One of the most exciting but also most daunting prospect for any start-up is taking on the first hire. It indicates growth, good prospects, but getting it wrong can spell disaster.
When considering taking on help for the first time, good preparation and planning is essential. Not all hiring models and ways of working are appropriate for every business. Hiring someone as an employee who would be better engaged as a self-employed contractor (or vice versa) can not only lead to unnecessary expense, but exposes you (and the individual) to legal risk.
If you decide that employment is appropriate, you need to have a solid grasp on your obligations as an employer and the rights of the employee. A number of these rights and obligations kick in on day 1 and must be documented within the employment contract.
Like any relationship, the relationship that a business has with its workforce needs care and attention. Bad or unacceptable behaviour needs to be nipped in the bud, complaints and grievances need prompt resolution, and good behaviour should be rewarded and praised. Learning to spot red flags will give you the best chance of developing an enviable workplace culture, where employees are motivated to work hard and stay loyal.
Not all relationships last forever, though. Knowing when it might be best to call time on an engagement is an important business skill. Handling this sensitively and in line with your legal obligations will preserve relationships and minimise the chances of an employment tribunal claim.
- ways of engaging help, contractor versus employee/worker
- engaging employees and workers (right to work, pension auto enrolment, PAYE, minimum wage and working time)
- the contract/s1 particulars
- employment and worker’s rights
- managing people
- terminating a relationship
2-4 sessions, depending on duration of each session. Around 8 hours of content.
classroom style (interactive)
At the end of the module, you should feel ready to take on your first hires. You’ll understand the different ways of engaging help, and feel confident about choosing the right model for your business. You’ll be fluent in the basic rights and entitlements of employees and workers, and the essential ingredients of a service agreement. Issues such as misconduct, poor performance and sickness absence will be covered at a high-level, as will the importance of rewarding hard-work and developing a motivational culture. You’ll also be taught to recognise when it may be appropriate to terminate a relationship and the risks associated with doing so.
Capital Academy’s employment modules are specifically designed with time-poor senior and HR managers in mind. The training is fast-paced and designed to build on existing knowledge. Module resources such as factsheets and infographics are supplied to help you to find answers quickly when time is of the essence. All our employment law training is delivered by qualified lawyers who will remain available to you after the delivery of the training, as a friendly face that knows your business, and who can deal with any follow up queries.