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One year on, and everything has changed. Employees no longer attend their traditional workplace because they are furloughed, remote working or redundant. And for those still attending, it often looks and feels different. Lance Hobbs from HR Dept Ealing assesses some of the changes with an optimistic nod to the future.
“Furlough and redundancy have taken work away from millions of people. The expectation is, when we come out the other side, jobs will return. Remote working has been an eye-opener: the crash-course in technology as home workstations were set up and people navigated the etiquette of VCs.
“This has broken down barriers to flexible working. Some may switch to a remote working model. There will be cost savings but with many issues to consider from H&S to company culture, data security and more. Businesses which manage flexible working are destined to thrive.
“With the gender pay gap already persistent, women fared badly at the start of the pandemic. A study by the IFS (mid-2020) found that working mothers were 14% more likely to be furloughed than fathers, and 47% more likely to have lost their job.
“However, a flexible working approach may make the workplace more accessible for mothers. Building this into your hiring processes will reap dividends through widening your talent pool.
“Not everyone has been banished from their workplace. NHS staff have been doing a wonderful job. The nation has also found new appreciation of many professions and trades, keyworkers, who keep the country going.
For enquiries on any aspects of the effects of the pandemic on employers
contact Chamber member Lance Hobbs from The HR Dept, at
Lance.hobbs@hrdept.co.uk
Redundancy Pay – Did you know the Government will pay if the company you work for goes out of business?
The number of redundancies has spiked sharply due to Covid-19. Redundant employees have some statutory rights, including getting redundancy pay. Normally the employer pays this. But what happens when a company goes out of business? The answer, which many are not aware of, is that the Insolvency Service (a Government agency), will fund the redundancy payment.
What can employees apply for when made redundant?
Employees made redundant due to the insolvency of the company they work for can apply for: • Statutory redundancy pay, providing the employee has worked for their employer. for at least 2 years. The claim must be made within 6 months.
• Outstanding holiday pay. • Unpaid wages, overtime, and commission. • Statutory notice pay if the employee has worked for the employer for at least one year.
What about Company Directors?
Directors are entitled to the same redundancy payments when a business becomes insolvent as employees. The criteria are:
• Does the director have a contract of employment? • Has the director worked for at least 16 hours per week?
Serving Our Superheroes
In April we celebrated one year of Serving Our Superheroes.
It was on 13th April 2020 that, I started the project Serving Our Superheroes.
We started off with laundry bags for front line care staff to (hospitals, hospice, paramedics, and care homes) to prevent the spread of the infection via uniforms. At the time we were also trying to source medical grade PPE for hospitals, where there was a shortage. We raised a small amount of money for our local hospitals trust. We had lots of support from the local community sewing bags and we provided 2,400 laundry bags to frontline staff. When these were no longer required, we then moved onto fabric bags for foodbanks with the aim to reduce the use of plastic bags. We provided fabric face masks and have provided over 14,000 face masks that have been given out to the community for free. We were also asked to make toiletry bags for the NHS, which we did. We filled the small bags with essential hygiene items (toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel / soap, body lotion, shaving kits etc). We then started providing these to the homeless, along with walking boots, sleeping bags, blankets, clothes etc.
We also started to provide baby items and kids clothes to those in need and have provided toys and games consoles to hospices, hospitals, and baby banks. During • Has the company been incorporated for over two years? • Was the director genuinely carrying out a practical role for the company?
It is our job to save businesses – and jobs.
It is the job of insolvency practitioners and restructuring specialists such as Antony Batty & Company to save businesses (and jobs) as well as implement insolvency procedures. As the most recent R3 survey shows, where insolvency practitioners were involved, 40% of insolvent businesses were saved.
https://www.antonybatty. com/insolvency-practitionersachieve-positive-outcomes/
Part of the service Antony Batty & Company offer to businesses in financial difficulties is to talk to their employees on the directors’ behalf – removing the emotional tie directors may feel to them – to give them practical help and guidance.
the second wave, we started providing treat bags to NHS staff and other key workers. We have recently started collaborating with two other charities to provide new clothes to the homeless and we are hoping to start providing uniforms to schools, for parents who have lost their jobs and can no longer afford them. On 22nd September 2020 we became a registered charity. To date we have donated 39,809 items to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Serving Our Superheroes has received an International Stevie Award, The Hounslow & West London Chamber of Commerce Business Award for Best Charity and has been shortlisted for the Thames Valley Business and Community Award out of over 1,000 nominees (we are awaiting the results – due end of April). We have a just giving page -
https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/sarah-gardner-2
Follow us on Facebook to find out more; https://
www.facebook.com/ servingoursuperheroes.
Tighter emissions standards for heavy vehicles
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a tightening of Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards for heavy vehicles across London.
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), buses and coaches must now meet Euro VI NOx (nitrogen oxides) and PM (particulate matter) emissions standards or pay a daily charge of up to £300. These new standards apply to heavy vehicles across most of Greater London and match the emissions standards of the central London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
The LEZ was established to encourage the most polluting heavy diesel vehicles driving in the capital to become cleaner. It covers most of Greater London and operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The tougher LEZ is already having an impact, with new data from City Hall showing that almost 90% of vehicles are complying with the new standards ahead of their introduction, compared to around 70% in May 2019.
The introduction of tougher standards for the LEZ, alongside the expansion of the ULEZ later this year, is expected to reduce NOx emissions from road transport by around 30% across London in 2021.
Sadiq Khan said: “Toxic air pollution causes long-lasting harm and is a national public health crisis. I’ve moved fast in London to implement the most ambitious plans to tackle air pollution of any major city in the world – showing what we can achieve if we are brave enough.”
The tighter LEZ restrictions have been welcomed by the London Assembly.
Caroline Russell AM, chair of the assembly’s environment committee, said: “As our city continues to battle through the pandemic, the mayor must look at how Londoners live and if our way of life is impacting our own health and the health of others. Measures like tightening the emissions restrictions for heavy vehicles is one of many steps that will be needed to bring down the levels of air pollution on our streets.”
I can imagine what comes to mind when you hear the word ‘tax’. When I started working in R&D tax credits, my perspective changed – a government legislation that gives instead of takes. I became passionate, passionate helping clients receive money back for all their hard work. Passionate to see the difference it makes for them, and passionate to have a front row seat to the exciting innovations happening in the UK. The Latin root of ‘innovation’ comes from the word ‘novus’ – translated as new, fresh, and unprecedented, a word that embodies my intention to start a company where I can provide my unique touch to the service. A service that is focused solely on a client’s needs in a way that will create the most value for them.
Novus Tax’s mission, with a combined professional experience of more than ten years, is to raise awareness of schemes that over 90% of eligible SMEs are missing out on and build lasting relationships to support companies in their R&D journeys.
I already claim R&D tax credits, why should I bother with a free assessment?
We’ve had clients in the past who have made claims with their accountants. In one case, the accountant had failed to include a substantial qualifying expenditure in the claim, misclaiming a laboratory as a capital allowance expenditure when in fact it qualified for R&D tax credits. In another case, the client was informed that there was no claim to be made that year when they had failed to realise the private pension that was being paid into qualifies. It’s always good to double check.
If I already claim R&D tax credits, what would a free assessment entail?
With Novus Tax, and some other specialist R&D tax consulting companies, this entails a detailed technical assessment to identify whether in fact all eligible expenditure has been included in the past two claims. If there was anything missed, you are able to go back and make a new claim for these.
What are the pros/cons of having a free assessment?
Free assessments have no strings attached. Even if we are able to identify missed expenditure, you are under no obligation to make a claim for it with us. It’s a great way to find out if you’ve been making the most of the government incentive. The only thing you have to lose is the time it takes to have the meeting. Some clients are also wary about sharing their company’s details; we maintain utmost confidentiality practices with all our clients.
Please get in touch by info@novustax.co.uk or call Asif directly on 07557957102
