BUSINESSES can relieve the pressure of the new millennium by taking steps now to ease the stress of the big night.

Barclays Merchant Services, which handles the plastic card purchases made in more than 129,000 shops and business across the UK, has produced a free booklet to help businesses prepare for the millennium.

It provides advice on how to plan staffing arrangements for the big night, agreeing rates of pay and overtime allowances, making customers aware of opening hours, and checking stock allocation.

For a free copy of the leaflet, called "Are you ready to celebrate the millennium?" call 0870 60 600 60.

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