2022 -
August
WORKING AT HEIGHT - 31.08.2022
HSE alert on mast climbing platforms
The HSE has issued an urgent safety alert regarding the use of mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs). What’s the problem and what action should be taken?
INHERITANCE TAX - 31.08.2022
IHT-efficient business incorporations
You and your partners are transferring your business to a company. This has tax pros and cons. One major drawback is the loss of inheritance tax business property relief (BPR). How can you prevent this and retain the other benefits of transferring the business?
EXPENSES - 31.08.2022
Uncover extra tax relief on your travel expenses
Your firm’s policy is to pay the HMRC-approved mileage rates to staff who use their own vehicles for business journeys. However, HMRC’s definition of business mileage can mean that an additional tax deduction can be claimed. When might this apply?
HOLIDAYS - 31.08.2022
Can you force staff to take holiday during their notice?
If an employee asks to take holiday during their notice period, you can refuse their request. But what if you want them to take some or all of their unused annual leave entitlement during their notice period - is this possible?
BEHAVIOUR - 31.08.2022
Improve behaviour, cut accidents
There have been many improvements in legislative controls in the workplace, so why are accidents still occurring? Many of these are down to human behaviour and doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. How can you change this?
VAT - 31.08.2022
Reclaiming VAT on cars, personalised plates and clothing
The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) recently considered a firm’s VAT claim for the purchase of two cars, a personalised number plate and clothing. Its ruling neatly sums up the conditions that must be met for such claims to be successful. What was the outcome?
VICTIMISATION - 31.08.2022
£75,000 for no invite to after work drinks night
An employee who was excluded from her colleagues’ after works drinks plans has been awarded £75,000 by the tribunal. Why must the employer in this case pay up even though it didn’t arrange the night out?
HOMEWORKING - 31.08.2022
Can you monitor homeworkers?
According to a YouGov survey, 60% of workers say they are more productive when working from home. But only 33% of employers agreed. To what extent can you monitor homeworkers to assess their productivity levels?
STAFF MOTIVATION - 26.08.2022
Should you introduce “stay” interviews?
Apparently, employees who feel listened to by their employers are far more effective and this can be achieved by conducting “stay interviews”. Should you consider introducing these in your workplace?
HOLIDAY PAY - 26.08.2022
How to calculate holiday pay for part-year workers
A part-year worker is someone who’s employed on a permanent basis, but only works some of the year. The Supreme Court has now ruled how holiday pay must be calculated for these types of worker. What do you need to know?
EMPLOYMENT STATUS - 26.08.2022
What does “employment status” really mean?
The tribunal routinely deals with cases that involve arguments relating to an individual’s employment status. But what does this really mean and how is it determined?
GRIEVANCES - 26.08.2022
Grievances raised during disciplinary proceedings
An employee who is the subject of disciplinary proceedings has raised a grievance. Must you suspend the disciplinary proceedings until the employee’s grievance is concluded - which may take some time - or can you continue?
UNFAIR DISMISSAL - 26.08.2022
Unmuted mic error results in unfair dismissal
The tribunal has found that an employee who was sacked after he was overheard on Zoom making a potentially offensive comment to his wife was unfairly dismissed. Why did the employer not have solid grounds for dismissal?
AGE DISCRIMINATION - 26.08.2022
Age discrimination and ceasing PHI benefits
In a 2022 case, the employee’s permanent health insurance (PHI) was stopped when he reached 65. He argued this was an act of direct age discrimination, but the Employment Appeal Tribunal disagreed - why?
FIT NOTES - 26.08.2022
Fit notes: what can registered health professionals do?
Any healthcare professional who’s a registered nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist or physiotherapist can now issue a fit note. But are they able to sign employees off work for any reason and give advice outside their areas of expertise?
WORKING AT HEIGHT - 26.08.2022
Safety concerns over telescopic ladders
There are serious concerns that potentially dangerous telescopic ladders are being used in the workplace. What are the issues and how should you deal with them?
MACHINERY - 26.08.2022
Worker sustained double amputations
A company and its director have been fined after an employee sustained life-changing injuries when his arms became trapped in a cement mixer. How could this happen and what should have been in place?
NOISE - 26.08.2022
How do you cut office noise?
Now that office life is returning to normal are staff finding noise in an open plan working environment distracting? If so, follow our tips below to break down the noise and keep staff focused on the tasks at hand.
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - 26.08.2022
Can less ever be more with an HSMS?
There’s so much information on how to run a health and safety management system (HSMS) that it can become confusing. If you implement too many tools are you in danger of overloading and overcomplicating the safety of your organisation?
CONFINED SPACES - 26.08.2022
Infrequent confined entry risks
If you have an infrequent task coming up that involves working in a confined space, are you aware of the hazards? Have you adequately prepared for the task? Reassure yourself that you’re managing the risk by using our permit to work.
ENVIRONMENT - 26.08.2022
Cheese factory fined for poisoning fish
A factory in Davidstow, Cornwall polluted the local area for five years from 2016. Residents were left with a foul stench filling the air and dead fish in the rivers. What were the failures by the company?
DISCRIMINATION - 22.08.2022
Can you make individual pay awards without risking discrimination claims?
Although average wages have risen by 4.7% between April and June 2022, the real value of pay has fallen by 3% as it’s being outpaced by high inflation. This may result in employees submitting individual pay rise requests, additional to any business-wide salary review exercises. How should you respond?
CARS - 16.08.2022
Problems with HMRC’s car tool
HMRC’s website includes a tool to help employers determine if car-related expenses paid to employees are taxable. The trouble is the latest version includes incorrect advice. What’s the problem and how should you tackle it?
PENALTY INTEREST - 09.08.2022
Another rise in penalty interest rates looms
Yet another increase in the various rates of interest HMRC charges on unpaid taxes will kick in from 15 August. What is affected and what will the new rates be?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 08.08.2022
It’s getting hot in here!
With another heatwave heading our way this week and set to last longer than July’s, what does the law say about maximum indoor workplace temperature, if anything?
TRUSTS - 08.08.2022
Trust registration penalties eased
Non-taxable trusts need to be registered with HMRC’s Trust Registration Service by 1 September. What happens if you miss this deadline?
RETURNS - 02.08.2022
Fixing a property return anomaly
Where a disposal of residential property results in a tax bill, it has to be reported to HMRC within 60 days on a property disposal return. However, some individuals missed this requirement and have been unable to do so retrospectively because a self-assessment return has been filed in the meantime. What should you do in this situation?