COA Solutions – Business Accounting Software

The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) that has been dogged with controversy since its inception is yet again under review by the Home Secretary, Theresa May. She has called for a ‘common sense’ review that will see the registration of individuals with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), that was due to begin on 26 July, now on hold. Employers will therefore find themselves in limbo as some of the reforms that went live in October 2009 are unchanged whilst new systems have to go live on 26 July, albeit with some modification.

New Pensions Minister Steve Webb has published the promised review of the scope of auto-enrolment into the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) workplace pension that is due to be rolled out from October 2012 onwards.

Vince Cable has outlined his plans to cut the burden of excessive regulation on business. He will create a new Cabinet “Star Chamber” whose official name will be the Reducing Regulation Committee which will be chaired by the Business Secretary and will introduce a new approach to regulatory impact assessments.

HM Courts Service has just updated their jury service allowances with effect from 1st June 2010.

Just like information technology (IT), human resources (HR) serve the business; just like IT, HR is not taken seriously enough by the business.

The following new advisory fuel rates, often referred to by HMRC as AFRs, apply to journeys undertaken on and after 1 June 2010 (the rates from 1 December 2009 are in brackets). Advisory fuel rates are provided by HMRC for employers, if they choose, to reimburse their employees for business travel in company cars, or to require employees to reimburse the cost of fuel used for private travel in a company car without attracting a fuel benefit charge.

Amongst the Bills announced yesterday was a Scotland Bill. Its aims as announced are

Strengthening the devolution settlement in Scotland.
Increasing the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament.
Renewing the policy responsibility split between the UK and Scottish Parliament.
Improving the relationship between the UK Government and Scottish Minister

Is it just me or are others concerned that we still don’t have any detailed guidance from HMRC on additional paternity leave and pay, and as far as I know no spec for the software developers either?

Since the introduction of Fit Notes six weeks ago have you still seen the old Med3 sick note coming through to you? As the introduction of the new A4 form with space for suggestions to ease the employee back into work was so contentious with GPs I’m wondering how many will say they have ‘old stock’ to use up! Fortunately I haven’t been off sick yet so I can’t speak from experience but what have you found? Have you briefed line managers on the options that the Fit Note provides and are they aware of the financial impact on employees if SSP is not due because of of the structure of a return to work plan?

The promise to undertake a review of the UK’s Working Time Regulations has been posted on the BIS website since the start of the year, once the Business department finally recognized that after the Stringer and Pereda cases the UK regulations were doomed. Now the election is over we need to see some prompt action from BIS on this, I hope they don’t get derailed by Mr. Cable’s other priorities.