SUE Tumelty, founder and managing director of the Bristol-based HR Dept, which supports thousands of small and medium-sized businesses and organisations nationwide with everything employment related, offers practical and straight-talking advice on people management dilemmas.

Q. One of my staff keeps coming in with the most awful colds, sniffing and leaving tissues everywhere. Can I make her take time off? We don't pay sick pay.

Sue: Well there you have it then, she needs the money. If you make her stay at home when she feels she is fit to work then you will have to pay her. Meanwhile a few more waste paper bins and 1950s style posters saying "Coughs and sneezes spread diseases" around may help.

Q. I am just back from the Christmas shutdown and realise that the order book is really low for the next two months. I am sitting here with my head in my hands, absolutely worried sick. Can I lay off staff?

Sue: I think before Christmas you were burying your head in the sand. Come on, stop sitting and start selling or you will go under. Unless you have an express clause in your staff contracts, you can't lay them off. Alternatively though you can consult with them and ask for their co-operation for a period, reducing pay, hours etc, and with their agreement that may be the answer. If they believe in you and the business long term they will probably prefer short-term pain to compulsory redundancy.

Q. I may be worrying unnecessarily but what do I do if my staff cannot get into work because of bad weather?

Sue: I always think worry is like a rocking horse; it gives you something to do without getting you anywhere! Take action. Write a bad weather policy explaining it is your staff's responsibility to get to work regardless of snow and rain and you don't pay if they don't turn up. However, be reasonable and look at alternatives. For example, could people work from home if necessary? If so, set up IT systems now so there is no last- minute panic.

Q. My whole team has started a sweepstake buying lottery tickets. What do I do if they win?

Sue: There's not an awful lot you can do, other than put in place a crisis strategy. I would join in the sweepstake – then you won't have to worry!

● For practical, pragmatic and affordable advice and support from the HR Dept, sign up for a regular People Matters newsletter, visit www.hrdept.co.uk or call 0800 610 11 66.