Edition 67

The Star Ball: When You Wish Upon A Star

Calling All Teams: Its A Knockout Charity Fund Raising Event

Win Your Accounts For Free For One Year

News

New Business Regulations Imminent

A draft of new regulations are due to come on stream on 6 April, businesses are being advised.

The government established 6 April, along with 1 October, as one of two common commencement days each year. These are the dates when government departments introduce any new business regulations.

Among the new rules due to come into force on 6 April are a number of measures affecting employment.

Maternity leave rights will be extended to include benefits packages. Any female employees who give birth after 5 October will be able to keep employment benefits such as company cars for the whole of the period of maternity leave.

There are changes, too, to the sexual harassment rules. As from 6 April, employers will have a duty to protect staff from sexual harassment by customers and suppliers. Employees will be able to claim compensation from employers who fail to take reasonable steps to protect them from harassment by a customer or supplier if their bosses were already aware of at least two previous incidents. Employees can still make a claim if the harassment is carried out by three separate customers or third parties and not just the same person.

The rules on informing and consulting employees will now include firms with between 50 and 99 workers. Although there is no mandatory obligation to have an information and consultation policy in place, should 15 or more staff ask for a council to be set up to keep staff informed of decisions that will affect them, then the business must accede to the request.
Occupational pension schemes will also be extended to firms with 50 or more employees.

There are new rules on agency workers too. Among these, employers will no longer be allowed to make an offer of work to an agency worker conditional on the worker using and paying for such services as accommodation and transport.

Also coming into force on 6 April will be the Corporate Manslaughter Act, which means that, in the case of a work-related fatality, the employer will be expected to demonstrate that appropriate health and safety measures were in place and that there was no gross breach of duty of care by the business.

The new law defines a gross breach as conduct which falls far below what can reasonably be expected in the circumstances�. Firms found guilty could face a penalty of up to 10 per cent of their annual turnover.

Internal News

The Star Ball: When You Wish Upon A Star

This year A P Robinson & Co is supporting the charity When You Wish Upon A Star.

To further the excellent work that the charity does to grant the wishes of children suffering from terminal and incurable illnesses, we are hosting the Star Ball -to make dreams come true for these very sick children.

A P Robinson & Co would like to invite you to this event, which takes place at the Beachcomber in Humberston on Saturday 10th May from 7pm.

Tickets are 40 pounds each, which includes a four- course meal, live entertainment from Impulse, a raffle, auction and disco. There area limited number of tables available to accommodate larger numbers and anyone is welcome to attend.

For more information about booking or the event itself, please telephone or email Lizzy Dale on 01472 345888 or lizzy.dale@aprobinson.biz

I do hope you will be able to join us for this fantastic evening.

Its A Knockout Charity Fund Raising Event

Last year the Humberston Lions Club raised an amazing 37,000 pounds for St Andrews Children's Hospice through their 'It's A Knockout' charity fund raising event. Sadly, their work still goes on and with the help of Grimsby Town Football Club, the Lions aim to raise money again for this vital facility.

The event takes place on Sunday 10th May at Grimsby Town Football Club and it promises to be a great day of assualt courses, contests and over-sized costumes from the orginal hit BBC show 'It's A Knockout.'

A P Robinson & Co are taking part by entering a 10 person team at 600 pounds (60 pounds per person). The Humberston Lions are still looking for teams to take part, whether you are a business, social club or friendship group.

The Club are also looking for sponsorship contributions, so if you would like to donate to the cause or would like to enter a team, please telephone or email Lizzy Dale on 01472 345888 or lizzy.dale@aprobinson.biz for more information.

A large proportion of the money will go to the hospice, but the rest will go to local charities, decided upon by the people who donate the money from the local area.

Win Your Business Accounts For FREE For One Year

To celebrate the launch of our new Scunthorpe office on the Queensway Business Park, we are offering 25 businesses the chance to win the completion of their accounts for free for 1 year!

The competition closes on Friday 6th June 2008.Business entrants can be of any size, industry and even current clients of the firm. Terms and conditions apply.

To enter go to our website www.aprobinson.biz and click on the 'Win your accounts for free' link on our homepage and fill in an electronic application form or alternatively telephone Lizzy Dale on 01472 345888.

Best of luck!