2019 -
January
PREMISES SAFETY - 28.01.2019
Misusing lifts can be fatal
The HSE has issued a reminder to control the keys used to access dangerous parts of lift shafts and which can override lift safety features. What kinds of problem can occur if keys are readily available to staff?
WORKPLACE TRANSPORT - 28.01.2019
How not to manage reversing HGVs
A manufacturing company has been prosecuted by the HSE in connection with a vehicle collision, even though no workers were injured. Why was the accident taken so seriously by the authorities?
MEDICATION - 28.01.2019
Medicine concerns
Taking some types of medication can prove to be highly dangerous in the workplace. How should you go about managing this issue to ensure that staff don’t put themselves or others at risk?
CONSTRUCTION - 28.01.2019
Dusting off inspectors’ findings
During October 2018 HSE inspectors completed a blitz of construction and refurbishment sites. What did they find?
ELECTRICITY - 28.01.2019
£1 million fine for electrician’s burns
A substantial fine has been handed to the Atomic Weapons Establishment after an electrician suffered burns to his arm. Where did managers go wrong and what should they have done to prevent it?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 28.01.2019
Do you need a work at height rescue plan?
One of our subscribers recently had to deal with the aftermath of a fall from height. What problems were encountered during the rescue and what improvements were implemented in order to comply with legal requirements?
EXCAVATIONS - 28.01.2019
Developer in jail after losing appeal case
A director who was blamed for the death of a worker on a construction site has lost his appeal against conviction for manslaughter. Why was he held responsible despite claiming to have no knowledge of poor practices on the site?
CRYPTOASSETS - 24.01.2019
How do you report profits from trading in cryptoassets?
In December 2018 HMRC published some much-anticipated guidance on the tax treatment of cryptoassets. What are the key points you need to understand, and how does the guidance lead to an unexpected trap for your clients?
ENTREPRENEURS’ RELIEF - 24.01.2019
Alphabet shares - ER problem solved?
Alphabet shares can be used to pay varying dividend rates to different shareholders. The updated test introduced in the 2018 Budget appeared to threaten entrepreneurs’ relief for these. What’s the latest?
REMITTANCE BASIS - 24.01.2019
Time running out to cleanse offshore mixed funds
One of your non-domiciled clients has been avoiding bringing money to the UK because they inadvertently created a mixed fund years ago. How could a time-limit opportunity help, and why might it be worth taking advantage even if making remittances is unlikely?
EMPLOYEE EXPENSES - 24.01.2019
Are clients making the most of mileage rates?
Your clients probably know that they can pay the HMRC approved mileage rates for employees. But how can they implement an eco-friendly policy whilst saving themselves and their employees money?
STAMP DUTY - 24.01.2019
How to beat a stamp duty trap on share exchanges
One of your clients is looking for investment and wants to put a new holding company in place via a share exchange to facilitate this. Will stamp duty apply and, if so, is there a more efficient structure?
E-MAIL - 24.01.2019
E-mail inboxes: zero to infinity problems
Some wellbeing experts are suggesting that time-poor employees should practice “inbox infinity” instead of aiming to have zero work e-mails. Apparently, this has health benefits. It’s a nice idea, but what’s the problem for you?
PAY - 24.01.2019
Employees “fined” £100 for not doing work on time
According to reports, KMPG intends to “fine” its employees £100 if they submit important paperwork late. Can you automatically deduct money from your employees if they don’t complete their work on time?
TRIBUNAL PROCEDURE - 24.01.2019
The online register of tribunal judgments
In a 2019 case the Employment Appeal Tribunal refused to order the removal of an earlier ruling made by the tribunal from the public register of judgments. Can a tribunal ruling ever be removed from the register?
RECRUITMENT - 24.01.2019
A written statement on day one
The government is extending the right to receive a written statement of employment particulars to all workers from day one of employment. When will this come into force and how can you prepare for it?
AGE DISCRIMINATION - 24.01.2019
Are “junior” and “senior” roles unlawful?
A colleague insists that it is unlawful to prefix an employee’s job title with “junior” or “senior”, e.g. junior admin officer or senior manager, and these words must never be stated in your job ads. Is this true?
ALCOHOL ABUSE - 24.01.2019
Alcohol-related performance problems
An employee’s work is suffering and there’s strong evidence which suggests they’ve developed a drink-related problem. Can you insist that they seek professional help for it and, if they refuse, can you take disciplinary action?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 24.01.2019
Dismissal for “urinating in the yard” was unfair
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has agreed that a male employee who was sacked because he urinated in a loading yard was unfairly dismissed by his employer. Why did the employer lose this case?
CARS - 22.01.2019
New tax regime for company cars?
To start the new year the government has launched a review of vehicle taxes linked to CO2 emissions. Rumours are that official emissions levels will rise. How might this affect your choice of company car?
VAT - 22.01.2019
VAT efficient start-ups
You’ve set up a company to run a new business venture. It’s risky and may come to nothing. In the meantime the company is incurring significant costs. Can you recover the VAT, and if so when?
MAKING TAX DIGITAL - 22.01.2019
Have you created your business tax account?
Some aspects of Making Tax Digital are on a go slow while others are being ramped up by HMRC. For example, if you don’t have one you’ll need to set up a digital business tax account (BTA). Why, and how do you do it?
ENQUIRIES - 22.01.2019
What information is HMRC entitled to?
Out of the blue you’ve received a request from HMRC for more information about your accounts. As the time limit for an enquiry has passed, is HMRC entitled to it or can you refuse?
PARTNERSHIPS - 22.01.2019
When is a business a partnership?
In a recent case the First-tier Tribunal ruled on whether a partnership existed for tax purposes. How might this help you argue your case where HMRC disputes the existence of a partnership?
PAYROLL - PENSIONS - 22.01.2019
Another change to workplace pensions
Pensions auto-enrolment was phased in slowly, but now every employer must join their eligible staff in a workplace pension unless they opt out. But there’s one last important change before the task is complete. What is it?
PROFIT EXTRACTION - 22.01.2019
When’s the right time to write off a deficit loan account?
As a director and major shareholder you use your company credit card to pay for personal expenses from time to time. You can clear the debt by repaying it or get the company to write it off. Does it matter how and when you do this?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 17.01.2019
Make the most of a green campaign
If there’s a strong case for making green improvements in your business that require you to make some sweeping changes, how should you go about implementing an appropriate campaign?
ENFORCEMENT - 17.01.2019
What’s happened to the Environment Agency?
The Environment Agency (EA) drastically reduced the number of enforcement actions it pursued in 2018. Does this mean more companies are being let off the hook?
RESOURCES - 17.01.2019
Time to bin physical receipts?
11.2 billion paper receipts are issued in the UK every year. Are there significant environmental, financial and even health benefits in favour of going for an electronic option instead?
WASTE - 17.01.2019
New waste strategy announced
New government plans will force businesses to pay for the cost of packaging waste and make it easier for consumers to recycle. What’s in store?
WATER POLLUTION RISKS CHECKLIST - 17.01.2019
Take action to prevent pollution
As a business you have a responsibility to prevent the pollution of watercourses and ground water, but what does this entail? Use our checklist to find the gaps in your current arrangements.
BREXIT - 17.01.2019
What’s in store for the environment post-Brexit?
The draft Environment Bill establishes how the government will be held accountable on environmental issues once the UK leaves the European Union. What does it say and how will things change in the near future?
CLINICAL WASTE - 17.01.2019
Waste firm collapsed
Clincial waste company Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) has gone into administration. What caused this and what impact might this have on your ability to deal with clinical waste?
BUSINESS - PARCEL SERVICES - 17.01.2019
Using parcel post services efficiently
There are lots of options to send parcels these days. We’ve looked at the ways and means of getting your packages to the right place at the right price.
WEB SERVICES - MISCELLANEOUS - 17.01.2019
Make your own business cards
Business cards play an important role in the business world and in the development of your professional network. You can design them online and then have them printed and delivered. Which websites can help you?
TELEPHONY - SMARTPHONES - 17.01.2019
What to pay attention to when buying a smartphone
Are you looking for a new smartphone? There is such a wide range of devices that it is very difficult to choose. What minimum requirements should a good smartphone meet?
SOFTWARE - BROWSER - 17.01.2019
Firefox: still a good alternative for Chrome?
Firefox may have been pushed into the background somewhat by the success of Chrome, but it remains an excellent browser. Here are the features that make it special, plus some practical tips.
SECURITY - ENCRYPTION - 17.01.2019
Extra security with HTTPS?
In their address bar, browsers like Chrome and Firefox clearly show whether or not a website you visit is safe. “Safe” means that the site uses HTTPS. What does this mean?
SOFTWARE - MISCELLANEOUS - 17.01.2019
Free Microsoft software
Microsoft itself offers a lot of free software, but it is scattered all over the Internet. Here are some lesser known but very useful tools.
SOFTWARE & WEB SERVICES - PRINTING - 17.01.2019
Sustainable printing in five steps
When printing a document, an e-mail message or a webpage, you may do so without thinking. However, before launching the print job, you should ask yourself the following questions…
BUSINESS - WEB SERVICES - 17.01.2019
All your to dos in a single app
Like so many people, you will probably have started the new year with lots of good intentions. Here’s a handy suggestion: install a good to do app to ensure that you no longer miss any tasks, appointments or deadlines.
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 17.01.2019
Back up your webmail
It can be useful to make a local backup of your webmail, for example, if your account is hacked or if you want to switch to another webmail service. What is the best way to do this?
SOFTWARE & WEB SERVICES - TRANSLATION - 17.01.2019
Do you speak German?
Suppose you come across text in a foreign language or you’re on a (business) trip, or someone addresses you in a foreign language... If you do not know the language, a translation aid can help.
PERSONAL WEBSITE - promotion - 17.01.2019
Recycle your web texts
A good website should have its content updated regularly. However, this does not mean that you have to create new content all the time: you can easily breathe new life into older texts. Here are some recycling tips.
TAX - 17.01.2019
Last chance to change your tax code
The end of the tax year is in sight and with it the opportunity to obtain additional tax relief for 2018/19 through your PAYE code. Why should you make a special effort to review your tax code now and what steps can you take to change it?
COMPANY LAW - 17.01.2019
“Hands up”, it’s a company hijacking!
Government statistics for 2018 show that 43% of UK businesses identified some sort of cyber breach or attack in the previous twelve months. How can you spot the scams and protect your company?
TAX - EXPENSES - 17.01.2019
Tax relief cuts accountant’s costs
You’ve received a bill from your accountant for preparing your company’s annual accounts and tax return. The fees also cover work on tax matters for you and your fellow directors. How much of the bill is tax deductible?
TAX - EXPENSES - 17.01.2019
New travel expense rules for employers
HMRC recently confirmed changes to the rules for travel and subsistence payments made by employers. What are they and when will they apply?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 17.01.2019
Is annual appliance testing a legal requirement?
A colleague says that all office electrical equipment must be portable appliance tested (PAT) by a qualified electrician every year. Is this true and what’s the legal situation if employees bring their own electrical devices to work?
BENEFITS - 15.01.2019
Implied term restricted dismissal of sick employee
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that an employer acted in breach of an implied term when it dismissed, on incapacity grounds, an employee who was in receipt of long-term disability benefits. What are the implications of this ruling?
TRIBUNALS - 15.01.2019
Defending an employment tribunal claim
As statistics show that employment tribunal claims have increased by around 150% since fees were abolished in July 2017, it’s probably only a matter of time before a tribunal claim form lands on your desk. What are our top tips for defending claims?
REMOTE WORKING - 15.01.2019
What to consider before allowing remote working
Remote working provides employees with a better work-life balance and saves on travel time/costs. It also has benefits for you, such as fewer overheads and more motivated employees. What issues should you address before permitting remote working?
PAY - 15.01.2019
What are the benefits of a salary sacrifice arrangement?
A salary sacrifice arrangement essentially involves an employee giving up the right to receive part of their salary in exchange for a non-cash benefit. Why are these arrangements used and are they still worth considering following recent changes?
EMPLOYMENT LAW REFORM - 15.01.2019
Good Work Plan for workplace reforms
The government has published its Good Work Plan containing what it says is the biggest package of workplace reforms for over 20 years. What’s in it?
REDUNDANCY - 15.01.2019
How to ensure a fair redundancy
As part of your Brexit planning you need to implement a redundancy programme. What do you need to do to stay on the right side of the law by following a fair redundancy procedure?
HOLIDAYS - 15.01.2019
What happens to accrued holiday on death?
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has considered whether employers are legally obliged to make a payment in lieu where a worker dies whilst having accrued but not taken holiday. What did it decide?
EMPLOYMENT STATUS - 15.01.2019
The difference between “employee” and “worker”
You might refer to your staff as either “employees” or “workers”. This is perfectly acceptable but when it comes to employment law, there’s a major difference between the two. Why is the distinction so important?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 15.01.2019
How to deal with the “job ghosting” trend
Apparently, there has been a sharp rise in job ghosting. This is where an employee disappears without any notice or contact. If it looks like you’ve been ghosted by one of your employees, how should you handle it?
MATERNITY - 15.01.2019
New hire has announced she’s having twins!
A new employee has just informed you that she’s pregnant - with twins. As she’s a short-serving employee, can you dismiss her? If not, how does a multiple birth affect her statutory maternity leave and pay?
CONTRACTS - 15.01.2019
The future of zero-hours contracts
In December 2018 the government announced its final decision on the future of zero-hours contracts. Although it’s been under pressure to ban them entirely, it’s opted to do something different. What’s happening?
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS - 15.01.2019
Unfairly dismissed due to breach of confidentiality
A serious misconduct allegation has been made against an employee and there’s definitely a witness. The trouble is, you don’t know who it is. Can you call all of your staff together and ask them what they know?
RIGHT TO WORK - 15.01.2019
Easier right to work checks
From 28 January 2019 it will be much easier to check right to work status in certain situations by using the Home Office’s Right to Work Checking Service. When can it be used?
CONTRACTOR SELECTION - 14.01.2019
Basic accreditation is not enough for some
Although the HSE thought it had simplified the basic checks part of the contractor selection process in 2015, this accreditation is not enough for some companies. What’s going on and should you consider asking for more?
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES - 14.01.2019
Regulating chemicals if there’s a no-deal Brexit
Guidance has been published detailing how those producing, registering, importing or exporting chemicals could be affected if the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 with no deal. What’s involved?
SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK - CAR PARK TRAFFIC MARSHALLING - 14.01.2019
Working in car parks safely
If you’re responsible for staff who direct traffic in a car park, steps need to be taken to ensure their safety. Use our document to brief employees on your expectations for safe working.
SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK - 14.01.2019
Unnecessary safe system document
Reports of “safety gone mad” have been thin on the ground lately, but one has recently popped up. What’s the latest?
WORKPLACE TRANSPORT - 14.01.2019
Fork lift truck operators in the frame
In November 2018 the HSE prosecuted a number of companies for failing to manage the safety of fork lift truck (FLT) manoeuvres. What kind of mistakes were made?
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH - 14.01.2019
Managing chronic fatigue syndrome
An employee has informed you that they have myalgic encephalomyelitis. You’re concerned about the possible health and safety implications. What steps should you take to manage the situation?
MAINTENANCE - 14.01.2019
Service failures can impact safety
A facilities management company has been prosecuted after standby generators failed during a power cut, resulting in high containment facilities being left without power for several hours. What happened?
PENSIONS - 14.01.2019
Complying with your pensions duties?
The Pensions Regulator has now turned its attention to auditing employers to check compliance with their auto-enrolment duties. What do you need to know to ensure you don’t fall foul?
PAYE COMPLIANCE - 14.01.2019
RTI penalties
Twice in 2018 a judge in the tax tribunal quashed the issue of RTI penalties levied by HMRC. It’s clearly a contentious area so what are the rules you need to get to grips with to avoid a penalty?
HMRC - 14.01.2019
HMRC’s view of payroll in 2019
The bi-monthly HMRC Employer Bulletin was last published just before Christmas 2018. What can you learn from it?
MINIMUM WAGE - 14.01.2019
Proposals to ease minimum wage confusion
Just before Christmas 2018 there was a surprise publication from the government proposing to change the national minimum wage regulations (NMW) in several areas. What are the issues and the proposals?
FEES & SUBSCRIPTIONS - 14.01.2019
Tax-free fees?
Lots of employers have been discussing the EU settlement scheme post-Brexit and what to do about the fees for EU nationals. So what are the rules on fees and subscriptions being paid?
PLASTIC BAGS - 08.01.2019
Money for nothing?
The autumn Budget didn’t include a rise in the carrier bag charge but the legislation could soon be extended to small businesses. What could you save by not hanging around for new laws?
