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Employing & managing staff

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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.

Get more time back to build your business with Sage’s one solution for all your business needs. Get accounting and payroll with HR features you can access from anywhere, all with award-winning support and unrivalled business advice.

Using share ownership to attract and retain employees

Phil Mitchell discusses the ways in which a small business can give its staff share options.

Employing & managing staff

Employing & managing staff

Do I have to pay a bonus if I have a discretionary bonus scheme?

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

Employment versus self-employment

It seems as though our traditional views of what work actually is are being eroded by new ideas about employment.

Employing & managing staff

The changing status of zero-hours contracts: What to know

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

What to know when recruiting your first employee

Ian Cowley, managing director of cartridgesave.co.uk, discusses everything you need to know when taking on your first staff members.

Employing & managing staff

How to manage smoke breaks at work

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

How to source the best staff and then retain them

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

Reducing an employee’s hours from full time to part time

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

How to source the best staff and then retain them

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

Reducing an employee’s hours from full time to part time

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

How to get your business ready for auto-enrolment

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 the introduction of tribunal fees means for small businesses

People wanting to bring employment tribunals must now pay a fee. Adrian Hoggarth discusses the ramifications for SMEs.

Employing & managing staff

How can I stop staff from asking for last-minute holidays?

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

How to stop your employees from revolting

Kate Russell, managing director of Russell HR Consulting, discusses how small businesses can keep their staff happy at work.

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How should I select my business broadband provider?

As with any supplier, it’s important to do your research and ask important questions before you select a broadband provider for your business. But what are the must-have things you should take into consideration?

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Future-proof your business communications set-up

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

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A guide to getting a small business loan

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