Best time to hold a meeting revealed
Research carried out by serviced office searching platform LondonOffices.com, based on survey responses from 600 office workers, suggests that 10.38am is the preferred time to hold a meeting. Most respondents (59%) believed meetings conducted in the morning were more productive than those carried out in the afternoon. Just after 4pm was the least favourite meeting time, with many respondents saying its proximity to the end of the working day meant that very little was achieved. Only 27% thought meetings held first thing in the morning were a good idea, while 47% believed that working lunches were largely unproductive.
Free health and safety guidance for SMEs
The Health and Safety Executive has launched new guidance to "help make it easier for larger organisations and businesses to understand how to manage health and safety". The "refreshed and enhanced" Managing for health and safety guidance (also known as HSG65) is split into four key sections: Core elements of managing for health and safety, Are you doing what you need to?, Delivering effective arrangements and Resources. Visitors to the HSE website can access a range of free resources, including a handy Health and Safety Toolbox.
UK firms fined £10.8m over illegal workers
Large numbers of employers and recruiters "are still failing to adequately assess an individual's right to work in the UK", according to professional employment provider giant. Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, it says, revealed 1,270 Notification of Liability (NOL) notices for a Civil Penalty issued to employers of illegal workers in the UK in the last year. The value of these penalties amounts to some £10.8m. Matthew Brown, managing director of giant, commented: "The number of NOLs issued remains high. With fines set to rise, it's vital that businesses implement the correct processes to reduce the risk they face."
Booking time off – the new office weapon?
It seems that some office workers will stop at nothing to try to get one over on a colleague. According to a new study, 'strategic holiday booking' has become the latest weapon of choice in the cutthroat world of office politics. Research by serviced office provider officebroker.com suggests that 5% of office workers had deliberately scheduled time off just to spite a colleague, while 13% didn't tell others when they planned to take time off for fear that colleagues would scupper their plans by getting their time-off requests in first. The study also found that 7% of respondents had lied about their holiday plans to 'double-bluff' colleagues. More than half (53%) said holidays were not a source of conflict in their office.
Franchisors to show off at the NEC
The National Franchise Exhibition will take place on 4 and 5 October at the NEC Birmingham. The UK's largest franchise event gives would-be franchisees the chance to discover a wide range of potential business opportunities and meet franchisors face to face. According to the organisers: "Visitors will be able to receive free expert advice from industry leaders [and] attend informative franchising seminars throughout both days". Some 140 exhibitors are expected. Admission on the door is £15, however, visitors can gain free entry by using the promotional code NFEDD when pre-booking via the website.