Business Diary: January 12

DIARY'S inbox is slowly thawing out after being "snowed under" with press releases inspired by the big freeze.

You won't be surprised to hear that it's been "snow joke when bad weather disrupts business" or that, according to one public relations firm, remote working is a "snow-white" employment solution.

The prize for creativity must go to Czech-born Dr Katerina Steventon, who owns FaceWorkshops in Beverley, East Yorkshire. We received a press release sent on her behalf last week.

While millions are fretting over their tortuous journey to work and dwindling food and gas supplies, Dr Steventon believes we should also be considering an often-overlooked consequence of the freeze.

The cold weather isn't very good for our skin. So, after digging out the car or trudging home through a blizzard, Dr Steventon believes we should be moisturising more frequently to ensure our faces don't develop wrinkles because of the cold.

The Forum of Private Businesses estimates that employee absences due to the weather has cost the economy up to 230m a day.

Law firms such as DLA Piper have contacted us to make the case for companies adopting "an adverse weather policy" so staff know how they are expected to behave during periods of heavy snow.

Some firms have rolled their sleeves up to help their fellow entrepreneurs keep going. IT support company Intrasource, based in Hessle, East Yorkshire, has helped hundreds of people to work from home during the cold snap. This means they've avoided dangerous roads and, in many cases, parents have been able to look after their children while schools are closed.

What of the menace lurking beneath the snow? Well, tyre retailer Protyre is reminding drivers of the unseen dangers on snow-covered roads. Your tyres could be damaged by striking concealed potholes or kerbs. If that weren't bad enough, cold weather slows down the chemical reaction that generates the current in your car's battery.

Drivers are also being warned that the cold weather may cause damage to windscreen wipers, as the blades can become frozen to the screen. If they are frozen, motorists should not try to operate them, says Protyre, as this may blow a fuse and could cause the wiper motor to seize.

So many hazards! Perhaps it's not surprising that some people have chosen to stay under the duvet. But what will happen when the snow clears? We are preparing for a deluge of Press releases about the hidden dangers of April showers and May flowers.

Lucky switch for Leeds

Football's a tricky subject in Hanif Lalani's household.

BT's former head of Global Services, who was brought up in Wetherby, is an ardent Leeds United fan and tries to watch them as often as he can. But his daughter doesn't share his passion and controversially supports one of Leeds' biggest rivals, Manchester United.

So for the clubs' recent FA Cup tie, despite having tickets, Mr Lalani took a different tack. "Every time I take my daughter, Man United win," he said. "So I took her to Chelsea instead as I didn't want Man United to win."

His superstition worked, and Leeds United knocked Manchester United out with a 0-1 victory, their first win at Old Trafford for over 28 years.

Mr Lalani, who last week announced his shock departure from the telecoms giant to pursue "personal business interests", said perhaps the win is an omen.

"If Leeds can beat Man United then I can change jobs as well after 26 years," he said.

Moving story on TV

AS they bask in sunshine back in New Zealand, it appears that one Kiwi news channel has become a little confused about its geography.

Kiwi state broadcaster TVNZ broadcast this map, left, to illustrate how bad the weather has been back in the Mother Country.

One daily columnist for The New Zealand Herald commented: "You may mock the Americans for messing up world maps, but it seems that home-grown versions aren't much better. Check out this map of the UK shown by TVNZ in the 6pm news.

"The honest folk of Leeds would be mortified to find out they lived in the South.

"Leeds is an hour's drive north of Manchester."

Oops, Leeds folk probably wouldn't be all that pleased to hear they've also been relocated to Lancashire...