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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.

Firing staff legally

Dismissing an employee can be a difficult area to tackle for employers especially if the employee has worked for the company for 12 months or more because they attract Unfair Dismissal rights.

Employing & managing staff

Employing & managing staff

Employment law for business owners

Employment law is a complex area. Frequent changes and amendments make it hard for busy business owners to keep abreast of their responsibilities. However, ignorance is no defence if you fall foul of employment legislation and it can have disastrous consequences.

Employing & managing staff

Prepare for bird flu

Whether you believe it could decimate the population or it's a lot of fuss about nothing, most big businesses have plans in place to deal with avian flu and pandemics like it. Can you afford not to protect your business?

Employing & managing staff

Measuring company culture

Some claim their company culture is 'young, vibrant and fun'. Others call it 'casual, yet professional and ethical', and there are even those whose culture is 'characterised by open doors and open minds';. But what actually is company culture and can it be measured? How can you ensure your projected company image corresponds with the actual workplace?

Employing & managing staff

Dealing with difficult employees

While a team of hardworking, capable staff can help a business thrive, it only takes one bad apple to wreak havoc within an organisation. We ask the experts how small businesses can tackle this common problem.

Employing & managing staff

Starting to employ people

When starting your business, you may well only be working with a small number of other people. If your business is a success and you want to expand, you may well look to take on employees. Even if you’ve been running a business for a while, now might be the time you’re looking at taking someone on.

Employing & managing staff

The rules of redundancy

If you are purchasing a business and do not need to employ all of the current staff, are you able to let them go by law? Carolyn Mumby from Employment Law Essentials answers this tricky question.

Employing & managing staff

How to be a better leader

Three-quarters of small business owners admitted in a recent Business Link survey that their management and leadership skills left some room for improvement. Use these top tips to become a better leader.

Employing & managing staff

The rules of redundancy

If you are purchasing a business and do not need to employ all of the current staff, are you able to let them go by law? Carolyn Mumby from Employment Law Essentials answers this tricky question.

Employing & managing staff

How to be a better leader

Three-quarters of small business owners admitted in a recent Business Link survey that their management and leadership skills left some room for improvement. Use these top tips to become a better leader.

Employing & managing staff

Navigate the employment law maze

UK and European legislation has ensured that the days of an entrepreneur being master of his own house with regard to employment issues has long gone.

Employing & managing staff

How to set salaries

Non-financial incentives, such as flexible working, training, extra holidays and a good working atmosphere all have their place in rewarding employees. But let's be honest, it's cold hard cash that's the main reason most staff come to work every morning. So, how do balance paying your staff enough to keep them happy while not breaking the bank?

Employing & managing staff

Providing job references

The issue of providing job references is becoming increasingly problematic. Peter Done, founder of employment law specialist Peninsula, explains what you should and shouldn't do.

Employing & managing staff

Watch out for thieving staff

The UK is one of the worst countries in Europe for stealing by employees, according to a report by the Centre for Retail Research. Even if you employ relatively few people, it's still important to consider the worst-case scenario of staff theft and put measures in place now to deal with it in the future

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

Small business owners: discover alternative funding solutions to help fuel your growth

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.