When a customer doesn’t pay, they’re hanging on to money that is rightfully yours and you should ask for it. You should have a routine system for following up non-payment that includes letter, email, and telephone, but be prepared to act more quickly if the amount is large or you are concerned about the customer.
Follow these Five Top Tips for chasing payment, or why not give me a call on 01603 319034 for a chat.
Using social video to help your business!
‘We run a business that does Social Videos’ is an answer me and my Brother (Directors of Eastkin) frequently say around the dinner table at family occasions. It’s usually met with an uninterested “ah…” or a “what the hell does that mean?” or our Mother who said “What? Video about seashells?”. It also seems to be a bit of a buzzword – but despite all this – we think it’s an incredibly important asset for your business to consider. So here is a small rundown of social video. Social Video is essentially video designed specifically for your social platforms. It’s as simple as that. Social media videos.
Video has always been an incredible tool to express information in a way that is interesting, engaging and if done well, fun. However, It is also a tool completely underused by SME’s. I personally think this is due to its rather grandiose reputation and how difficult it might be to track its ROI – but there has been a steep rise in use of video marketing through the larger agencies in the last decade. Digital and marketing agencies are starting to recognise that video is no longer a tool used by multi-million pound corporations to run TVC’s, but a tool used widespread by every type of business to increase brand trust, identity and inform their audiences of their ongoing journey. With the spectacular invention and increased use of paid targeted ads – marketing agencies are now able to directly target your dream demographic (and your already loyal, captured consumer). In the last few years, agencies have started identifying the way videos need to be designed in order to ‘stop the scroll’ and adhere to the modern day attention spans. It’s something that, as a video agency ourselves, has taken some time to adjust to. Instead of giving yourself 30 seconds to get the audiences attention, you now have 3. The most important seconds of all! (Top Tip: Don’t start with a logo!!!)
Video production has become incredibly nimble. Instead of spending thousands of pounds on a crew – digitalised cameras and skeleton productions has allowed for video to become affordable and accessible as a marketing tool. No longer are companies spending millions of pounds on 1 TVC that will run for 3 months – but they’re able to make loads of videos, all with different targeting specifics, for the cost of a 6 month print in a local magazine. We’ve even made videos for businesses that didn’t have footage – but rather product images and home iPhone footage. It worked tremendously on the paid social platform and just goes to show what you can do in one morning with your iPhone. You can see that here and here. We think it’s time for SME’s to embrace the uprise in digital video as a marketing tool. It, of course, needs to be handled delicately, so that creativity isn’t thrown aside – but we want to rid of the reputation of old school video production agencies and bring in a new lease of life.
Last year, Eastkin Creative delivered 3000 videos – which just goes to show the extent of how in demand video is. Video marketing and social video will dominate the way businesses communicate to their audience. In fact, a Facebook executive has predicted video will dominate their entire platform by 2021 (Quartz). Social Media posts have 48% more views than any other (HubSpot) and Social Video gets shared 1200% more than graphics and images combined (Wordstream).
So, stop printing flyers, or putting entire marketing budgets into print – and start bringing out the Spielberg in you!
With coronavirus forcing people to self-isolate have you thought about how your current IT infrastructure will support your business if your staff need to work from home?
If you aren’t already setup for remote working, you need to start exploring your options to make sure that your business is prepared, and your staff are supported.
Protecting your employees and your business in the event that remote working is needed takes careful planning and strategies should be tested regularly.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Can I quickly communicate an office closure to all staff out of working hours? Outside of working hours it cannot be expected that staff will be checking their emails. Do you have a way to text or send push notifications?
Are all staff able to take their equipment home with them? If employees are restricted by desktop computers, you’ll need a way to relocate equipment, including phones, if needed. Do staff know how to reinstall this equipment at home?
Will the team be able to effectively collaborate with each other, with contractors or with customers? Collaboration tools and shared documents will ensure that your team are still productive, even if they are miles apart. Does your team have access to Microsoft Teams or other collaboration tools?
If you need help making sure that your business is ready for remote working send us an email at quack@greenduck.co.uk
Great Yarmouth has a well-earned reputation for fun and frivolity. From its glory days as the go-to seaside resort in the 20th century, to its status today as East Anglia’s entertainment centre, it’s fair to say that the popular Norfolk town knows how to treat its guests. Its attractions include the Golden Mile, maritime museums, and 15 miles of sandy beach. But although Great Yarmouth is a fantastic place for all the family, it also boasts a beguiling after-dark scene – perfect for adults keen for a holiday flutter.
Whether you’re a casual gambler who simply enjoys the thrill, or an old pro with a tried and tested blackjack surrender strategy up your sleeve, Great Yarmouth’s casino scene will have something to keep you happy – and could even rival the best collection in the UK at mansioncasino.com. This post will explain why casinos are so important to the beloved seaside town.
Casinos Are Good for The Economy
When UK gambling laws were relaxed in 2005 with the introduction of the Gambling Act, it sparked concerns that it would encourage reckless spending and addiction. But studies have suggested that the Act has been excellent news for the country’s economy – with £14 billion generated by the gambling industry every year.
Thanks to the growing popularity of iGaming, the market share of this figure which represents revenue from online gambling is increasing. In general, land casinos are falling out of favour, as people choose to pursue the casino experience from the comfort of their sitting room. But in towns such as Great Yarmouth – where pleasure activities draw visitors to the seafront in search of physical entertainment – this isn’t the case.
How do casinos boost Great Yarmouth’s economy?
The Grosvenor Casino can be found on the Marine Parade, the main tourist area of the town. After Norwich, Great Yarmouth has the largest visitor economy in Norfolk. In 2019, it was calculated that tourism brought a staggering £635 million to the borough every year, making visitor attractions a key pillar of its economic growth. This includes the income generated by Great Yarmouth’s casinos, which have held their own against the virtualisation of the gambling industry thanks to their steady client base of tourists.
Casinos Help Keep Great Yarmouth’s History Alive
Great Yarmouth has a strong heritage when it comes to pleasure, leisure and betting (events at its famous racecourse were first recorded in 1715). As more people choose to go abroad for their holidays, the value of the ‘staycation’ – travelling to places within the UK – is being trumpeted as the responsible option for those of us who want to lower our carbon footprint, support British businesses, and explore more of the country.
Like most of the town’s tourist attractions, the Palace Casino – which offers bingo nights, fruit machines and table games – is situated by the seafront. This vibrant area is practically synonymous with Great Yarmouth, attracting millions of tourists annually.
What’s next for Great Yarmouth’s casinos?
With the number of overnight visitors increasing year by year, according to a report by the Great Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area, the popularity of Great Yarmouth as a holiday destination seems set to skyrocket. Known and loved for its seaside attractions, leisure activities, and entertainment, the town relies on its casinos and other businesses to maintain its fun-loving reputation.
The Edge complex, an extension to the Pleasure Beach which contains a Premier Inn and restaurants as well as one of the biggest casinos in the UK, will help cement this reputation into the future – keeping Great Yarmouth on the map for families, thrill-seekers, and everything in between.
It does not matter how small your business might be, you have to consider the big picture. Your business could consist of just you and your laptop, but that doesn’t stop you adopting a big mindset. You should always have a clear picture in mind of where you want to take the business. Here are some of the reasons why you should always have a big mindset in mind when opening a business, no matter what size it might be.
Worldwide Business
hanks to the internet, even a small business run from your kitchen table has the capacity to operate on a global scale. You can communicate with clients in real-time with programs like Skype while others like cloud software will allow file sharing and other updates no matter where you might be. The internet has transformed how many people have done business. No longer are small businesses kept to their local areas. It can allow you to trade with other companies all around the world. If you have a product or service that could very easily go all around the world, you need to be prepared to accommodate this.
Global Impact
You could easily dedicate your company to creating just a single product or service that could have some major ramifications. London-based entrepreneur and investor Tej Kohli is taking a special interest in small businesses that have a chance to change the world on a global level. There are so many sectors that have wide-ranging reach but areas for focused development. If you want to focus on one of these areas, it could bring you many great opportunities. From new contacts in your network to potential investment or mentorship for bigger companies, you never know what might emerge when you choose to focus on one particular area.
Corporate Growth
No business launches as a full corporate entity. It takes many years and a lot of hard work to grow into a full business. While some start-ups recently have exploded from small businesses to worldwide brands, most businesses build themselves slowly. While you might be content to keep your business small, it might also be worth considering how you would build yourself into a major corporation. Many of the household names everyone knows started from a single shop or just one person working very hard to get things launched. Take a look at the scaling it would take to raise your business. It might be very ambitious, but there is always a chance that you can do it.
Personal Growth
Having a big mindset when it comes to your business can help in more ways than you think. If you have a positive outlook in the world of business, and you are confident in your abilities then you will be able to pitch the business when you need to. You can chase down contracts and opportunities that others might avoid, and you might even be able to secure them for your business.
By giving off an air of confidence and knowing what you want to pursue, you are going to be more successful in business. Chase after the contracts you want and work hard to push your business as far as you can. Believing in your business is the first step to succeeding, no matter how big or small your business might be.
Look at your business with fresh eyes today. There are always going to be opportunities to pursue if you are confident enough to do so. Start applying a big mindset to your business and see what it could bring your business now. It might completely transform your company’s practices.
When hiring new staff, it is crucial to get the right talent through the door, but also make sure you hire someone who is seeking a long-term career. If you hire someone who is only looking for a stop-gap position or a stepping stone in their career until something deemed better comes along, the costs can be high. Having to go through the whole recruitment process again is costly in terms of business time, resources and money. So, it would be best if you got it right at the first attempt. To do that, use the following five tips to find the best fit for your job opening.
1. Create a Detailed Job Description
One of the reasons that new staff members jump ship early is because the role they thought they were getting into does not reflect reality. Their working day is different, and maybe even their responsibilities and tasks are not what was expected. To counter the miscommunication and high turnover rates, you need to create a detailed job description that goes beyond typical phrases. Include a usual daily routine within the narrative, so applicants know how the job really goes down.
2. Cast the Net Far and Wide
Most jobs receive a staggering number of applicants and far too many for an employer to go through in detail. However, that doesn’t mean you should not try to advertise your role using the best job search websites, as well as LinkedIn and maybe even using employer referral schemes as an incentive. However, just because you want a larger pool to pick from does not mean you should advertise on every site available. Try to choose websites to advertise jobs that reflect your industry. For example, Jobrapido is a UK recruitment site specialising in engineering, tech and the service sector.
3. Do Use Personality and Skill Testing
It would help if you tried to test your shortlisted applicants with skill-based tests within the recruitment process and on interview days. Combining these tests with personality and character assessments will enlace you to not only find the best suited for the role but the people that will stick around and are hungry for a career. You can always outsource these tests to recruitment companies if needed.
4. Meticulous Reference Checking
When a boss has seemingly found the perfect person for the job, it is common to rush through reference checks to get the process over with and move on to integrating the staff member. However, reference checking is arguably the essential part of the process with plenty of people prepared to lie on their CV. Yet, you can go even further by referencing their references. Prepare to start digging on social media and especially on LinkedIn to spot potential connections between applicants and their references!
5. Trust Your Gut Feeling!
And finally, if all else has not helped you pick between a couple of applicants, you can always count on your gut feeling. Bosses and employers can usually judge someone and how they will fit into an existing team within the first few minutes of meeting them. Don’t downplay this internal skill! Once you have onboarded new staff, it is then your responsibility to keep them engaged and help them develop. This is often achieved through training.
Forex is not rocket science, but learning to profit from currency values requires time and intellectual effort. Before engaging in real trading, it’s worth exploring all the educational opportunities the platform can offer. Aside from training with the risk-free demo account, newbies have another valuable option – copy trading. This article reveals the basics of copy trading with FXTM, one of the most prominent UK brokers.
The Basic Principle
The idea of copying trades is based on delegation, and it is also used in the realm of stocks. Rather than analysing currency trends and placing orders by yourself, you trust a finance expert with managing a portion of your money. Subsequently, all the operations they perform are replicated – or copied – into your account. Basically, it looks as if you were making identical decisions.
For a rookie, it is a good opportunity to improve their understanding of Forex trading. Fear of making costly mistakes is a common motivation. Confidence is not gained overnight. However, it is also used by exchange veterans when they are pushed for time.
By connecting traders, the phenomenon has essentially given rise to a social trading network. Since its emergence, it has fundamentally transfigured the realm of currency exchange. Copy trading saves time and effort while ensuring the funds are being managed by a professional.
How It Works
Any client of a reliable broker like FXTM can sign up for the service. This will connect a share of their personal funds with the account of a professional known as strategy manager. The actions taken on the market get replicated based on a pre-set proportion. This includes opened and closed positions, Stop Loss and Take Profit orders.
Once the accounts are linked, you will see the expert’s open trades and future actions copied. The process is automatic, with zero effort required on your part. The arrangement makes a trader’s life easier by helping to invest wisely – essentially, by proxy. Hence, it is not rendered free of charge.
The size of the commission varies from broker to broker. It is often paid as a fixed monthly subscription. In another existing scenario, it constitutes 10% of the profit. From $500 gained by investing $1000 of your funds, $50 goes to the copied trader.
Retain Full Control
Importantly, you still have the freedom to manage the copied trades as you see fit. Even though the scheme involves an experienced currency trader, it should not be perceived as completely risk-free. Therefore, credible brokers allow you to terminate the relationship when necessary.
Start small to test the waters. If the strategy manager’s behaviour is effective, you can increase the portion of funds to the maximum. Since no legal investment is completely risk-free, remember that higher amounts come with higher risks.
This also explains why diversifying makes sense. Connect to several traders and monitor their results closely. If you find some of the trades unacceptable, most platforms will allow you to cancel their replication.
Limitations That Apply
In most cases, certain restrictions are imposed on how much you can invest through a copied trader. For instance, this may be limited to 20% of your total funds. Hence, with $2,000 in your account, you may choose to trust the trader with $200, or 10%, increasing the share later.
What Traders Copy
FXTM monitors the performance of all available experts and ranks them for your convenience. The rating is based on several performance indicators, including the length of experience, investment return, and more. This way, you can easily see how well a manager has been doing to understand their potential.
The Game of Thrones series is renowned for filming in some phenomenal locations, from Dothrakis storming the beaches of Spain to battles against the Night King on Icelandic mountains. Much like the Game of Thrones slot game (realmoneyslots.info), the Game of Thrones series have griped more people than we may ever have expected and as a result, the series have brought millions more people into the brand. Incredibly many of the locations in which the series was filmed, have also seen large increases in tourism, such is the interests.
Whilst much of the Game of Thrones scenery is taken from such exotic locations as those mentioned above, many of scenes were also shot in areas of the UK, including Northern Ireland and Scotland. Whilst a lot of the UK may feel rather dreary, our little island is actually full of breath-taking locations, not just in Northern Ireland or Scotland, but also throughout England – Norfolk in particular being known for its beautiful landscapes, spectacular coast lines and enchanting forests. Whilst Game of Thrones has now ended, the series has left a lasting impression on fans, many wondering what followed after the final episode. Where did Drogon go after Daenerys’s death? And how does Bran Stark’s ruling of Westeros shape the seven kingdoms?
As many might fantasise of sequels to satisfy their questions, we’ve rounded up 5 of the most scenic spots in Norfolk to have them answered in:
Each one these locations offers dramatically stunning scenery to accompany the theatrics of the plot, holding features already similar to some landscapes of the fictional world with just enough change to reflect the passing of time, the restructuring of the Seven Kingdoms in during Bran’s reign, and an introduction to new lands, new characters and ultimately a new beginning. We feel that each of these areas are extraordinary enough to make it into any sequel of the fantastical, well-loved series; offering vibrant scenes, dramatic beaches and geographical features rich in history.
Broads National Park
Norfolk’s Broads National Park is well known across the country, holding more than 125 miles of lock-free waterways, giving the area a natural feel to it within the beautiful surrounding countryside. With big skies, marshland fields and woodlands scattered throughout, Broads National Park could be the perfect location for the epic story of Game of Thrones to continue its journey on, holding more miles of waterway than Amsterdam or Venice!
Holkham Beach
The north of Norfolk is famous for its picturesque coastlines and spectacular beaches. A particularly atmospheric part to this area, which would be great for setting up an intense scene, is Holkham beach. With a dramatically wide and open area alongside a scattering of woodlands, Holkham beach would make the perfect location for one of the series’ epic show-downs, the exposing nature of the open beach stretching out as far as the eye can see.
Hunstanton
A small seaside town in Norfolk with vibrant red and white striped cliffs, also known as “Sunny Hunny”. These cliffs would make for a dramatic scene saturated in warm tones to contrast the dark surrounding sea. Sunny Hunny is also one of the few places along the east coast where you can watch the sun set over the sea. This area can therefore provide phenomenal golden hours to complement the colourful walls of the cliff, enhancing its vibrant scenery.
Thetford Forest
The largest lowland pine forest in the UK, Thetford Forest is an enchanting, 19,000 ha area of the country, located in between north Suffolk and south Norfolk. The forest holds areas of heathland saturated in history, created thousands of years ago to grow crops and to use as land for grazing. With such historic features, Thetford could be a fantastic area to provide any Game of Thrones sequel with a rich, well-trodden location to film on. Additionally, near this area is the Pingo Trail, which would provide a unique area of land to film, adding to the fantastical sense of the series.
Pingo Ponds
Norfolk is also home to the Great Eastern Pingo Trail, an 8 mile trail along rare ponds known as Pingos. Pingos are originally formed from low hillocks, created in the permafrost conditions of the last ice age. During this time, the water underneath the surface froze, which pushed soil upwards forming the hillock. When temperatures rose, the frozen surface melted, and the hillocks collapsed. This left unique ponds that now provide a prehistoric touch on the surrounding natural landscape.
With business rates and rents increasing for high street businesses, e-commerce sites are becoming ever more popular for companies deciding to replace bricks and mortar with the digital marketplace. E-commerce is a fantastic tool, making it easier than ever to purchase everything and anything at the tap of your finger. Likewise, it can also be a very cost effective way of operating a retail business. But is this the right move for you?
Reach more customers
Having an online store will instantly open your local business up to a regional, national, or even global audience. No longer are you restricted by local footfall. It is important to note however, that this larger audience will only be reached by having some form of digital marketing to get traffic to it. Long gone are the days where you can have a website which delivers sales without a planned marketing strategy. So be sure to factor the marketing costs into any forecasts.
24/7 Business
In a world that’s increasingly impatient, it’s beneficial to have an online marketplace that is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. For your customers looking to make a purchase at 3am on a Sunday morning – you’re still open, ready for business. We have seen big increases in overall sales, by adding e-commerce to an existing site, just because the products are available to order at the convenience of the user, during evenings and weekends.
Targeting and upselling
E-commerce brings a whole new level of data collection, allowing your business to track customer buying habits, giving you the option of heavily targeted marketing. Data collection such as spending habits or cart abandonment rates can help improve your stock and gives insight into what you should be spending your marketing budget on. It even opens up the possibility of upselling – simply providing bolt on suggestions or alternative products your customer may be interested in. Much more intuitive than conventional retail.
Offline Benefits
The other benefit, is the ability to show local or existing customers your comprehensive ranges for them to browse, before coming instore. For smaller shops offering larger products, this may mean being able to display a more extensive range of products than floor space will normally allow.
For example, Howards Cycles is a bike shop in Wymondham who wanted to improve their functionality whilst also showcasing their stock to customers before they visit their physical store. Their website has all the features of an e-commerce site with stock, pricing and descriptions of products but without the check-out option.
So should I take the step?
Finally, e-commerce is a fantastic tool to add to your business, however it isn’t always required and crucially, isn’t always viable. Having a strong understanding of your clientele is imperative before creating an online store. With ever increasing amounts of data regarding search volumes, competition levels and user behaviour, a realistic business plan with marketing spend can be calculated before committing to the project. We love e-commerce projects and have enjoy many successes, but always recommend a thorough, calculated approach before making the step.
If you are thinking about a step into online sales, we are always happy to help plan it with you, and will give you honest, tangible advice and insight. Call us today on 01603 859007 to arrange a meet up and a coffee.
Just a quick visual update on our new two bay hangar and our new workshop!
#excitingtimes
The law relating to the formation of Marriages and Civil Partnerships changed at the end of 2019 with the introduction of The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019. Following the successful campaign by opposite sex couple Steinfeld & Keidan, the law has been changed allowing heterosexual couples to enter into Civil Partnerships. Discrimination Previously, Civil Partnerships were only available to same sex couples. Steinfeld & Keidan challenged the law on the basis that it was discriminatory under article 8 ECHR (right to family life) when considered alongside article 14 (prohibition of discrimination). Their case went to the Supreme Court and in June 2018, the judges unanimously agreed that the ban was in fact discriminatory. Another option As reported by the BBC, the government has estimated that about 84,000 mixed-sex couples could form Civil Partnerships in 2020, giving them greater rights and protections within their relationships, without having to get married. Notable differences Whilst Civil Partnerships essentially award the same rights to couples as Marriage, there are a few notable differences:
If you are considering entering into a Marriage or Civil Partnership, there are many useful resources offering more information including: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/living-together-marriage-and-civil-partnership/ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marriage-and-civil-partnership-in-england-and-wales Pre-Nuptial Agreements/ Pre-Registration Agreements Experienced Hatch Brenner Family Solicitor Richard Dilks is able to advise couples on measures they can take before entering into a Marriage or Civil Partnership to set out how the couple would like their financial affairs to be resolved should they separate or divorce in the future. If you are getting married or entering into a Civil Partnership, you should consider a Pre-Nuptial Agreement or Pre-Registration Agreement. If you simply wish to live together, you should consider a Living Together Agreement. If you would like advice or to arrange an initial fixed fee family law consultation, please call Richard Dilks on 01603 660 811 or email richarddilks@hatchbrenner.co.uk
From 6 April 2020, employees will have a statutory right to take paid or unpaid leave (depending on their circumstances) in the event of the death of a child or a stillbirth. What is Parental Bereavement Leave? Parental Bereavement Leave is a period of up to two weeks’ leave that may be taken at any time within 56 weeks of the death of a child (eg someone under the age of 18, including a baby which is stillborn after at least 24 weeks of pregnancy). The leave may be taken as:
The leave can be taken in two blocks and within 56 weeks in order to enable employees to take the second week off around the anniversary of the child’s death, if they choose. The bereaved parent is entitled to a separate period of leave in relation to each child in a situation where more than one child has died or been stillborn. Who is eligible for Parental Bereavement Leave? Parental Bereavement Leave is available to employees only, from the commencement of employment. An employee is a ‘parent’ if they are any of the following:
Under the statutory scheme the leave must be taken as whole weeks, so it is assumed that leave of less than a week would still reduce the statutory entitlement by a week. Whilst there is nothing to prevent employers from allowing the employee to use up their entitlement in days rather than whole weeks, this could cause difficulty when it comes to the entitlement to statutory pay, as a whole week of leave must be taken in order to qualify for a week’s Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (see below). How is Parental Bereavement Leave taken? The employee must notify their employer of:
There is no particular requirement for the employer to be informed in writing. For leave in the first seven weeks, the employee must notify their employer before the time they are due to start work on the day they want leave to start or as soon as reasonably practicable. In weeks eight to 56, the employee must give at least seven days’ notice of their intention to take Parental Bereavement Leave. What is Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay? Provided that an employee meets the eligibility criteria, notifies their employer and provides the relevant evidence (as set out below), they may also be entitled to Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (‘SPBP’). Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay is paid at the same rate as other statutory payments such as paternity pay (currently £148.68), for one whole week or two whole weeks. Who is eligible for Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay? A bereaved parent (as set out above) who is employed on the date of death, with continuous employment of at least 26 weeks up to the week before the child died, will be entitled to Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay, provided that they earn a minimum amount per week (currently £116). The employee must notify their employer of the week or weeks for which Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay is being claimed. The notice does not need to be in writing (unless the employer requests it) and must be given either before the start of the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay period, no more than 28 days after the first day of the period or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. The employee must also supply a written statement (at the same time as giving the above notice) confirming their name, the date of the child’s death or stillbirth and a declaration that they meet one of the criteria of a “bereaved parent”. The 28-day period enables the parties to address the administrative requirements when the employee returns to work, rather than at the time of the child’s death. Practical points Employers will need to decide whether to put in place a Parental Bereavement Leave and Parental Bereavement Pay employment policy and if so, whether the policy will go beyond the minimum statutory requirements, plus how the policy will interact with any existing compassionate leave policy. It may make sense for employers to have a standard form for use by employees claiming SPBP. Employers will also need to consider the interaction between Parental Bereavement Leave and the existing right to time off for dependents. Employees are entitled to a reasonable amount of unpaid time off to take “action which is necessary … as a consequence of the death of a dependant”. This generally only enables an employee to deal with the logistical matters which arise as a result of a death. These include arranging and attending a funeral and, where appropriate, applying for probate and meeting with probate officers. This is not a right to compassionate leave. However, an employee who needs to take a day or two off in order to make arrangements could avoid using a whole week of parental bereavement leave by taking time off for dependants instead. Grief can work in unexpected ways and it is not easy to predict the time off that may be required. Employers need to give due consideration to such issues in the context of the business and best serve the needs of either the employee or the employer in some cases. Contact Norwich Employment Law Solicitor Carla Gowing for advice at carlagowing@hatchbrenner.co.uk or call 01603 660 811. There is support available for people dealing with bereavement. Hatch Brenner is proud to support Norwich and Central Norfolk Cruse Bereavement Care. Visit their website to find out more about their support services in the community.