News Archive - March 2014
Budget 2014
Below is a summary of the 2014 Budget, in pdf format.
Click the icon to download the file.
Click the icon to download the file.
| budget_2014.pdf |
Creative industries receive new protection - 31.3.2014
The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PUPCU) has said it is going global in its pursuit of illegal websites.
Funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – which is run by the City of London Police – the unit has already released a report on 61 websites which evidenced as profiting from advertising and operating without licenses from content creators.
PIPCU has now established an unreleased list of sites, known as the Infringing Website List (IWL), which can be cross-referenced by advertising companies so they can remove their advertising from those sites.
Andy Fyfe, Detective Chief Inspector for PIPCU, said: ‘If an advert from an established brand appears on an infringing website not only does it lend the site a look of legitimacy, but inadvertently the brand and advertiser are funding online crime’.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) is working with the special unit on their far-reaching project. Director General Kieron Sharp said: ‘The UK’s creative sector is a vital driver of the economy, employing over 1.5 million people and driving £36 billion pounds of GVA (gross value added) to the UK economy. Film and TV production in the UK is looked upon as the best in the world’.
Funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – which is run by the City of London Police – the unit has already released a report on 61 websites which evidenced as profiting from advertising and operating without licenses from content creators.
PIPCU has now established an unreleased list of sites, known as the Infringing Website List (IWL), which can be cross-referenced by advertising companies so they can remove their advertising from those sites.
Andy Fyfe, Detective Chief Inspector for PIPCU, said: ‘If an advert from an established brand appears on an infringing website not only does it lend the site a look of legitimacy, but inadvertently the brand and advertiser are funding online crime’.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) is working with the special unit on their far-reaching project. Director General Kieron Sharp said: ‘The UK’s creative sector is a vital driver of the economy, employing over 1.5 million people and driving £36 billion pounds of GVA (gross value added) to the UK economy. Film and TV production in the UK is looked upon as the best in the world’.
Workplace music 'good for staff morale', say SMEs - 25.3.2014
More than three-quarters of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe that listening to music in the workplace has a positive impact on the working environment, new research suggests.
In a survey by the music licensing organisations PPL and PRS, 77% of the 1,008 business owners questioned claimed that music improved staff morale, while 65% said it boosted productivity.
Furthermore, 40% of participants believe that playing music can increase sales or results for the business.
‘We know that playing music has huge benefits and we are keen for as many business owners as possible to understand how cost effective and beneficial playing music can be,’ said Christine Geissmar, Director of Operations at PPL.
‘We are encouraging businesses to contact us to find out more about how they can enjoy the benefits of music while being legally compliant.’
Meanwhile, psychologist Dr Vicky Williamson commented: ‘Music positively influences consumer mood/emotional states through psycho-physiological reactions and autobiographical memory associations.
‘Silence by comparison can be intrusive, as it throws unwelcome attention on the consumers’ behaviour’.
In a survey by the music licensing organisations PPL and PRS, 77% of the 1,008 business owners questioned claimed that music improved staff morale, while 65% said it boosted productivity.
Furthermore, 40% of participants believe that playing music can increase sales or results for the business.
‘We know that playing music has huge benefits and we are keen for as many business owners as possible to understand how cost effective and beneficial playing music can be,’ said Christine Geissmar, Director of Operations at PPL.
‘We are encouraging businesses to contact us to find out more about how they can enjoy the benefits of music while being legally compliant.’
Meanwhile, psychologist Dr Vicky Williamson commented: ‘Music positively influences consumer mood/emotional states through psycho-physiological reactions and autobiographical memory associations.
‘Silence by comparison can be intrusive, as it throws unwelcome attention on the consumers’ behaviour’.
Government announces new start date for flexible working extension - 6.3.2014
The Government has announced that the right to request flexible working arrangements will now be extended to all employees with effect from 30 June 2014, following a previous delay to the Children and Families Bill earlier this year.
Currently, qualifying carers of adults and all parents of children aged 16 or under (or disabled children under 18), who have had 26 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer, are legally entitled to make a statutory application to their employer for flexible working arrangements, such as working from home or flexitime.
However, under the Children and Families Act all employees will gain the right to request flexible working arrangements. The changes were originally due to come into effect on 6 April, but will now take effect from 30 June 2014.
While the 26 week qualifying period will be retained, the statutory procedure for considering requests is set to be repealed and replaced with a duty to consider all requests in a reasonable manner and within a reasonable timeframe. Businesses may still reject claims for flexible working if there are legitimate business grounds, as defined by legislation.
We can advise on all aspects of payroll. Please contact us for further information.
Currently, qualifying carers of adults and all parents of children aged 16 or under (or disabled children under 18), who have had 26 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer, are legally entitled to make a statutory application to their employer for flexible working arrangements, such as working from home or flexitime.
However, under the Children and Families Act all employees will gain the right to request flexible working arrangements. The changes were originally due to come into effect on 6 April, but will now take effect from 30 June 2014.
While the 26 week qualifying period will be retained, the statutory procedure for considering requests is set to be repealed and replaced with a duty to consider all requests in a reasonable manner and within a reasonable timeframe. Businesses may still reject claims for flexible working if there are legitimate business grounds, as defined by legislation.
We can advise on all aspects of payroll. Please contact us for further information.
