Hiring staff
At some point you may need to hire employees. Here are some points to consider;
Job role - Be clear about the role you want to fill and the objectives of the job.
Budget - Budget for the total cost of the new employee including any bonuses.
Employee type – Employed or self-employed? This will impact on the way you will deal with them in many ways. If you employ staff you will have to register as an employer with HMRC if you will pay them more than the PAYE threshold.
Recruitment - How will you recruit? Will you appoint an employment agency, or recruit yourself?
Assessment – Decide how you’ll choose the right person for the job, assess applicants with an interview, a test, or both. Remember it’s unlawful to discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religion, race and more, so avoid any form of discrimination.
Right to work - Make sure that applicants have the right to work in the UK, employing people without the right to work can lead to you getting a fine or prison time.
Contracts - If you employ directly you will need a contract of employment, and if they are self-employed, you should still have an agreement outlining each other’s obligations.
Pay - Make sure both parties are clear on the pay package on offer.
Pension - If you have more than 5 employees you’ll have to offer a pension.
Records - Make sure you maintain, securely, employee information, including bank details, address and emergency information.
Working time regulations and Health and Safety - You’ll need to familiarise yourself with rules surrounding, leave, sickness, working hours, and Health and Safety regulations.
Insurance - With a few exceptions, all employers need to have Employers Liability insurance for cover of a minimum of £5 million.
