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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.

Will I be able to dismiss an unproductive member of staff?

Under the new employment law proposals, would I be able to dismiss a member of staff who isn't as productive as I want?

Employing & managing staff

Employing & managing staff

Employees unenthusiastic in their roles

Half of Britons are unhappy in or impartial to their jobs, research finds.

Employing & managing staff

Staff member takes excessive smoking breaks

What is the official HR policy on smoking breaks? One member of staff has complained about another taking excessive time out.

Employing & managing staff

Innovating from within

Companies are empowering staff at all levels of authority to contribute key ideas and strategies and the resulting intrapreneurs can benefit businesses in multiple ways, writes Ben Lobel.

Employing & managing staff

Reducing contractual hours

Q: I have advised staff that we need to reduce contractual hours to break even. This period is always low and additional hours are essential when things pick up. What are the legal considerations if staff do not agree to new hours? The contract says that normal hours may be varied to meet needs of employer.

Employing & managing staff

How to have a good business meeting 

The difference between a successful business meeting and a futile one is in the preparation and the staging.

Employing & managing staff

Employee on sick leave

We are a small business employing five people. One is frequently going sick for one or two days at a time. We are still paying that employee for the days she is off sick. Can I remove her self-certification and not pay her if she has any further short term sickness leave?

Employing & managing staff

Do I need to consider maternity pay?

One of my employees is pregnant. What are my considerations in regard to maternity pay?

Employing & managing staff

Employee on sick leave

We are a small business employing five people. One is frequently going sick for one or two days at a time. We are still paying that employee for the days she is off sick. Can I remove her self-certification and not pay her if she has any further short term sickness leave?

Employing & managing staff

Do I need to consider maternity pay?

One of my employees is pregnant. What are my considerations in regard to maternity pay?

Employing & managing staff

Employers deluged with sub-par CVs

Employers face hiring hell as they get inundated with unsuitable candidates.

Employing & managing staff

A site for recruitment

Launched in March, recruitment site Staffbay.com aims to revolutionise the online recruitment platform for both employers and candidates. The company aims to turn over £1.5 million in its first year of trading.

Employing & managing staff

What I’m reading now: Get The Job You Really Want

Entrepreneur Michael Kraftman reviews James Caan's latest book on finding success in the job market.

Employing & managing staff

Finding the right recruit

SmallBusiness.co.uk talks to company directors about how to minimise the hassle of hiring staff.

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.

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Business Technology

Why you should upgrade your tech now rather than later

To run an optimal business, you must have optimal tech. We explain why you must upgrade your business technology on a regular basis

Investing in a franchise

Should I buy a franchise or go solo?

Starting a new business is an exciting venture. But – especially in well-established industry sectors – a key question is whether it would be better to buy a franchise or go solo.