Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
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.
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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
Employing & managing staff
Employing & managing staff
There are certain obligations and rules that an employer must be aware of at various times during an employee's working life.
Employing & managing staff
In general terms, apart from what is in the employment contract, what can you expect from your employees and what can they expect from you?
Employing & managing staff
Every employee should be given a written statement of employment that clearly lays down the rules that both you, as the employer, and they must abide by.
Employing & managing staff
Like it or not, there may come a time when you have to dismiss an employee and this guide shows you the best and most painless way of accomplishing this unpleasant task.
Employing & managing staff
While candidates have to be well prepared, you, as the interviewer, must also take steps to ready yourself for the interview process.
Employing & managing staff
When the need arises to take disciplinary action against an employee you must follow the standard three-step dismissal and disciplinary procedure.
Employing & managing staff
Tesco are currently piloting non-payment of sick pay for the first three days at some of their stores in a bid to reduce absenteeism.
Employing & managing staff
When the need arises to take disciplinary action against an employee you must follow the standard three-step dismissal and disciplinary procedure.
Employing & managing staff
Tesco are currently piloting non-payment of sick pay for the first three days at some of their stores in a bid to reduce absenteeism.
Employing & managing staff
Business owners have to be extremely careful not to discriminate on grounds of age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and many, many more.
Employing & managing staff
You can't prevent an employee leaving your business but there are steps you can take to ensure that important clients do not go with them.
Employing & managing staff
There are two ways of looking at high employee turnover rates: are you getting the right staff in the first place, and are you making sure that you are keeping your best staff? Losing staff can effectively kill a small business because your employees cover a range of tasks.
Employing & managing staff
According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), over 13.4 million days a year are lost due to stress at work.
Business Technology
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
Business Loans
Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.
Business Technology
With the landline shutdown coming fast, there’s never been a better time to switch to VoIP. Don’t let your small business be left behind!
Export & Import
Many factors can affect products’ journeys from A to B. Here are some tips for best practice for successful shipping in the modern world