30+mba-第39章

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but　its　members　give　an　undertaking　to　contribute　a　nominal　
amount　towards　the　winding　up　of　the　pany　in　the　event　of　a　shortfall　
when　it　closes　down。　It　cannot　distribute　its　profits　to　its　members；　and　is　
therefore　eligible　to　apply　for　charitable　status　if　necessary。　You　may　find　
this　type　of　pany　being　used　by　a　business　as　a　means　of　isolating　part　
of　its　activities；　such　as　clubs　or　sports　associations　that　are　not　part　of　its　
profit…generating　business。　
Co…operative　
A　co…operative　is　an　enterprise　owned　and　controlled　by　the　people　working　
in　it。　Once　in　danger　of　being　extinct；　the　workers’　co…operative　is　
enjoying　something　of　a　eback；　and　there　are　over　4；370　operating　in　
the　UK；　employing　195；000　people。　They　are　growing　at　the　rate　of　20　per　
cent　per　annum。
180　The　Thirty…Day　MBA　
Help　and　advice　on　business　corporate　
structure　
A　Guidance　Note　entitled　‘Business　Ownership’　is　available　from　panies　
House　（wwwpanieshouse。gov。uk　》　Guidance　Booklets）。　
Business　Link　（businesslink。gov。uk　》　Taxes；　returns　and　payroll　》　
Choosing　and　se。。ing　up　a　legal　structure　》　Legal　structure：　the　basics）　has　
a　guide　to　pu。。ing　your　business　on　a　proper　legal　footing；　explaining　the　
tax　and　other　implications　of　different　ownership　structures。　
Cooperatives　UK　（cooperatives…ukop　》　Services　》　Co…operative　
Development）　is　the　central　membership　organization　for　co…operative　
enterprises　throughout　the　UK。　This　link　is　to　the　regional　network。　
Desktop　Lawyer　（desktoplawyer。uk　》　BUSINESS　》　BUSINESS　
START…UP　》　Choosing　a　business　structure　》　The　Partnership）　has　a　
summary　of　the　pros　and　cons　of　partnerships　as　well　as　inexpensive　partnership　
deeds。　
EMPLOYMENT　LAW　
Trading　regulations　
Organizations　are　heavily　regulated　in　almost　every　sphere　of　their　trading　
operations。　Some　types　of　business　require　a　permit　before　they　can　even　
start　trading　and　all　businesses　have　to　ply　with　certain　standards　when　
it　es　to　advertising；　holding　information　or　offering　credit。　These　are　the　
regulations　that　govern　the　trading　activities　of　most　business　ventures。　
Getting　a　licence　or　permit　
Some　businesses；　such　as　those　working　with　food　or　alcohol；　employment　
agencies；　mini…cabs　and　hairdressers；　need　a　licence　or　permit　before　they　
can　set　up　in　business　at　all。　Even　playing　music　in　public；　recorded　or　live；　
or　pu。。ing　table　and　chairs　on　a　pavement　means　ge。。ing　permission　from　
someone。　Your　local　authority　planning　department　can　advise　you　on　
what　rules　will　apply　to　your　business。　You　can　also　use　this　Business　Link　
website　（businesslink。gov。uk　》　Your　type　of　business）　from　which　
you　can　use　their　interactive　tool　to　find　out　which　permits；　licences　and　
registrations　will　apply　and　where　to　get　more　information。　
Advertising　and　descriptive　standards　
Any　advertising　or　promotion　you　undertake　concerning　your　business　
and　its　products　and　services；　including　descriptions　on　packaging；　leaflets　
and　instructions　and　those　given　verbally；　have　to　ply　with　the　relevant　
Business　Law　181　
regulations。　You　can’t　just　make　any　claims　you　believe　to　be　appropriate　
for　your　business。　Such　claims　must　be　decent；　honest；　truthful　and　take　
into　account　your　wider　responsibilities　to　consumers　and　anyone　else　
likely　to　be　affected；　if　you　say　anything　that　is　misleading　or　fails　to　meet　
any　of　these　tests　then　you　could　leave　yourself　open　to　being　sued。　
The　five　bodies　concerned　with　se。。ing　the　standards　and　enforcing　the　
rules　are：　
。　The　Advertising　Authority　（asa。uk　》　Advertising　Codes）　for　
printed　ma。。er；　newspapers；　magazines　and　so　forth　and　the　internet。　
。　Of　（wwwof。uk　》　About　Of　》　pliance；　Accessibility　
and　Diversity）　is　responsible　for　ensuring　advertisements　on　television　
and　radio　ply　with　rules　on　what　can　and　cannot　be　advertised；　
including　any　special　conditions　such　as　the　timing　and　content　of　
material　aimed　at　children。　
。　The　Financial　Services　Authority　（fsa。gov。uk　》　Being　regulated　
》　Financial　Promotions）　has　the　responsibility　to　see　that　financial　
promotions　are　clear；　fair　and　not　misleading。　
。　The　Office　of　Fair　Trading　（o。。。gov。uk　》　Advice　and　resources　》　
Resource　base　》　Approved　codes　of　practice）　is　responsible　for　ensuring　
that　advertisements　are　not　misleading　or　make　unfair　or　exaggerated　
parisons　with　other　products　and　services　and　to　help　consumers　
find　businesses　that　have　high　standards　of　customer　service。　
。　Trading　Standards　（tradingstandards。gov。uk　》　For　business　》　
guidance　leaflets　》　Trade　Descriptions）　covers　anything　such　as　quantity；　
size；　position；　method　of　manufacture；　strength；　performance；　place　
of　manufacture；　date；　brand　name；　conformity　with　any　recognized　
standard　or　history。　
plaints；　returns　and　refunds　
Customers　buying　products　are　entitled　to　expect　that　the　goods　are　‘fit　
for　purpose’　in　that　they　can　do　what　they　claim；　and；　if　the　customer　has　
informed　you　of　a　particular　need；　that　they　are　suitable　for　that　purpose。　
The　goods　also　have　to　be　of　‘satisfactory　quality’；　that　is；　durable　and　
without　defects　that　would　affect　performance　or　prevent　their　enjoyment。　
For　services；　you　must　carry　out　the　work　with　reasonable　skill　and　care　and　
provide　it　within　a　reasonable　amount　of　time。　The　word　reasonable　is　not　
defined　and　is　applied　in　relation　to　each　type　of　service。　So；　for　example；　
repairing　a　shoe　might　reasonably　be　expected　to　take　a　week；　while　three　
months　would　be　unreasonable。　
If　goods　or　services　don’t　meet　these　conditions；　customers　can　claim　a　
refund。　If　they　have　altered　or　waited　an　excessive　amount　of　time　before　
182　The　Thirty…Day　MBA　
plaining　or　have　indicated　in　any　other　way　that　they　have　‘accepted’；　
they　may　not　be　entitled　to　a　refund；　but　may　still　be　able　to　claim　some　
money　back　for　a　period　of　up　to　six　years。　Trading　Standards　（　
tradingstandards。gov。uk　》　For　business　》　guidance　leaflets　》　A　Trader’s　
Guide　to　the　Civil　Law　Relating　to　the　Sale　and　Supply　of　Goods　and　
Services）　provides　a　summarized　guide　to　the　relevant　laws　in　clear　plain　
English。　
Distance　selling　and　online　trading　
Selling　by　mail　order　via　the　internet；　television；　radio；　telephone；　fax　or　
catalogue　requires　that　you　ply　with　some　additional　rules　over　and　
above　those　concerning　the　sale　of　goods　and　services　described　above。　In　
summary；　you　have　to　provide　wri。。en　information；　an　order　confirmation；　
and　the　chance　to　cancel　the　contract。　During　the　cooling…off　period　
customers　have　the　unconditional　right　to　cancel　within　seven　working　
days；　provided　they　have　informed　you　in　writing　by　le。。er；　fax　or　e…mail。　
There　are；　however；　a　wide　range　of　exemptions　to　the　right　to　cancel；　
including：　acmodation；　transport；　food；　newspapers；　audio　or　video　
recordings　and　goods　made　to　a　customer’s　specification。　The　Office　of　Fair　
Trading　（o。。。gov。uk　》　Advice　and　resources　》　Advice　for　businesses　》　
Selling　at　a　distance）　publishes　a　guide　for　business　on　distance　selling。　
Protecting　customer　data　
If　you　hold　personal　information　on　a　puter　on　any　living　person；　customer　
or　employee　for　example；　then　there　is　a　good　chance　you　need　to　
register　under　the　Data　Protection　Act。　The　rules　state　that　the　information　
held　must　have　been　obtained　fairly；　be　accurate；　held　only　for　as　long　as　
necessary　and　held　only　for　a　lawful　purpose。　
You　can　check　if　you　are　likely　to　need　to　register　using　the　interactive　
tool　on　the　Business　Link　website　（businesslink。gov。uk　》　IT　&　emerce　
》　Data　protection　and　your　business　》　ply　with　data　
protection　legislation）。　
Consumer　credit　licence　
If　you　plan　to　let　your　customers　buy　on　credit；　or　hire　out　or　lease　products　
to　private　individuals　or　to　businesses；　then　you　will　in　all　probability　have　
to　apply　to　be　licensed　to　provide　credit。　If　you　think　you　may　need　to　be　
licensed；　read　the　regulations　on　the　website　of　the　Office　of　Fair　Trading　
（o。。。gov。uk　》　Advice　and　resources　》　Advice　for　businesses　》　Offering　
credit　》　Do　you　need　a　credit　licence）。
Business　Law　183　
EMPLOYMENT　LEGISLATION　
Employing　people　full　or　part　time　is　something　of　a　legal　minefield；　starting　
with　the　job　advert　and　culminating　with　the　point　at　which　you　decide　
to　part　pany。　Three　prehensive　sources　of　information　on　the　legal　
aspects　of　employment　are：　
。　Acas　（acas。uk　》　Our　publications　》　Rights　at　work　leaflets）　is　a　
link　to　free　leaflets　provided　by　the　Advisory　and　Conciliation　Service；　
who　should　know　a　thing　or　two　about　employment　law。　
。　Business　Link　（businesslink。gov。uk　》　Employing　people　》　
Recruitment　and　ge。。ing　started）。　
。　TheSite　（thesite　》　Work　&　Study　》　Working　》　Workers’　
Rights）　is　a　site　run　by　YouthNet　UK；　a　charity　that　helps　young　people　
have　access　to　high…quality；　impartial　information　as　an　aid　to　making　
decisions。　It　covers　everything　to　do　with　work；　including　drug　testing　
at　work。　While　the　site’s　centre　of　gravity　is　young　people；　the　law　as　
described　applies　to　employers。　
Advertising　the　job　
As　with　any　advertising；　you　are　governed　by　the　laws　on　discrimination　
and　equal　opportunities。　That　means　that　any　reference　to　gender；　age；　
nationality；　sexual　orientation　or　religion　is　not　permi。。ed。　You　can　still　
describe　the　job　and　the　ideal　candidate　in　terms　of　their　experience；　knowledge；　
a。。itude　and　qualifications。　For　tips　on　the　sentences　you　can　use；　
visit　VizualHR　（oneclickhr　》　HR　Guide　》　Recruitment　&　
Selection　》　Recruitment）。　The　basic　information；　tips　about　the　applicant；　
the　organization；　the　job　and　the　job　package　are　free　and　very　adequate；　
you　have　to　subscribe　for　fuller　information。　
Contracts　of　employment　
Employers　are　required　to　give　employees　a　contract　of　employment　within　
two　months　of　their　starting　work。　The　contract　has　to　contain　all　the　
obvious　things　such　as　where　the　job　is　to　be；　what　the　responsibilities　are；　
pay；　holiday　entitlement；　as　well　as　details　on　sick　pay；　pension；　period　of　
notice　and　the　grievance　and　disciplinary　procedure。　
Business　Link　（businesslink。gov。uk　》　Employing　people　》　
Paperwork　》　Create　a　wri。。en　statement　of　employment）　has　an　interactive　
tool　to　create　a　document　of　everything　you　are　required　by　law　to　give　a　
new　employee。　The　law　requires　that　all　workers　have　a　statutory　right　to　
at　least　four　weeks’　paid　annual　leave；　pro　rata　for　part…timers；　that　you　
184　The　Thirty…Day　MBA　
pay　the　statutory　minimum　wage；　dependent　on　the　age　of　the　employee；　
that　they　work　within　the　working　time　limits　（48　hours　a　week）；　and　that　
parents　are　entitled　to　periods　of　paid　leave　when　they　have　children　（up　to　
52　weeks　for　women　and　one　or　two　weeks　for　men）。　
Employment　records　
Employers　must　maintain　records　on　employees；　keeping　note　of　absences；　
sickness；　disputes；　disciplinary　ma。。ers；　accidents；　training；　holidays　and　
any　appraisals　or　performance　reviews。　If　you　have　an　unsatisfactory　
employee　and　want　to　dismiss　them；　this　information　will　be　vital。　
OyezWaterlow　（oyezwaterlow。uk　》　HR　Paper　Forms）　has　a　record　
keeping　system　priced　at　￡78。95。　
So。。ware　such　as　that　provided　by　Vizual　Management　So