Employing people can be daunting, and with so much in the press reporting on the risks of tribunal claims, employees having more legal rights, and the costs associated in employing people e.g. company national insurance, new business owners are often overwhelmed with the constant worry associated with employing people.
It really doesn’t need to be this way – Outsourcing part of all of the people processes can help to free up business owners from employment matters, as well as ensuring that the legal obligations are met.
To employ people, employers will need to:
- Pay at least the National Minimum Wage
- Check that the employee has the legal Right to Work
- Provide an offer letter, with the initial employment offer outlined, and including the pre-employment conditions
- Provide the employee with an employment contract
The employer is responsible for registering with the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before starting to pay employees. A workplace pension scheme is also required to comply with pension auto enrolment regulations.
From a Health and Safety perspective, there is a legal obligation on the employer to provide a safe working environment, and to comply with the relevant regulations associated.
Employment documents
It is a legal requirement to provide an employment contract outlining the terms and conditions of employment. Employers are also required to provide key policies e.g. disciplinary and grievance procedures, these policies can be covered within a staff handbook.
In summary, having a fully compliant employment contract outlining the legal terms of the employment, and a staff handbook outlining the key policies, procedures and entitlements, is key to reduce the risk of a costly tribunal claim, and to ensure that employees know what is expected of them during their term of employment.
Nockolds HR can provide guidance on each step of the process including:
- Designing a recruitment programme to guide through the interview process
- Creating a legally compliant employment contract outlining the terms of employment
- Supporting the onboarding of new employees including the right to work checks
- Creating a staff handbook designed around legal compliance and tailored to the company
- Providing ongoing advice on employment/HR matters during the course of employment
At Nockolds HR we can provide one off support to set up the new business, or/and provide ongoing support as and when the company needs it.
Our associates in the following areas, can support with:
- Payroll, running salary payments and tax reporting
- Health and safety, providing expertise to manage compliance in line with regulations to promote a safe working environment
- HR software: Breathe provide cloud-based software to streamline and automate HR processes, helping to automate tasks and manage employee data
Our team offer a 30 minute free consultation to discuss your business needs. If you have any queries please contact our HR Consultants on 0345 646 0406 or fill in our online enquiry form.