Am I Bothered –

You Have to Be

Catherine Tate is famous for one of her character’s (Lauren – the petulant school girl), when she has been even remotely out gunned in an argument or discussion, to then embark on a tirade centred upon her getting her ‘victim’ to ask her if she is bothered because, she claims, she is not.

In business can you be bothered with perceived petty bureaucracy.  Most businesses say they cannot and tend to ignore issues they perceive either as not relevant or trivial.  The fact of the matter is that bureaucracy is an ever increasing part of business life in this Country and is to be ignored at one’s peril no matter how trivial a regulation or provision may appear to be.

In a recent book (‘How to Label a Goat’) (and yes there are regulations about how to properly label a goat) Ross Clark highlighted the increasing regulation creep from the current Government.  Mr Clark highlights;

1                    In the 12 months to 31 May 2006 the Government produced 3,621 pieces of legislation running to 98,600 pages.

2                    There are 279 tax form for businesses asking a total of 6,614 questions.

3                    The notes explaining the Treasury’s ‘simplified pensions regime’ runs to 1,369 pages

4                    There are 45 pages of instruction on how to correctly label a goat (or sheep)

Whether we like it or not the creep of regulation from central government gathers pace not only in terms of its extent but also its complexity. 

Of the 3,621 pieces of regulation referred to above only 27 came into force in the form of Acts of Parliament after the full and rigorous scrutiny of the Parliamentary process.  The rest came in the form of amendments to existing Acts of Parliament or other regulations effectively slipped through the back door.

Did you know that employers must not hold important meetings on 31 October because that might discriminate against Pagans who (of course) celebrate the festival of Samhain on that day.  An expensive discrimination claim someone surely will pursue in time.

The hidden cost of red tape and regulation on business today mounts every time more or new regulations come into force.  Many are as a result of the Governments drive to impose and measure performance targets.  There are, as a result, more managers and administrators in the NHS than there are nurses.  One police force discovered that it had a total of 1,150 different forms on which to report crimes.

Regulations such as these do not just affect the public sector.  Private sector regulation continues to grow at the same pace.  Stories are increasing of disaffected entrepreneurs giving up business or even this country because they find that they spend all their time filling in endless reams of forms and being unable to concentrate on what they are good at, making money and creating jobs.

Often the consequences for business for failing to deal with often trivial regulations are severe.  Did you know that petrol stations are unable to serve hot food after 11.00 pm unless they have a licence.  The costs of implementing and enforcing increasingly trivial Health and Safety regulation is putting many company’s out of business.  This ignores the penalties available to various government agencies to enforce the implementation of these regulations.

So beware and be warned.  What you think may be trivial may put your business at risk if ignored.  As ever in an increasingly complex world if you are unsure you should get advice.

Don’t be like the woman in Kilbride who got an ASBO preventing her from answering her door in her underwear.

So, if you want to receive sound, friendly, professional advice on any issues like these, contact

Sandersons Solicitors

17-19 Parliament Street

Hull

HU1 2BH

Tel:  01482 324662

Email:  enquiries@sandersonssolicitors.co.uk

Source:  Commerce & Industry, February 2007