Federation of Small Businesses - FSB Weekly Brief 27

In this week’s issue: health and safety, flip-flops, water leakage, form filling, HMRC, licensing, World Cup.

1. FSB highlights burden of health and safety laws
Mary Boughton, FSB Health and Safety Chairman, explained the burden of health and safety legislation to the Financial Times on Thursday: “the massive burden of workplace health and safety legislation seems to [small businesses] to be inappropriate and over the top. She went on to say that health and safety record-keeping was “very onerous if you only have a few employees and also unnecessary because you work directly with them.” The comments triggered a debate in other sections of the media about how small businesses should comply with health and safety laws.

2. Hot weather, flip-flops and company dress codes
Flip-flops (yes, you read correctly) have been the subject of fevered inquiries to the FSB this week. The issue is weather it’s acceptable to wear flip-flops to work, particularly when the weather is scorching, as it has been in many areas recently. The FSB took the view that flip-flops were usually not appropriate in working environments, particularly when dealing with customers or if there are health and safety issues (see above). Furthermore, employers have a right to insist on appropriate clothing at work. The Daily Star, the Daily Express and the Daily Mail covered the FSB’s views on fashionable footwear this week.

3. Water company escapes fine despite shocking leakage record
Thames Water escaped a fine this week for missing their target for reducing leaks for the third year in a row. But it wasn’t all bad news. Ofwat, the water regulator, made the water-wasting fat cats agree to an additional £150m of shareholders’ money to speed up pipe replacement, which would mean money going into stopping leaks rather than fines going into dear Gordon’s kitty. The FSB welcomed this news, but called for Thames Water’s shameless drought order application to be denied until their leakage record improves. If the company does get its drought order, small businesses in the capital that rely on water could be severely affected. The Independent carried the FSB’s views this week.

4. The FSB’s favourite form-filling stat makes national news
The Financial Times last Saturday picked up on a comment made by the FSB’s Mary Boughton (her star is rising it seems and very good luck to her!) about how long small business owners have to spend filling out forms each month. The form-filling figure of despair is a mighty 28 hours per month. Phew! Come on Tony et al, pull your fingers out!

5. Mixed reviews for the new merged tax authority
You may remember that in April last year, the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise were merged amid much fanfare and promises of a better service for small businesses. A little over a year later and the jury is still out on how much progress the new HM Revenue & Customs has made in improving the taxpaying aspect of small business owners’ lives. Matthew Knowles, FSB spokesman, told The Times this week: “It is a bit unfair to expect HMRC to change dramatically in 12 months. Having said that, it needs to improve its business consultation processes quickly. There does appear to be a distinct lack of understanding of how businesses work among HMRC officials.”

6. How was it for you (the new licensing regime that is)?
Calling all licensees and others with licensed premises: the Licensing Fees Review Panel has requested a meeting with Francesca Woodhouse, the FSB’s policy development officer for trade and industry, on 24 July to give an update about the effects of the Licensing Act (2003) one year on. Members with licensed premises will remember the huge increase in cost and bureaucracy and we are seeking views to take to the panel about the situation on the ground now. Francesca needs your views by 18 July please. She can be contacted on francesca.woodhouse@fsb.org.uk - all assistance greatly appreciated!

7. Again, how was it for you (the World Cup this time)?
With the World Cup drawing to a close this weekend, we'd like to find out whether it was good, bad or indifferent for small businesses. Were sales through the roof because of the tournament, did everyone stay away because they were too busy watching the matches, or perhaps you didn't even notice it was on? Whatever your experience was we'd like you to take 2 seconds (no exaggeration here, it really is mind-bendingly brief) to fill in our quick poll at http://www.fsb.org.uk/polls/ so that we can then let the media know how it was for you. It’s totally anonymous, no names, hush hush, mum’s the word etc, but we’ll let you know the results when we have them.