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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.

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.

Employing & managing staff

Employing & managing staff

Employee doesn’t work well in a team

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.

Employing & managing staff

Is an unofficial smoking break fair on non-smokers?

I have a number of workers that smoke and I let them normally have a five-minute unofficial smoke break in the afternoon. However, one of my employees, who is a non-smoker, has complained that it is unfair they are not allowed an extended break. Am I in the wrong?

Employing & managing staff

How a small business should manage long-term sick leave and terminal illness

Adrian Hoggarth, head of employee law at Prolegal, discusses what to do in the difficult circumstances of an employee's health deteriorating.

Employing & managing staff

How to keep staff motivational levels high 

What a small business can do to boost staff performance.

Employing & managing staff

All businesses would benefit from HGV training

Article discussing the benefits of LGV training for small companies.

Employing & managing staff

Two of my employees have been overpaid for the last month

My accounts manager has informed me that two of my employees have been overpaid for the last month. How can I rectify this mistake and get the excess money paid out refunded?

Employing & managing staff

Ten points to active performance management in a small business

Entrepreneur Jonathan Richards reveals his tips to maintaining a happy and productive workforce.

Employing & managing staff

Two of my employees have been overpaid for the last month

My accounts manager has informed me that two of my employees have been overpaid for the last month. How can I rectify this mistake and get the excess money paid out refunded?

Employing & managing staff

Ten points to active performance management in a small business

Entrepreneur Jonathan Richards reveals his tips to maintaining a happy and productive workforce.

Employing & managing staff

Why older recruits can be worthwhile hires for small businesses

Following an urge from the DWP for companies not to overlook senior employees, HR guru Kate Russell talks about the advantages older workers have over their younger counterparts.

Employing & managing staff

Real Time Information is here: what small businesses need to know 

The smallest businesses have longer to prepare for the onset of Real Time Information reporting, but larger companies have to comply from now.

Employing & managing staff

How your business can master employee contracts

Small businesses should not be nervous of the prospect of putting employee contracts together. While they can be complex without an HR or legal department, they certainly don't need to be. Adrian Hoggarth gives some simple advice to help.

Employing & managing staff

Why simple employee engagement can make all the difference in a small business

Entrepreneur Jonathan Richards gives some simple and cheap tips to looking after your staff that little bit better.

Business Loans

A guide to getting a small business loan

Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.

Partner content

What are the funding options for hospitality businesses?

Hospitality businesses have faced a number of challenges in the last couple of years. Find out what funding and support is available.

Employing & managing staff

The importance of vocational rehabilitation services for SMEs

In Aviva’s latest SME research*, 57 per cent of employers surveyed agreed that nowadays employees expect benefits to protect against loss of income or earnings. What do you offer your people?

Partner content

What are the benefits of business broadband?

Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade