Law Donut blog

As I was browsing for a new console this week, the shop assistant came up to me and asked if I was planning to make my purchase “eco-conscious”. 

 “I just want to play games on it!” was my response. As a consumer, am I all that bothered about the carbon footprint of my PS3? I’m far too busy deciding whether to buy FIFA 10 or PES. (Think I’m going with the latter). 

But it got me thinking about how small businesses manage the current drive to be ‘green’. With daily to-do-lists stretching longer than your average motorway tailback, do owner-managers really have time to commit to the environment, especially when customers need serving and cashflow looking after?  

I’m not against going green – who could be, really. Many companies see an upside from being environmentally friendly, and we all benefit from a spot of simple recycling. Increasing environmental regulation, however, adds yet more pressure to small firms who are already overrun with red tape.  

Is there a better way to help small businesses achieve environmental harmony without burdening them with yet more legislation?  

The Law Donut has some excellent (and simple) advice on how your business can meet environmental obligations.

Recently, an accident on a construction site in which a worker died has resulted in an £80,000 fine for the company involved, who admitted two breaches of the Health & Safety Act. The worker who died had been hit on the head while operating a digger he’d not been trained to use. 

While this is an extreme case, all businesses should be aware of their health and safety responsibilities both towards their employees and anyone working in, around or visiting their premises. 

A thorough risk assessment, including a fire risk assessment, is the most effective way of improving your firm’s health and safety. If you employ five or more people, you must have a written policy in place, of which all employees are aware, and you must display the poster ‘Health and safety law: what you should know’, available from HSE books, or distribute the leaflet. 

Find a guide to health and safety on the Law Donut as well as plenty of other useful health and safety information, including how to carry out a risk assessment and 27 health and safety FAQs.

The Health & Safety Executive website also has guidance and resources for small businesses.

One topic has dominated conversation in homes, workplaces and pubs recently – the snow.

It’s continued to fall and, while it’s beautiful to look at, it’s equally as disruptive.

Commuters on the roads and rails have suffered as accidents, closures and delays become a common occurrence. The biggest headache, though, is for small-business owners who have been left short-staffed by employees who have not been able to make it in to work.  

With the arctic conditions set to continue, it may be prudent for firms without any existing procedures to consider introducing contingency plans in the event of more extreme weather.  

After the blizzard that hit the UK last February, many employers did introduce plans, embracing technology to enable employees to work flexibly, from home, and on the move.

These firms will have reaped the benefit of their policies over the last few weeks. 

If you do allow your employees to work from home in extreme weather, or you are thinking about it, you must be aware of your responsibilities for the health and safety of the home working environment. The Law Donut also has a great collection of FAQs on home working which should answer any additional questions you may have. 

Right, that’s enough from me. I’m off to build a snowman.

Talking to my dad, who isn’t many years from retirement age, the other day, I was surprised to hear him say that he expects to work past 65.

Then my mum walked in smiling with brochures for a cruise and it all began to make sense!

In all seriousness, recent research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) reveals 71 per cent of workers aged 55 and above have had to postpone their retirement plans. Up from 40 per cent two years ago, the figures come as no real shock thanks to the current economic environment.

Nearly three-quarters of over 55s admitted that money worries had forced them to keep working, with pension pots, savings and investments affected by the recession.

With more employees aiming to stay working for longer, employers must be aware they need to stick to age discrimination legislation, which makes it unlawful to treat people differently on grounds of age.

On a personal level, my dad is concerned that the default retirement age, which allows employers to force people to retire at 65, may mean the option to retire is taken out of his hands, even if he remains fit and healthy. I think that’s a shame, and I tend to agree with Age Concern’s head of public policy, Andrew Harrop who argues; “Employers need to start seeing beyond job applicants’ age and look at the skills‚ experience and commitment older workers have to offer.”

But for my family, it remains a problem a few years ahead. For now my dad really needs to work on his sea sickness.

Visit the Law Donut for more advice on age discrimination.