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Employing People: How to Employ Workers

Taking on employees should be an uncomplicated task right? You hire staff and set them to work. But, mistakes in the 'people' part of a business can cost time and lost profitability The topics in this section provide guidance on employing people and handling worker management. Use them to check what employers and organisations need to consider when hiring staff in the workplace.

A Guide to Hiring Employees

Table of Contents

As an employer, are you planning on employing staff for the first time? The list of legal rights and responsibilities for employers can appear daunting at first.

So, let’s start with the basics:

It may be the first time you are trying to hire people or you may have hired employees many times before. Either way, there are several rules and regulations employers need to follow.

This guide to employing people will help you and your organisation to be legislation compliant in United Kingdom.

Your obligations for looking after your staff will make you and your small business more efficient. Complying with UK employment laws will help you become more profitable, saving you time and money!

In case you were wondering:

Being clear on employment laws is vital when you take on new staff members. Besides sorting out employment contracts and paying the right rates, there may also be a need to plan staff training and induction.

You will need to be familiar with discipline and grievance procedures. As the workforce increases, the role and the responsibilities of managing attendance and communication will become even more important.

Employing Staff: Human Resource Guide

Contracts of Employment

Employment contracts form the basis of working relationships between employers and employees. So, the contracts of employment and working hours are agreements made between them.

Some of the important topics covered in this section include:

  • Annual leave and holiday entitlement
  • Bullying and harassment at work
  • Changing employment contracts
  • Different types of worker status
  • Part time workers’ rights
  • Working hours (e.g. rest breaks, overtime)

Note: We also supply a list of employment rules and regulations as a FREE human resource guide. Find information for employers and employees with extra details on benefits, pensions, money, and taxes.

Dismissing Staff

As a rule, dismissing an employee should be the last resort. Even so, employers should always establish the facts without unreasonable delay before making staff dismissals at work.

Check out the section that contains advice and information on:

  • Disciplinaries.
  • Dismissals
  • Resignations

Note: It is worth becoming familiar with the procedures of whistleblowing by employees in the UK. The guide explains everything you need to know about blowing the whistle on workplace wrongdoing.

Employing People with Disabilities

If you are new to employing people, or taking on staff for the first time, this guide is your business savior. Follow these 7 simple steps of hiring when you start employing workers.

Check out the section that defines ‘reasonable adjustments‘ in the workplace. It relates to the procedures for recruiting and employing workers who have a disability or a health condition.

Note: Legislation on child employment has certain restrictions for teenagers under 18 years old in the United Kingdom. Check what type of work young workers can do and for how many hours each week.

Health and Safety in the Workplace

All employers must meet their legal responsibilities on Health and Safety at Work. This guide explains how Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 affects workers in the United Kingdom.

Read up on important HSE topics such as:

Note: Unlike many predictable workplace environments, a ship at sea runs in a self-contained one. It means the ship owners and operators will be responsible for health and safety at sea and on ships.

Payroll and PAYE

Check out a section explaining PAYE and payroll for employers to see whether you need to run payroll yourself, how to pay your workers for the first time, and how to keep full and accurate records.

The help guides cover all the key topics, including:

Note: As an employer, you must tell HMRC about a new employee (no later than their first pay day), get some personal information from your new starter, and set them up on your payroll software.

Recruiting Staff

Running an organisation often includes recruiting new people to join a company workforce. So, employers must follow all recruitment rules and regulations when sourcing new staff.

This important section provides useful help and advice on topics that include:

Note: There are several key employment rules to follow when recruiting disabled employees. As such, employers must make sure they avoid discriminating against disabled people during recruitment.

Redundancy Procedures

Being made redundant means your employer is dismissing you from your job. As a general rule, staff redundancies occur when there is a need to reduce the company workforce.

Even so, this popular section also covers other essential topics about redundancies, including:

Note: Check out your statutory rights if your employer moves the company location. Their obligations will depend a most on whether you have a ‘mobility clause’ written in your employment contract.

Workers Rights

Employment status defines the rights of workers and their responsibilities in the workplace. Each status of employment will determine the actual employment rights of workers.

Note: The law in the United Kingdom no longer forces people to give up work at State Pension age. Hence, you can choose to continue working after State Pension age and still get your pension.

A Guide to Employing People and Hiring or Firing Staff in United Kingdom