The Positive Accountant Vol 1 Ed 48
It feels a bit odd having a bank holiday in the midst of all that is going on. What makes a bank holiday different from any other day ?
And here's the answer- A bank holiday during a period when an employee is being furloughed needs to be paid at 100% not 80% pay.
Alternatively, if it is paid at 80% then it gets treated as a normal working day and a day in lieu is given in the future (i.e. a full pay day)
Sothat'swhat makes a bank holiday different !
And a minefield has been created for us in this regard given that furloughing can potentially have covered Easter, both May bank holidays and - looking forward - the August one ! Surely it can't still be with us at Christmas ?
Anyway, back to our new normality today. And during one of several Zoom calls I made a joke that no-one laughed at. I guess that means I'm not remotely funny.
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What are my positives today:-:
1. We had a barbecue yesterday
The sun shone, we had meat in the fridge, surely time for a barbecue. Cooked to perfection. But trust a teenager to bring things back to earth. "Dad, this is great, it's the least burned Barbecue you've ever done"
2. The skies are open, we're not grounded any more !
And that's extremely positive.
My plane was coming up for a minor service, and, for reasons that make a very long story (maybe for another day), I have it maintained in Exeter. Which is a great excuse to be airborne after too long stuck on the ground !
3.This weather is a-may-zing !
Now, I know that farming clients won't agree with me, but for me this weather is perfect.
And who needs to travel, we can be global citizens in our own back gardens.
We can pretend that we're in continental Europe enjoying a breakfast platter, indulge in a Parisienne style patisserie al fresco for lunch, have a barbecue sipping Caribbean cocktails as the sun goes down. And end up the size of a small planet by the end
What have I been talking to clients about today ?
Recruitment and employees- if what we read about vaguely comes true, there's going to be a great many people looking for jobs soon.
Which might make a real opportunity for employers not affected by the downturn.
However, the really good people aren't going to move voluntarily, and they will be the ones that companies hang onto.
So if you see your business growing and needing extra people, don't think the process of recruitment is going to get any easier, it might be the reverse !
Forecasting- when times are good, forecasting is easy. Take last year's sales and add 10%. Really feeling confident ? Add 20%
But at times like this we need a bit more confidence around those numbers. Let's tale a look at your sales pipeline - does the situation 'on the ground' resemble what your forecast numbers show ? If not, how are going to plug the gap ?
The other things that is going to get really important is to keep going back to forecasts - in times of uncertainty, 30 day, 60 day, 90 day budgets and cashflows become really significant.
Until tomorrow, stay safe, stay positive
Adrian
07917 338342
This isn't the sunset from our back garden. But if I exercise my imagination - or drink a bit more rum - it might be...