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Counting the cost of sunny weather - an accountant's paradise

9th Jul 2013
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The sun has been out for a few days and all we hear about is rising ice cream sales and how hot it has been "since records began" . However, there lurks a darker side to all the excitement and good cheer that is weather brings.

I refer to the debilitating effects of sun on many people , myself included . Take a closer look at your staff productivity and start totting up the cost. We don't hear about this in the news and people such as myself are viewed as miserable because we don't like the sun. Now I appreciate how most people feel during the winter when the cold saps their get up and go.Me ? I thrive in the winter and people think I am nuts , walking around in shirt sleeves , often short , when there's an inch of snow underfoot.

Never mind the staff output , what about trying to nail down clients for important meetings ? You know, the ones where they are depositing a cheque with you on the way out. If they aren't out fishing or hiking it's the gold course or the beer garden.

Do I believe in climate change ? Absolutely , just let me know when it's my turn to arrange the change.

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John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
09th Jul 2013 12:14

Is this a genetic predisposition?

Thanks for an entertaining and thought-provoking post, Flying Scotsman. My partner shares your outlook - but then she's originally from Glasgow.

I, however, was born in California and don't mind hot weather, just as long is it's not humid and muggy.

Our different biological climate settings make life difficult when it comes to planning holidays. As a wannabe surfer-type dude, the only time I seem to end up lounging on beaches is when I visit Scottish islands, where if the wind doesn't get you, the midgies will.

We also notice a bit of a dip in traffic at this time of year on AccountingWEB. - but put it down more to holidays than people skiving off work. If you aren't happy with hot sun, just stay indoors and catch up with your CPD (and blogging) with us.

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
12th Jul 2013 16:28

Weather and genetics

I am also a Glaswegian , a scion of the South Side .  I remember the midges well from many a day trip the Highlands .

When I was articled the summer months were pretty much dead as clients were away or couldn't be bothered bringing in the brown paper bags. This is of course highly inefficient as it made for a lot of pressure at the back end of the year. The question is whether the cloud can change all that given that accountants can now access client records.  An even bigger one is whether the client will respond to your queries from his or her iPhone whilst lounging by the pool

I fully *intend* to ignore my email for a full 7 days of holiday to see if it enhances my break. Yup , you read correctly , 7 days free of email .

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7om
By Tom 7000
10th Jul 2013 14:15

top tip

Find the most senior person in the building that reports to you

Promote them to ice cream monitor.

When you get hot and bothered. call them and give them a bollocking for not coming up to expectations...ie I am hot and bothered and theres no ice cream in my hand...and you are in charge of it

 

Immediately .send them to sainsburys with some petty cash and their tail between their legs.

This happened here 15 minutes ago except she hasnt got a tail but she has got an FCCA

 

 

 

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
10th Jul 2013 15:14

Ice cream

Funnily enough yesterday I treated them all to ice cream. There was 1 spare and by lunch time today it had disappeared . Suspect last seen in the post room.

Small gestures like this go a long long way

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7om
By Tom 7000
10th Jul 2013 17:48

P11d

 

have you logged it on the P11d schedule

Also

the anti bribery schedule ( if a client was present)

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By The 5-50 Coach
11th Jul 2013 09:36

Will the ice cream encourage extra midges?

More seriously though it's interesting. As the weather improves people become more positive and that's good for business (or at least seems so when talking to people generally).

When it gets even warmer and verges into Ice Cream territory, people do seem to slow down a bit. But that still seems better than the dark days of winter?

Off to get some more Ice Cream

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Norman Younger
By Norman Younger
11th Jul 2013 15:25

Winter v Summer productivity

I would argue that a hot drink and biscuit first thing on a cold winter morning really fires you up to work as opposed to arriving sticky , sweaty and smelly with little or no energy to knuckle down.

Clients are more positive and sunshine makes people feel better but it has it limitations on productivity , just look at the basket case economies of southern Europe.

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