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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.

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

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

Employing & managing staff

Legal life-cycle of an employee

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

Guide to your rights and duties as an employer

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

Guide to written statements of employment

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

Guide to sacking an employee

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

Guide to interviewing candidates

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

Guide to dismissal and disciplinary rules

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

Guide to interviewing candidates

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

Guide to dismissal and disciplinary rules

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

Dealing with staff absenteeism

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

Avoid discrimination headaches

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

Protecting your business when an employee leaves

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

How to make sure you keep your best 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.

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

Partner content

How should I select my business broadband provider?

As with any supplier, it’s important to do your research and ask important questions before you select a broadband provider for your business. But what are the must-have things you should take into consideration?

Business Technology

Future-proof your business communications set-up

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

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.