< Previous40 Business Link www.blmforum.net LEGAL SERVICES simplistic an approach for most companies because it does not consider many of the current vaccine ‘unknowns’. Existing employees may have medical clauses in their contracts, which could include a requirement to have a vaccination. If not, employers may take steps to implement a vaccination policy or contractual clause. It may also be possible to have a ‘no jab, no job’ policy for job applicants to any new role. Although, this does not come without employment law risks, specifically discrimination. The big question is, can an employer compel an employee to take the vaccine? The answer, sadly, is no. Employers cannot physically force or compel employees to take a COVID-19 vaccine. At this stage, rather than relying on compulsory vaccination, employers may wish to focus on how best to educate employees and publicise the benefits of taking the vaccination. This information is reinforced by Rustom Tata, Chairman and Partner at DMH Stallard, who when asked if employers could insist that a member of staff have a vaccine had the following to say: “There is no blanket answer. In most cases the employer will need to be able to show a proper reason as to why this is necessary. As it is still unclear to what extent the vaccination reduces the risk of transmission, the potential for infection of co-workers, customers or others with whom the employee may come into contact when they are working does not seem to be addressed simply by the fact of vaccination. In the absence of that clear evidence, the protection gained through the vaccine is much more about protection of the employee themselves in relation to the likely severity of symptoms.” In short, vaccination is a public health policy, and it will be difficult to roll that out or enforce it in our region’s businesses. The HSE has not mandated it for their employees, so it is unlikely local businesses shall be able to. That said, educating employees as to the benefits should be acceptable. The Government is also calling on employers to allow their employees time off to get the vaccine if required, and it would be a good idea to adhere to that for reputational, health and legal reasons. Considering vaccines in risk assessment policies is, of course, allowed, and may be a way to curtail or “encourage” employees to seek out the vaccine. It will be difficult to force the issue, however, and should an employer face a member of staff who is actively against the vaccine despite having no medical reason why, the only recourse may well be to seek legal advice. Lockdown and COVID-19 has been a difficult time for Government as well as business, so there aren’t the laws there should be to protect everyone involved. It would be very easy to face a claim of discrimination, and while a tribunal or court may well side in favour of the business once they discover it is on a refusal to be vaccinated, the cost in terms of time and money will already have happened. © Shutterstock /BaLL LunLa 38-40.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 08:11 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 41 RINGROSE LAW Q&A We spoke to Chris Randall, Head of the Employment Law Team at Ringrose Law, about returning furloughed employees to the workplace. Tell us a bit more about returning furloughed employees back to the workplace? I’ve been advising employers on managing Furlough Leave since the COVID-19 Pandemic began last spring. Around ten million people are currently absent from work on Furlough leave. Although the Furlough scheme shall continue until the end of April. As lockdown begins to ease across the Country and employers start to ‘open’ their businesses there are major considerations to consider when returning furloughed employees back to the workplace. Employers should provide their employees with a reasonable notice to return to work. If an employee does not attend for work when requested to do so, they could face disciplinary action. A reasonable employer would consult properly with the employee about the reasons for non-attendance to try and find a solution. Furloughed employees retain their employment rights not to be unlawfully discriminated against or unfairly dismissed. What to do if employees are vulnerable in the workplace? Some employees will be reluctant to return to work for health reasons. Those at high risk will avoid returning to a workplace for as long as possible. Employers should look at whether they can support those employees by making adjustments by the Equality Act 2010. An adjustment may be allowing the employee to work from home. Employees who are absent due to caring for vulnerable relatives, or childcare responsibilities may prefer to remain Furloughed. If an employer attempts to force employees back to work in these circumstances, they may face claims of unlawful discrimination to an employment tribunal. What advice do you have for employers considering redundancy? Many employers will have experienced a reduction in work because of the pandemic. Employers should think carefully about any proposed redundancies and consider: consultation with those affected, selecting the pool of candidates, creating a matrix for selection, scoring employees fairly, offering the right of appeal to anyone selected for redundancy, and considering alternative employment. A failure to carry out a redundancy process correctly could result in costly unfair dismissal claims. For support and advice contact the expert, specialised Employment law team across Lincolnshire and Newark. Visit www.ringroselaw.co.uk or call 0333 3580 395. Q&A Chris Randall, Head of the Employment Law Team, Ringrose Law Chris Randall Employers face a difficult period ahead and there is support and advice available to employers of all sizes and in all sectors on returning furloughed employees into the workplace. Chris Randall “ “ 41.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 08:12 Page 142 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK © Shutterstock /Pormezz Leasing is a popular way for businesses to expand a fleet with impressive vehicles without taking a major hit to cash flow. This is perhaps unsurprising given the benefits that come with leasing, such as the avoidance of large upfront costs in favour of fixed monthly payments for the lease term. Leasing frees up capital and fleet management with options that include administration, maintenance, and repairs, and offers Business Link considers the benefits of leasing vehicles and the future of the changing sector. Leasing: pros, cons, and the future 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 09:57 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 43 AUTOLINK flexible terms, for mileage for instance. It also removes depreciation risks or disposal concerns, and one can make use of a new vehicle frequently. In addition there are useful tax implications - limited companies, sole traders, or LLPs may be eligible to claim back part or all of the VAT. If a business is VAT-registered, and the car is only used for work, fifty per cent of the VAT on the monthly lease payments can be claimed back alongside one-hundred per cent of VAT on 44 Á maintenance package payments. However, one must keep an eye on factors like excess mileage charges, the requirement to return the vehicle in good condition, the chance that you will need to terminate the contract early and potential penalty clauses. Moreover, you will not own the vehicle, and it thus cannot be taken to cover debts if 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 09:57 Page 244 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK a business hits financial trouble. Further, most lease deals will not involve insurance, which will therefore be the business’s responsibility, and many finance providers will stipulate that fully comprehensive insurance is taken out. Another consideration when leasing vehicles is whether to make use of a closed-end or open-end lease. The former is more common and sees the finance provider take on the depreciation at the end of the term, but contract conditions are usually more strict. Meanwhile an open-end lease features more flexible terms, but you will be responsible for any depreciation on the vehicle above what is expected during the term. The choice between the two will come down to a business’s monthly budget, how the vehicle will be used, annual mileage, and depreciation. The leasing industry and company car sector faced a tough 2020, and 2021 is set to be just as difficult. Restrictions on non-essential journeys, reduced commuting and business travel due to home working, the need to digitalise services, the recession, and falling employment are all impacting the sector, which supplies the majority of vehicles to fleets. Simultaneously the sector is on the cusp of major change. Looking to the future of the leasing sector, electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to gradually account for more lease car registrations as companies and the country aim to decarbonise. The trend is already gaining momentum with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) surging to take a fifteen per cent share of new lease car registrations in the third quarter of 2020. This came as the Government’s Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax incentives took full effect - pure EVs now incur no company car tax, growing to one per cent in 2021/22 and two per cent in 2022/23. Furthermore, according to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Quarterly Leasing Survey, plug-in and hybrid vehicles overtook diesel in gaining a thirty-six per cent share of new lease car registrations during the same period. Almost a fifth of the BVRLA car leasing fleet now relies on some form of powertrain electrification as the fleet sector continues to transition to cleaner road transport. Emphasising this, diesel’s share of the total lease car market fell below fifty per cent for the first time. Petrol however held steady with a thirty-four per cent share. The switch to electric leased vehicles is sure to be driven further by the 2030 ban on new internal combustion engine vehicles and as companies realise the role EVs have to play in cost reduction and corporate social responsibility. In addition, the uptick will grow with improving EV infrastructure and wider EV choice. Leasing companies themselves are also looking to accelerate the EV transition. For example, a number of UK leasing companies joined EV100, an initiative from the Climate Group, in 2020. Between Fleet Alliance, Ogilvie, and Tusker, there is a commitment to switch more than 70,000 vehicles to EVs by 2030. Pushing EVs forward, leasing companies are also offering clients EVs to try, to tempt adoption of the vehicles. 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 09:57 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 45 AUTOLINK © Shutterstock /BGStock72 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 09:58 Page 446 Business Link www.blmforum.net events larger corporations. Data and analytics provide businesses with actionable insights needed to become more efficient and profitable. In this interactive masterclass, presented by Michael Rippon, Managing Director of Raindrop Digital, we will explore where and how you should be collecting big data and then how to use this to identify business opportunities, obtain higher levels of performance and deliver business growth. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/bigdataforsme. © Shutterstock/Bloomicon Supply Chain Improvement Programme Workshop 14 April Online The aim of these supply chain workshops to provide insight and knowledge of how best to manage your businesses supply chains together as well as understanding the risks and issues your business is exposed to. After attending this workshop there will be an opportunity for companies to undertake a Supply Chain Audit and gain a holistic view of their supply chain with further support. You will be able to strategically analyse your supply chain with greater confidence and ability to better deal with its complexities, such as working simultaneously with both your customers and suppliers to increase efficiency and performance. To find out more, email enquiries@egs.live. 60 Useful Minutes- Cyber Security Part 3 21 April 2021 Online The third in the Cyber Security series from the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The 60 Useful Minutes- Cyber Security series is bought to you by Alex Martin from Halifax-based Cognisys Group and will be covering a variety of topics ranging from the dangers of working from home/Remote working threats and Cyber Essentials – The basics and the typical issues we see time and again. For more information, visit www.mycci.co.uk. Economic briefing with CBI Chief Economist 21 April Online Join Rain Newton-Smith for an update on the economic landscape and how it might affect your business. By attending this briefing, you will get the latest insights and analysis from the CBI’s Economic Intelligence Team to help you steer your organisation through these unprecedented times and better plan for the future. For more information, visit shorturl.at/kBQ03. Big Data for SMEs 29 April Online Find out how leveraging Big Data can provide benefits and challenges for SMEs. Most SMEs believe they are too small for big data. This is far from the truth as SMEs need big data to succeed just as much as QES Q1 Briefing 6 April Online Each quarter, we host flagship events in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, the University of Lincoln and Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership to share the Quarterly Economic Survey results. The Quarterly Economic Survey that ran recently is the first of 2021 and shows how Lincolnshire’s economy is recovering and what we can expect going forward. The intelligence gained will guide the right decisions for our economy and put in place further support mechanisms. The Briefing will be delivered by Chief Executive Simon Beardsley and James Baty, Policy and Research Manager of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP who will be discussing the results and what they mean in real terms for local businesses. To find out more, visit www.lincs-chamber.co.uk. © Shutterstock/Linda Bestwick Due to the coronavirus outbreak, readers should be aware that events may have been cancelled or postponed. All dates correct as of publishing, but please check beforehand. 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 10:39 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 47 IoD South Yorkshire Annual Dinner in Collaboration with the Cutlers’ Company 6 May Cutler’s Hall, Sheffield 200 of the regions business leaders from across the business spectrum, ranging from advanced manufacturing to professional services and the public and third sectors will converge on the Cutlers’ hall for the Institute of Directors South Yorkshire Annual Dinner. To find out more, email helena.drake@iod.com. Get More Business using Google Analytics & Digital Marketing Data 10 June Online This online masterclass delivered by Business Lincolnshire will walk you through setting up Google Analytics and Tag Manager to maximise the information you can gather about your website visitors. From there, you’ll explore all the major reports available to you and learn how these can give you invaluable insights into ways to boost traffic and sales from your website. You’ll then see how tools such as Google Ads and Search Console expand on the data in Analytics, together with insights from social media, providing a rounded view of how people find and interact with your business online. Understanding this data is key to identifying what works, what needs fixing and how your marketing efforts are performing. For more information, email events@bizlincolnshire.com. © Shutterstock/Pr es Panayotov Simplifying Social Media for Success 21 April Online Take control of your social media so it does not control you - spend less time on your social media and get better results by understanding the channels that reach your customers. These sessions from Business Lincolnshire are designed for those who are using social media currently but want to improve the results, or if you are just setting up your business accounts. We will look at where you are now, and where you want to be, who you are trying to reach - and whether social media is the channel to reach them - and the right messaging to use and develop a content planner that removes the “what to post today?” headache. For more information, email events@bizlincolnshire.com. Political Briefing – Yorkshire and the Humber 28 April Online With the end of the transition period, it is now more important than ever for businesses to understand the implications of this new political context for the year ahead. So, join the CBI’s Campaigns and UK-EU Negotiations teams for an exclusive look at the latest political insight and an update on the UK’s trading relationship with the EU. By attending this briefing, you will get the latest update on what the end of the transition period means for business as well as hear the CBI’s latest political insight first-hand. To find out more, email Roger.Justin@cbi.org.uk. 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 10:39 Page 2FEATURES Factory Automation Spotlight Office Solutions Family Business Healthcare Ports REGULARS Commercial Property Section Motoring Section Corporate Hospitality Watch out too for the latest news from across the region in every sector Next month in April 2021 - Deadline 24th March Visit us at www.b lmforum .net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscri be to our newsle tters so you can have the latest news emaile d to your inbox, in betwee n printed issues? 48.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 08:22 Page 1MARKETING OPPORTUNITY Business Link Magazine Group is currently seeking a focused driven and enthusiastic individual to join our busy team. This exciting role involves networking with a wide variety of diverse businesses, developing relationships and ensuring the highest possible level of advertisements are generated. You will explore new business opportunities and contact existing clients to promote the company’s portfolio of services. Duties will include: l Acquiring and developing a portfolio of local key accounts l Growing business from existing and new clients l Developing a high level of knowledge of your territory As an account executive you should also have the ability to work to deadline and have good IT skills and proven negotiation skills. In return for your commitment we offer a competitive salary and great career prospects. Please contact Michael Fisher on 01472 310310 WWW.BLMFORUM.NET/CAREERS yorkshire & lincolns h h ire’s leading business m a a gazine april 2020 £3.5 50 TO T RES CTHE SPOND CRISIS DING S YYFACTOR C TTHEAL OFFTHCARE FICE safety Ensuring e TTHEAL e of factoriesThe futur TION TAUTOMA YYAFACTOR fices healthyfKeeping of SOLUTIONS OFFICE employee THCARE V w VOLUME 35 ISSUE 4 .blmgroup.co.ukwww INTER N FoodFood &&& FoodFood & N ATI O N &&Drin DrinDrin &&Drin AL nknknkk app A r f h hi ts a ews Ingredient spotlight End offline packkaaging MAY 2020 Un T ingi ehh e M£2.95 cou U yttyun ii y hhe H llhlocal he Suppor d ti training Online garden H lockdo Health i WWW LINC e30+ y WWW . LINC OLNSHIRETO ooears y OLNSHIRETO ODAY NET oung ODAY . NET BLM GROUP www.blmgroup.co.uk Business Link 49 www.blmforum.net LABELS Tel: 01482 506560 sales@datamarkuk.com www.datamarkuk.com • Plain / Printed Labels • Lasersheets • Fanfolded Labels • Thermal Transfer Ribbons • Barcode Labels RECRUITMENT CLASSIFIED WEDDINGSTO LET To receive a copy of the county’s most prestigious, full colour Wedding Guide, send a S.A.E. to: Lincolnshire Today Wedding Guide, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East Lincs DN31 2QE Alternatively visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/weddings where you can view the whole guide online If you are getting married then this guide is your must have accessory. It’s full of advice, hints and tips from the county’s top wedding specialists and will provide you with inspiration for your big day. The essential b and G the B guide moo G B d r t LINCOLNSHIRETODAY. WWW WEDDINGS/ NET.Y S Planning for your special day? 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