Most businesses operate with very little money in the bank. Some just operate perpetually on an overdraft, or with just enough to keep the bank manager happy.

To some, this is “situation normal”, and many organisations exist in this financially precarious state for months and even years. Having very little money is not a crime, nor is it always a sign of instability. Money in the bank is only working for the bank, think about what you could be doing with your cash to further your own business goals.

But when it happens to you for the first time, or if you walk into a role, or organisation, in a position of responsibility for the first time it can seem a frightening situation. Questions like “Will we be able to pay our staff”, “How can I please the screaming creditors”, or “The bank manager might pull the plug”, can keep even the strongest of us awake at night.

The first thing to do is not panic. Knee jerk reactions might further de-stabilise the organisation and, at worst, tip you over the edge.
Work out who owes you money. Chase it, hard.
Work out who you owe money to. I suggest you are open and honest with them. I would rather be thought of as a “slow payer”, than a “no payer”.
Take control – write down your realistic financial goals. Then write down what you need to do to achieve them. Then start doing those things.

Perhaps the best advice is to talk with someone who has been in that situation themselves (and survived!). It might not immediately solve your problem, but you might gain some strength, insight, and develop some tactics to help you pull through.

I was asked recently if there is an easy way to calculate how much holiday pay a casual worker receives. For once, I was able reply yes; there is an easy way to answer a payroll question!

Since April 2009, under the Working Time Regulations 1998 (as amended), all employees have the right to 28 days, or 5.6 weeks, paid leave (including statutory bank holidays) each year.

5.6 weeks holiday, divided by 46.4 weeks (52 weeks less 5.6 weeks holiday) equals 12.07%.

A member of staff who is full time, or part time with fixed hours, usually has their holiday pay included in their salary. Unless it is otherwise contracted, casual staff, or those with irregular hours, have their holiday pay added on to their pay. Sub contractors (those not paid through your payroll) are not normally entitled to holiday pay.

So the simplest way to calculate how much a member of staff who works irregular hours is entitled to receive in holiday pay is to multiply their actual earnings by 12.07%.

For example, if a casual worker has worked 100 hours, they will have accrued 12.07 hours holiday. If their hourly rate is £10, they are entitled to £120.70 holiday pay.

It is vital that the holiday pay is separately identified on their pay slip, as it is illegal to include it with their basic wages.

So there it is, the easy way to calculate holiday pay for your staff who work irregular hours!