Category

Employing & managing staff

The latest guides on employing and managing full or part time staff effectively as a small business owner or sole trader. 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. Sounds good? Then read on…

How to deal with absence in the workplace

Staff absences can seriously affect the success of your business, your profits and your customer service, but it is possible to minimise the impact of absence by putting the proper measures in place to deal with it.

Employing & managing staff

Employing & managing staff

Rule change could stop sickies

Proposed changes to the way official sick notes are issued may help reduce the number of non-genuine absences from work, say employment lawyers.

Employing & managing staff

Cure needed for sick leave

Employee sick leave is proving to be a headache for nearly a quarter of small to medium-sized business owners and managers in the UK, according to research from Bibby Financial Services.

Employing & managing staff

Healthy body, healthy business

Managers should keep an eye on the profit and loss of their health as much as they do on the health of their business, suggests Dr Dorian Dugmore, Secretary General of the World Council for Cardio Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and one of the speakers at Inspire2006 - the UK's first event for chief executives for SMEs.

Employing & managing staff

Am I entitled to sick pay?

If I am self-employed, can I get any sick pay when I have an operation?

Employing & managing staff

Hiring self-employed staff

We own a beauty salon and want to employ a self-employed nail technician, on a basis of splitting the money that she earns. How do we go about this and what do we need to put in her contract?

Employing & managing staff

How to reconnect young people and organisations

The Working Progress report, from Orange and think-tank Demos, highlights the damaging disconnect between graduates and employers and how this is affecting UK PLC. The report also provides solid and practical recommendations of ways in which the two can reconnect.

Employing & managing staff

Dealing with workplace relationships

Workplace relationships do happen, unsurprisingly when you consider how much time is spent at work by many in the UK.

Employing & managing staff

How to reconnect young people and organisations

The Working Progress report, from Orange and think-tank Demos, highlights the damaging disconnect between graduates and employers and how this is affecting UK PLC. The report also provides solid and practical recommendations of ways in which the two can reconnect.

Employing & managing staff

Dealing with workplace relationships

Workplace relationships do happen, unsurprisingly when you consider how much time is spent at work by many in the UK.

Employing & managing staff

Paying for prescription glasses as an employer

Employees who spend a lot of their day in front of computer screens can experience eyesight problems and it is the employer's responsibility, to a certain extent, to pay for eye tests and, if necessary, the spectacles themselves. This guide will explain in more detail your obligations.

Employing & managing staff

Hiring self-employed sales people

What's involved in hiring self-employed sales people to work for my company?

Employing & managing staff

How to avoid World Cup woe

Some of us can't wait and some of us are dreading it, but like it or not, the World Cup is almost upon us and sensible business owners will have taken some precautions to stop it turning into a nightmare. These tips may stop it all kicking off in the office.

Employing & managing staff

Employing disabled staff

Finding skilled staff is one of the biggest problems a small business has to face, but by not making allowances for disabled applicants you could be missing out on a large number of talented candidates, not to mention running the risk of legal action.

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Attracting and keeping top talent through Total Reward

Employment benefits specialist, Drewberry, explain why you should base your benefits around a Total Reward Strategy

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5 things every small business owner needs to know before starting

HSBC - Advertising feature

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What is professional indemnity insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance provides cover if somebody sues your business and they allege that your advice caused financial loss or damaged their brand. It’s not just for accountants and lawyers but for anyone offering a personal service, even web designers

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Benefits of switching to the right business bank account

We've teamed up with the Current Account Switch Service to explain the benefits of switching your business bank account.