Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
The latest guides on employing and managing full or part time staff effectively as a small business owner or sole trader, brought to you in partnership with Sage. Contains advice on employment law, health and safety at work, recruitment, training, redundancy and disciplinary information, employee rights, workplace regulations, and much more.
This section provides expert and in-depth advice articles on all aspects of staff management and human resources legislation. Our aim is to help UK small businesses to hire great employees, manage them effectively and look after them properly.
Other key topics covered in this employing staff section include team management, employee motivation, legal rights and responsibilities, managing absence, maternity pay and leave, taking on new staff, induction programmes, communication, workplace policies, flexible working, job descriptions, employment contracts and related information.
We also provide information on HR tools, templates and resources specially targeted at SMEs as well as suitable training courses and workshops that can help you get the best out of your staff to make a more efficient, more profitable, happy and productive company.
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Having a discretionary bonus scheme can be a realistic way for a small business to incentivise staff. Adrian Hoggarth explores how such an initiative is managed.
Employing & managing staff
Employing & managing staff
It seems as though our traditional views of what work actually is are being eroded by new ideas about employment.
Employing & managing staff
Jean-Pierre van Zyl, head of employment at Square One Law, discusses the legal distinction between engaging staff on a contract of employment and a zero-hours contract.
Employing & managing staff
Ian Cowley, managing director of cartridgesave.co.uk, discusses everything you need to know when taking on your first staff members.
Employing & managing staff
Many employers are feeling the wrath of non-smokers who object to their nicotine-addicted colleagues taking extra breaks to satisfy their habit during the working day.
Employing & managing staff
Ensuring you have the right team in place is of crucial importance when establishing and growing your business. HR guru Beatrice Bartlay gives tips on employing and retaining staff.
Employing & managing staff
What is the process if I need to reduce the hours of someone from full time to part time? Do I issue them with a letter and how much notice do I need to provide?
Employing & managing staff
Small companies are advised to spend up to a year preparing for pension changes, which come into effect in 2014. Jonathan Cowan of Sage discusses the measures small businesses should take.
Employing & managing staff
What is the process if I need to reduce the hours of someone from full time to part time? Do I issue them with a letter and how much notice do I need to provide?
Employing & managing staff
Small companies are advised to spend up to a year preparing for pension changes, which come into effect in 2014. Jonathan Cowan of Sage discusses the measures small businesses should take.
Employing & managing staff
People wanting to bring employment tribunals must now pay a fee. Adrian Hoggarth discusses the ramifications for SMEs.
Employing & managing staff
What measures can I put in place to prevent employees from either asking for last minute holidays or calling in sick? We always receive a spike in requests when the weather is good.
Employing & managing staff
Kate Russell, managing director of Russell HR Consulting, discusses how small businesses can keep their staff happy at work.
Employing & managing staff
I have an employee who just will not work well in a team, as an individual his work performance is excellent but once tasked with working within a group he creates tension and refuses to work with a number of individuals. I do not wish to dismiss the employee as he is a consistent worker but I'm not happy about his attitude to team work.
Business Technology
Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings
Business Loans
Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.
Business Technology
With the landline shutdown coming fast, there’s never been a better time to switch to VoIP. Don’t let your small business be left behind!
Export & Import
Many factors can affect products’ journeys from A to B. Here are some tips for best practice for successful shipping in the modern world