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There are more than six million lone workers in the UK – around 20% of the workforce. As the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) points out, a lone worker is someone who “works by themselves without close or direct supervision.” Learn more about the varied field of lone working and how lone worker safety and productivity can affect your business here: Who is a Lone Worker – and Why Should You Care?

Employers are morally and legally responsible for the health, safety and welfare of all their employees, especially those that work alone. In this article Safepoint explores how organisations employing lone workers can better protect their staff and company, and what some of the ramifications are if they get things wrong. Read more here: How should employers protect lone workers – and what are their liabilities?

Live Chat! The MOST preferred channel for communication – who knew?   Perhaps you haven’t really thought about Live Chat as it’s something else that needs managing.  Or if you think it’s not for you evidence says it’s not the case.  There is a lot of evidence that not having Live Chat enabled on your website is losing you business.  How many times have you messaged Amazon or similar as sometimes, it’s easier than hunting for a phone number on the website and, you don’t always want to have to speak to someone.  Apparently, many people absolutely hate picking up the phone and actually have to speak to someone.   Advantages of having Live Chat on your site  

• It’s quick and convenient for your clients that want their questions answered right now
• Customers are not prepared to wait and will find someone else that does have the answers they’re looking for
• It’s cost effective to run and manage
• Improves customer service and loyalty
• Reduce your costs and increase sales

  If you’re thinking ‘it won’t work in my industry’, then you might need to think again.  I bet there are people in your industry already gaining new customers via Live Chat.  In fact, I would put money on it.   There are many different Apps for Live Chat, some are even free.  It’s quick and simple to pop onto your website.  The one thing that you will need to do though is manage it – either yourself, or get someone else to manage it for you.  It’s probably more damaging to your business if you have the Live Chat open on your website, but when someone asks a question, there’s no one there to answer it.  It’s said people and to some extent, businesses have one chance to make a good impression and leaving the potential customer hanging blows that one chance.  There will be lots of other companies doing what you do that will be open and take their money.  

“63% of millennials prefer to have their basic customer support queries answered by live chat, versus traditional channels”

63%!!  That’s an awfully big statistic and a lot of business lost – it’s the rock-star of communication.

If you think this is a great idea for you, call us and we’ll support you all the way 01603 513111 or email me at wendy@livelinkresource.co.uk

 

 

One of the biggest problems that many gamblers face is the ability to do business with a casino company for many years. Longevity is not a thing that gambling companies are known for, especially in the age of the online casino. In this environment, however, there are still some innovative and strong companies that have stood up to the test of time, becoming better as they go. Here are some casino companies with great longevity that you can definitely trust if you are a gambler who is looking for a homebase.

There are many other brands like Casumo.com that are showcasing the same properties as these long-standing icons in the industry. Newer brands are also making their way into the online space, so you can expect to see some of the big names in the industry follow suit. However, the new and expanded world of online gambling allows for many new brands to take market share without necessarily stepping on the toes of the big boys. We can probably expect to see many more casino companies with great longevity in the near future, as new technology allows innovative people within those companies to create unique experiences for their clients.

MGM Resorts

Many people know MGM as the movie studio, but it is actually a brand that owns many iconic casinos around the world. Its flagship in Las Vegas is one of the most highly trafficked gambling centers on the planet. Its portfolio also includes the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Mirage in Las Vegas and many other huge performers in Springfield, Macau and other international cities.

Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment definitely has longevity. As one of the oldest company brands in the casino industry, gamblers can expect a great time from its more than seven decades of experience. Under the Caesars umbrella resides the Horseshoe and Harrah’s brand of casinos. Its portfolio also includes Caesars Atlantic City, Ballys Atlantic City and many casinos in the international market such as its holdings in Vietnam and Egypt.

Crown Resorts

As the biggest casino company in Australia, Crown Resorts is a huge holder of many brands in the land down under. Australian billionaire James Packer was the fuel in the fire behind this brand for many years, and he was actually the catalyst for the brand launching in many new markets outside of Australia. Crown Resorts recently opened its new building in Macau after it teamed up with Melco International. The brand was actually blocked in Sri Lanka, but it is building in Las Vegas.

SJM Holdings

This company is based in Hong Kong and serves as a holding company for many brands that come out of that area. Stanley Ho, Hong Kong billionaire, is the wind in the sales of this company. Its portfolio includes the Casa Real, Lisboa Casino Hotel and Ponte 16 Resort Macau.

Wynn Resorts

Steve Wynn, billionaire and chairman, is responsible for some of the most luxurious casino properties in the world. This is a brand that has survived many eras of the casino industry. Its portfolio now includes incredible properties in Las Vegas and Macau. They are also building a new location in Boston Harbor.

Galaxy Entertainment

Coming out of Hong Kong, this brand has concentrated itself strictly on the Macau market. However, it will soon begin construction on a location in Boracay of the Philippines in 2019. The family owned company comes out of the Lui family of Hong Kong. Its portfolio includes the Waldo Casino Hotel, the Broadway Macau, the Starworld Casino and Hotel, the Galaxy Macau Casino and the President Casino and Hotel.

Health and safety policy cannot be effective without good communication and trust between lone workers and their employers. What tools are available to help employers and staff take responsibility for their health and safety, and how you can you build a better safety culture in your organisation? Find out more here: How can employers and lone workers share responsibility for health and safety?

There are a plethora of blogs and articles on the internet about working from home.  Whether that’s occasionally or, from a home office.  Self-employed, employed or consultant.  This is my personal story of employing remote workers.

Some people think having their team working from home is great, others are much more sceptical.  The one thing that comes up time and time again is productivity.  People hand-wringing that their employees won’t be productive as they’ll be lured away by something interesting on the TV, cooking their dinner or even dusting (whatever dusting is!).

My question would be – is the work being done?  If it is, does it matter if they’ve sloped off to watch Homes Under the Hammer (you can see what my guilty pleasure is).  Does it matter when it was done if it was done well and the deadline was met?

I’ve called this the Productivity Myth, as that’s exactly what it is – a myth.  When the right team is working together with the same shared vision, what happens?  Productivity soars.  It doesn’t matter if they are warming the seat in the swanky office or bent over their desk at home. 

If you have a team member that’s going to sit back and not care, they’ll do that in your expensive office too.  All that’s happening is you’re adding to your business cost and your blood pressure is rising to stratospheric levels trying to manage them.

How do I know that lack of productivity is a myth? 

Because I have done both.  Previously, all my team were based in that (expensive) office.  Buses were ‘late’, lots of ‘headaches and tummy pains’ and I was paying for that.  Not just in money, but in time, stress and frustration.

A little over two years ago, I saw the light and hired my first two home workers.  They are still with me today. Today, every member of the team works from their home office.  I keep a small serviced office in Norwich and I’m the only person that uses it.

What have been the pitfalls?

There is one pitfall and it’s probably not what you think it will be.  It’s getting the right person.  Our hiring process is long and in depth.  Applicants think they want to work from home, and it will be great (or easy), but soon find out it’s neither.  Some find the isolation hard. 

What’s great?

Almost everything! 

• Communication is better than when we were office-based.  We have regular scheduled group Skype meetings and other Skype channels, including a water-cooler one and a Whale Done group (Whale Done by Kenneth H Blanchard) which is full of positivity and client praise.
• We have the pick of very experienced people as we’re not limited by geography
• Some of my colleagues are carers/have a chronic illness and are not limited by having to access the traditional office.  They bring incredible knowledge and experience with them and are key to growing LiveLink.
• The obvious, no expensive office costs
• Happy colleagues – no sitting in traffic, no polluting the environment, no commute!

Would I go back to having an office-based team. Never – it wouldn’t enter my head.

A warrant control is a legal document that is given by the court if you have any debt and it is the type of document that allows the agents of warrant control to have a check at your place, and they are allowed to get control over the things you own. Whatever they seize will typically be sold at auction to collect the debt that is required from you. It is necessary that the warrant of control is given by the court, and the court has the right to file such warrants against you if you have not paid a fine charged within the country of the court judgment.

What are Bailiffs?

Bailiffs are also known as enforcement agents, who are hired by the court and may be allowed to enter your home if do not pay your debts on time. The court will first send you a notice to pay your debt within a set period of days or weeks and if you do not clear the charge fined on you then the bailiffs may be allowed to enter your house, and may well be allowed by the court to take certain posessions from your place without your express permission.

Can a Warrant of Control be Stopped?

It is advisable to get rid of the CCJ payment as soon as possible to avoid getting into the situations which may lead to the issuing of a warrant of control, but if you are late then you can still get rid of this warrant by applying for the necessary paperwork from the court. This paperwork will likely help you to get rid of this warrant as soon as possible.

What Bailiffs Can and Cannot Take

There are certain rules under which the bailiffs are required to work:

What Can Bailiffs Seize?

• Luxury items including TVs, vehicles, bicycles
• Any money, cheques, securities, stocks, offers, and pawn tickets that have a place with you
• Vehicle claimed by you and kept at your home, business or open interstate

What Can Bailiffs Not Seize?

• Another person’s assets
• Things that are required for your work or belongs to your workplace
• Things that are the basic requirements for your essential needs such as garments/cooker/furniture
• Anything that is owned by a child

If you have any further queries regarding bailiffs or the warrant of control, you can simply view this website for more information.