light trade pro - Small Business News

Bosses should help fight staff obesity

Employers should help staff battle obesity with healthy eating options, as it will lead to a more productive workforce.
Dr Colin Waine, former chairman of the National Obesity Forum, says businesses which have a canteen or eating facilities should be offering low-fat food to aid their employees.
The expert adds that some employers can go further to reduce obesity and improve their company.
'By providing exercise facilities on site to increase levels of activity, the two things together would actually lead to a healthier work force which would have fewer absences,' he states.
Waine describes it as a 'win-win situation' as productivity levels will increase and so benefit the company.
Research from the British Heart Foundation predicts a quarter of all UK workers will not be able to fit into a conventional-sized office chair by 2010 due to increasing obesity.
The National Obesity Forum was set up in 2000 to increase awareness of the health implications of obesity.

Government to loan money direct to businesses

The government will give loans to businesses via regional development agencies (RDAs), as banks are still not lending to companies, a report in the Times says.

According to the newspaper, agencies across the country will be able to issue loans of up to £250,000 to small companies.

The first such scheme has been approved by business secretary Lord Mandelson, who has allocated £4 million to Advantage West Midlands for it to pass on to local firms.

Government ministers are urging money from the RDAs should only go to 'viable' companies which are going to be able to survive the economic downturn.

The newspaper reports ministers are encouraging other RDAs to apply for funds to be used in this way.

A total budget of £2 billion has been allocated to the agencies, for use around the country.

Business owners have also been asked by the government to provide information on how the credit crunch is affecting them and is seeking information from industry bodies like the Confederation of British Industry, the publication reports.

The Federation of Small Businesses has previously suggested the £4 billion from the European Investment Bank should be allocated to firms via RDAs.

Small firms 'must be in pre-Budget report'

The pre-Budget report must give companies 'innovative and short-term' solutions for finance such as a £1 billion small business survival fund, an organisation has warned.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), a fund should be created which would replace the small firms loan guarantee and get money directly to businesses, a move the organisation says is 'urgently needed'.

The FSB also says it is crucial that the government scraps the proposed increases in corporate tax in the report, which is due out on November 24th.

John Wright, national chairman of the organisation, says that the government should 'act immediately' to reduce the burden of tax on these businesses, as they need 'talk, not action'.

He states: 'The government must do everything it can to ensure small firms do not need to turn to alternative and expensive sources of finance.'

A recent survey from the organisation of 8,700 members found banks are one of the biggest barriers to growth, as they are not lending money.

Social networking marketing 'is a risk'

Using direct marketing through social networking sites is a risk as it cannot be controlled in the same way as other forms of marketing, according to an expert.

Mike Hare, research director at DataTalk Research Limited, a statistical consultancy group, says the potential for negative publicity is equal to that of positive promotion.

He states that as the entire audience can communicate with each other, a negative message can be spread very quickly among individuals, faster than the firm can remedy it.

'No other media gives the target audience that potential,' Hare adds.

'Every other medium you can choose to use as a marketing channel you can virtually control the positioning of adverts in print media, the timing of adverts on broadcast media [and] ... the date mail is dropped,' Hare states.

He adds that there have been some very successful examples of using social networking sites, but there have also been some calamitous ones.

A recent report from Nielsen Online found social networking and blogging sites have seen the biggest increase in use of all internet sites, seeing a rise of 1.3 million minutes in the last year.

Bosses 'need to tackle stress'

Company bosses need to identify stress in staff early and ensure they are tackling it before it becomes a more serious problem, an expert advises.

System Concepts, an ergonomics consultancy, says there is a trend of stress not being treated sympathetically, leading to people remaining silent about their problems.

Tom Stewart, joint managing director of the company, says: 'There is a tendency for the people who are really suffering to keep quiet and then you don't spot them until it's too late.'

He states management should be 'vigilant' to the signs of stress as it is more effective to spot it early on and 'nip it in the bud'.

Stewart also notes that if the situation gets worse and an employee is off work with stress it puts more strain on other workers, potentially leading to further incidents of illness.

The issue of stress is particularly important in the current economic climate, as a recent poll of 2,000 workers from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts found two-thirds of people feel insecure about their job.

'Ditch tax increase' for small firms

Chancellor Alistair Darling has been urged to halt a planned tax increase for small businesses, which is due to come in on April 1st next year.

A rise will see firms with profits of up to £300,000 paying 22 per cent tax, rather than the current rate of 21 per cent, in a move which will make the government £450 million a year.

However, now Alistair Darling is being urged to scrap the plans, as some fear it may be the difference between some companies surviving and going under.

Stephen Alambritis, chief spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), says the timing of the increase could not be worse.

'We cannot see how the government can say they want to do all they can to support small businesses, but hike taxes at the same time,' he states.

The FSB has previously stated that small businesses are being overlooked by the government and the £4 billion of funding from the European Investment Banks needs to reach the firms rapidly.

Tackle late payments, say businesses

Customers settling bills within 20 days would aid small business, with a poll of company owners thinking it would be more beneficial than increased lending from banks.

A survey from the UK Business Forums found 40 per cent of small firms think faster payments would aid their company the most, while only eight per cent think increased lending from banks would be most beneficial.

Dan Martin, administrator for UK Business Forums, says it is 'interesting' amid talk of lending from banks that company owners just want the money which is owed to them.

'The government's pledge for public sector departments to pay small businesses within ten days is welcome but that action needs to be extended to the private sector and big businesses in particular,' he adds.

In addition, 18 per cent of respondents want a cut to small firm's corporation tax and 13 per cent think less red tape for the company would be most preferential.

Credit control experts Graydon UK recently said it would be difficult for the government to stick to its pledge to pay within ten days as many firms currently rate it as a slow payer.

Work bullying 'could get worse'

Nine in ten people think they are a victim of workplace bullying, with one organisation warning this could get worse in the credit crunch.

A survey of 10,000 people from the Andrea Adams Trust, a charity which focuses on problems and conflict in employment, found 92 per cent feel they are victim to taunts and intimidation in their office.

The research also found 56 per cent think bullying is a big problem in their workplace and almost half say their manager bullies them.

It is backed up by a poll from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) which says the practice costs £13.75 billion a year and not enough is being done by UK employers.

Lyn Witheridge, chief executive of the Andrea Adams Trust, says: 'The economic downturn puts workers under greater strain than ever before. Everyone seems to be fighting for their jobs.

'There is a very danger that incidences of bullying in the workplace will hugely increase because of this.'

Jo Causon from the CMI says the need to perform well in jobs at the moment 'should not be seen as an excuse to bully'.

She states the key to solving the problem is 'strong but fair leadership' which will help motivate staff and keep workplaces productive.

'Spouse power' gives businesses £72bn boost

Partners of small to medium-sized business owners are contributing 230 million unpaid hours each year, helping these firms stay profitable, new research has found.

A survey by Bibby Financial found over two-thirds of company owners' spouses regularly do some unpaid work for the business, while 20 per cent work for five days or more a week with no salary.

Bibby Financial states in the current economic climate these free workers are responsible for keeping many firms running.

Edward Rimmer, chief executive of Bibby Financial Services for UK and Ireland, says: 'These 'unseen heroes' are, more often than not, unpaid, keep their heads down and regularly clock up considerable amounts of time to guarantee their partner's business is a success.'

He adds that setting up a business requires 'stamina, perseverance and sheer hard work', in addition to an understanding partner.

Spouses are often responsible for the business beginning, with almost a quarter saying the idea behind the company was theirs or came from discussion with family and friends.

A number of partners do get paid for their work, with 34 per cent saying they now have a salary from their husband or wife's company.

The organisation reported recently that over one million hours are lost by businesses each year in making travel plans or being late for meetings.

Latest News | small business news and advice Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:29:22 UTC

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