This week, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been given the power to fine companies up to £500,000 and it is widely believed that the watchdog, responsible for enforcing the Data Protection Act and other privacy legislation, is on the lookout for a few quick and easy cases to show off it’s new fangs. Almost all businesses rely on personal information in their trading activities. Is there a real business case for taking data protection and privacy seriously? Or is this just more red tape causing a headache for entrepreneurs? Let’s look at the business case.
This is a collection of tools with no particular theme other than the fact that I use these all the time and, like the tic-tac advert, they give me a “little lift” as I go about my everyday tasks.Perhaps there is something here that you will find useful too.
So, Ofcom, after years and years of research and consultation have rushed into action to change the 0870 charging system on 1st August.In their own words: “These new rules will encourage communications providers to stop charging higher prices for calls to 0870 numbers … These measures may significantly reduce the cost of calling 0870 numbers.” (emphasis mine)
So what will change?
The official definition of 0870 numbers will be changed and communications providers will be bound by strict rules about how prices will be publicised. Ofcom also plan to encourage the industry to reduce their internal charging rates for these calls so that there is an incentive to charge less to the customer and less of an incentive to share revenue with the service provider.
Keeping your business running during a flu pandemic
Feature Articles
So the World Health Organisation has declared the first global flu pandemic since 1968.What does that mean for your business?Is it time to panic?Well, in the words of Dr Keiji Fukada of the World Health Organisation: “It does not mean that the severity of the situation has increased.”He adds: “We also do not know how this virus is going to evolve.It could become more mild over time, or it could become more severe over time, or it could stay pretty much as it is now.”Overall, the message remains much the same as it has done since this outbreak first made the news: be alert, be prepared.
What are the risks to business?
The main risk outside of the healthcare sector is in the number of staff expected to be absent from work during the height of a community outbreak.This is made up of:
Staff who are sick themselves
Those taking time off to care for sick relatives
Those having to care for children due to the closure of local schools and playgroups.
