End of the road?

Google figures show online ad spend is healthy

Blame the last bloke

The chancellor can do little but carry the can for his predecessor over the 10p tax rate row. But business owners with disgruntled staff are unlikely to feel that sympathetic towards him

It can’t be much fun when your predecessor is also your boss. Normally if you’re in a new job and something cocks up, you can get away with blaming the last bloke at least once. Our darling chancellor has no such l...

Sustainable business

Hire ability

New sex laws will catch firms by surprise

New sexual harassement laws are along the right tracks, but employers have little time to get prepared

You might not be aware of this, but as of April 6 if one of your staff suffers sexual harassment from a client you could be liable. There’s been no big debate in parliament about it. There was enough existing legislation in place to push this one through without a new Act. So, last month, the gove...

Taking responsibility too far?

Should fast food outlets be helping to tackle the obesity crisis? Or should the onus be on the consumer to make the right choices in the first place? Perhaps it should. But if we expect the government and schools to promote healthy eating, why should businesses get off the hook?

A report published yesterday by the Conservative party has argued that it’s time businesses were held more accountable fo...

A problem shared...

Talent not tokenism

Will entrepreneurs have a voice at last?

Of the many criticisms entrepreneurs have levied against the government since Gordon Brown moved into Number 10, not getting their voices heard in Whitehall has been a constant gripe.

One of Brown’s first moves was the formation of the Business Council for Britain, which would advise him directly on government policies and the issues affecting UK business. But no sooner had he unveiled his plans di...