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SMP News                                       September 2011

The Editor
 Susan Pattrick
Managing Director,
Mrs Susan Pattrick

Featured Charity

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PLEASE SUPPORT THE PETITION FISH CAMPAIGN
 

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2012 will be the most important date for Marine conservation in the history of the British Isles. We have a unique opportunity to restore the UK's wonderful coasts and seas to Living Seas, add your voice to our campaign and get ready to shout about marine protected areas.

The seas around the UK have the potential to be amongst the most productive and wildlife-rich on Earth. They support over 50% of the UK's biodiversity, supporting thousands of plants and animals. At present however, our seas are a shadow of their former selves. For centuries, we have taken our sea's riches for granted, taking too much with too little care, fish stocks are declining and habitats are being destroyed. At present, only 2% of the UK's seas have a minimal level of protection for wildlife.

Click here for further information... 

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Please feel free to nominate a future charity of the month here...

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Greetings! 
Where oh where did the summer go? September is upon us and I'm just about to review my Christmas Card design! Ouch!
Just a quick update on the BWN Get Naked calendar... some 420 calendars were sold by the 7th September (the closing date of the Farleigh Hospice £50 challenge), raising over £4,200. So a huge thank-you to all, but there are still 80 left so please make your pledge to buy one so that we can say we have raised a minimum total of £5,000.
By the way, the answer to where the summer went may lie in a rather inspired tweet which I have included below. 

New leaflets and folders

leaflet imageI'm delighted to say that we now have a new range of promotional material available including this

8-page leaflet which provides a concise explanation of everything you need to know about the Accessible Business Mark®.

So if you've ever wondered exactly what it's all about but been too afraid to ask(!) or you'd like some copies to pass on to some colleagues, please email me and I'll send you some copies.

It also includes details of a new initiative to create a trust fund to support disabled athletes. More details to follow.

Disabled British Open - Golf Championship

Tony LloydCongratulations to Tony Lloyd, who came runner-up in the recent British Disabled Open. His second place finish was one better than last year, so who knows ... next year he may go one better still.

Read his story and blog here.

 

Having already captained England, Tony's ambition is to get to the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil. He is always looking for sponsorship... you can contact Tony here via email.

Last chance offer!

Essex Wildlife Trust Logo

 

Corporate Scheme

20th Anniversary Emerald Ball

 

Friday 30th September 2011

 

Stockbrook Manor, Billericay

 

 

Join us at this prestigious black tie event and celebrate 20 years of the corporate scheme. Three course meal, magician, live music and dancing. Tickets only £55 per person or £500 for a table of 10. Please feel free to bring your clients. Only one table remaining so please contact Michele Farrant urgently on 01621 862984 or email for a booking form.  

Look forward to seeing you there!
Pay cut dismissal - fair or otherwise?
Is it fair to dismiss an employee for refusing to accept a pay cut? For those pondering this question, a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal decision will be food for thought.

It could be said that there is an assumption that pay is 'sacred' and there are of course various laws that protect employees' wages. However, the law also recognises that employers may be subject to pressures that may mean that pay is perhaps not as sacred as some may believe.

In Garside and Laycock Ltd v Booth the EAT has held that an employment tribunal misdirected itself in finding that it was unfair to dismiss an employee who refused to accept a pay cut. Read more ...
Article courtesy of Palmers Solicitors.

2012 Paralympics - Tickets on sale NOW 

Paralympic logo

 

Tickets are on sale from

09 September to 26 September.

 

Click here to register and purchase.

 

There are 20 sports in the Paralympic programme for the London 2012 Games. So go on ... get involved, it's a chance in a lifetime.

 For all you twitter people ...

I am grateful to a colleague who passed on this terrific tweet recently... Inspired!

 

INSTALLING SUMMER..... ███████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░

44% DONE. Installation failed.

404 error: Season not found. ☂☃

 

Tweet courtesy of @palstudios, having been retweeted by @vipdesignuk.

 Holiday pay and sickness absence ...

The recent EAT decision in NHS Leeds v Larner has made clear that workers on long term sick leave do not need to actually submit a request for annual leave in order to be entitled to it.

Before this decision, it was already clear that annual leave entitlement did accrue during a period of sick leave - the EAT now had to decide whether a worker would forfeit that entitlement if they did not submit a request for that annual leave before the end of the pay year. Read more ...

Article courtesy of Kennedy's Law.

 And Finally - Go Grab a Coffee

If you've got a few minutes spare, read this rather interesting blog from someone who has hours to spare...

ME sufferer Scott Jordan-Harris talks about his 'average day'. Read the article here ...
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I hope you found this newsletter interesting, informative and useful. As always I would welcome any feedback, and do please let me know of any future topics you'd like to see.
Kind Regards,
 
Susan
SMP Consultancy Ltd