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7 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU HIRE YOUR FIRST EMPLOYEE

Taking on your first employee is a big step. Here are seven things to do to ensure that you’re prepared.

Check your Budget

Employees are a big expense. On top of being able to provide a wage, you also need to consider extra costs such as employee benefits, insurance and extra equipment. Make sure that your budget allows this by financially planning ahead. It could be worth hiring the help of a financial advisor.

Get Insured

Taking out worker’s compensation is mandatory if you plan to hire an employee. This insurance scheme will help to offer compensation if your employee is injured or made sick as a result of their work. Insurance rates can vary depending on how hazardous the job is. Take the time to compare rates in order to get the best deal.

Set up the Payroll

You’ll need to register yourself as an employer and then set up a payroll system. There is software that you can use to help automate processes such as paying staff and recording annual leave. It’s worth familiarising yourself with this software before you hire your first staff member. Take the time to shop around for the best software.

Improve Your Health and Safety

You should make sure that your workplace is a safe environment for any employees that you plan to take on. Having strict health and safety measures in place will help employees to feel protected, as well as lowering your insurance rates. It could be worth taking a health and safety awareness course to help you understand some of the possible dangers. You could also consider hiring a health and safety to guide you though some of the measures that you should be taking.

Write up an Employee Contract

Most employees will want a contract that specifies the terms of employment. It’s worth hiring a professional legal writer to create this document. A good contract should protect your rights while also making your employees feel protected. It could be a physical contract or a digital contract.

Create a Training Programme

Once you’ve hired employees, you’ll need to train them up to a competent level. Even if you’re hiring experienced staff, you’ll likely still need to familiarise them with the individual ways in which you run your business. It could be worth scheduling time to spend on training, writing out an employee handbook and possibly even creating e-learning tools.

Plan Out the Hiring Process

You also need to work out how you’re going to market your first vacancy as well as how you’re going to conduct the interview process. Start by writing a job ad and then research into the best places to post it (this could include online job boards or social media). You’ll need to set aside enough time so that the hiring process isn’t rushed. Alternatively, you could hire the help of a recruitment agency to help handle the process. Recruitment agencies don’t work for everyone, but are often worth trying.

7 Things to Do Before You Hire Your First Employee