Business Update June 2006
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Key links
Company identity theft
Company identity fraud takes place when criminals misuse a legitimate firm's identity to obtain goods or services fraudulently. Not only can this leave you to foot the bill, but your credit rating ...Financial forecasts
Of all the financial information you need to help you keep your business healthy, cashflow, sales and costs forecasts are the most important. The more frequently you do them, the better your chance ...Q&A: Objections to a sale
Guy Aston, SME training director at Huthwaite International, talks to Georgina Harris about limiting the chances of being faced with sales objections. Why do customers make objections? GA: ...Insurance claims
Should your business suffer damage or a loss, you need to begin by deciding whether you should make a claim on your insurance. It might mean you have to pay excess on your policy, which is why, for ...Customer profiles
Understanding your customers is the secret of successful selling. Existing customers are important sources of information. The more you know about them, the easier it can be to increase their ...10 ways to... Improve the image of your business
Although you may not realise it, many people will judge your business on its looks. A scruffy or out-of-date image is likely to make people think the same about your products or services. Simple ...New age discrimination guide for employers available free
A new Acas guide called Age and the workplace is available free to employers online. From 1 October 2006 age discrimination will be illegal in all businesses, and the new guide offers ways to ...Businesses advised to obtain applicants' CVs
Businesses that are recruiting staff should always ask for applicants' CVs unless they want to expose themselves to extra risk if legal action is subsequently taken against them.
According to a ...Online calculators for paternity and adoption pay
Employers who need to calculate statutory paternity pay (SPP) or adoption pay (SAP) can find help on the HM Revenue &Customs (HMRC) website.
HMRC has made available three online calculators ...Case law: why records of pre-contract negotiations can be important
Businesses are advised to keep records of early or informal discussions about contracts, because these records have been found to help resolve disputes in court. And record-keeping is recommended ...Your chance to comment: worker involvement in health and safety
The Health &Safety Executive (HSE) is asking businesses for feedback on how it can improve both the quantity and the quality of workers' participation in managing health and safety at ...Case law: keep shareholder decisions formal
Limited companies are advised to make sure that shareholders make important decisions in a formal meeting or all sign a 'resolution in writing', or they run the risk of decisions made informally ...Case law: why length of service may not mean difference in pay
A recent case highlights yet again the pressure that employers are under to remove inequality of pay and conditions between men and women, or justify any difference they make.
The case currently ...Case law: employers need handling policies for discrimination claims
Employers need to have policies and procedures in place to deal with allegations of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, not just in relation to claims for dismissal but also for the ...Use of hazardous substances restricted
Businesses are reminded that the Restriction on the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Regulations will be in force from 1 July.
Under the Regulations, which implement the 2002 EC Directive, ...Is this your problem?
One of my staff has accused another employee of sexual harassment... Not only does sexual harassment make the victim's life a misery, it can land your business in very hot water unless you act ...How I made an insurance claim
THE SOLUTION: "I became a Pirtek franchisee in November 2005. As part of the franchise agreement, I took out contents insurance and business interruption cover straight away. It's just as well ...