - 09.10.2013
Dealing with suspected poaching
An employee has just handed you their resignation and you have a sneaky suspicion they’ve been poached by one of your competitors. If you’re right, you need to act quickly in order to protect your business - but where do you start?
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS - 09.10.2013
Who chooses the companion?
Let’s suppose that an employee has elected to bring a workplace companion with them into a disciplinary hearing. Can you object if you think their choice is unreasonable? What’s the latest ruling on this issue?
CONTRACTS - 09.10.2013
Time up for zero-hours contracts?
It’s been reported that zero-hours contracts, which are proven to offer employers numerous benefits, may be banned. Will this really happen?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 09.10.2013
Dealing with employees flying off the handle
Let’s suppose that you have an employee who can only be described as hot-headed - no matter how you raise problems with them, they invariably lose their temper. What’s the best way to deal with this type of situation?
EU TRADE - PLACE OF SUPPLY - 04.10.2013
New rules from January 2015
The VATman is changing the rules for supplying services to the EU. He might even be making things easier. Is this really the case?
EXPORTS - 04.10.2013
Selling used cars to the EU
Selling second-hand cars to other EU member states can be complicated, as there are special rules that need to be followed. You’ve heard that the treatment for qualifying cars requires extra care. What do you need to know?
INPUT VAT - EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS - 04.10.2013
Free schools and academies - the VAT position
The new free schools and academies are outside the normal state system and have special rules relating to their VAT affairs. What are they and how do they recover the VAT they are charged?
TRADE PROMOTION SCHEMES - 04.10.2013
Promoting trade - what’s the VAT position?
Like many businesses you’re considering ways to increase turnover. There are many different trade promotion and loyalty schemes with various VAT consequences. What are they and how do you get the best VAT treatment?
VAT RETURNS - 04.10.2013
Getting the VATman to talk to your accountant
If you want your accountant to deal directly with the VATman, you have to give him specific authorisation. But this can sometimes cause confusion. What can you do to avoid problems?
