November 12, 2021
Are you new to employing staff? It’s a big first step for many new business owners or managers and can be a daunting time. It is essential to understand your legal obligations as an employer. We make it easy for you.
Employment Law
Employment law is not easy to understand or navigate without specialist advice and support. For one thing, the costs associated with getting it wrong when employing staff can be financially damaging.
For example, let’s say that you are a company director, manager or business owner taking on a staff member for the first time. Of course, you need to be confident that you are complying with the law. Indeed, failure to comply with employment law is unnecessarily placing your business at risk.
How to Protect Yourself when Employing Staff
SVC Human Resources provides a Small Business Package, which is designed specifically with start-up businesses in mind. For example:
- You may be looking to employ someone for the first time, or
- You may be an existing business with a few employees but no Contract of Employment currently in place.
The Employment Rights Act 1996 (Section 1) states that all new employees and workers have the right to a written statement setting out the basic terms of employment.
What you need to do
Whenever you are employing staff, whether a worker or an employee, you must make sure you have the correct legally compliant documentation in place. Therefore the two main documents you must consider are:
- The Written Statement of Particulars.
- The Contract of Employment.
If you are not very familiar with these, we outline them below with links to more information.
Written Statement of Particulars
You must issue a Written Statement of Particulars to any worker or employee on or before their first day of work. As an employer, you need to understand this timing. Notably, this is a legal requirement. If you fail to provide this information on time, you will breach the Employment Rights Act, potentially costing your business.
An award to an employee or worker could be up to 4 weeks’ pay. A Written Statement of Particulars provides for specific (statutory) but essential information to be provided.
Contract of Employment
To fully protect your business and staff you employ, our advice is that you have a Contract of Employment in place. A Contract of Employment is a more detailed document. In reality it will define a more stringent set of expectations on the employee and obligations on the employer.
Of course, a Contract of Employment will incorporate all the information required by the Employment Rights Act 1996. However, it will also give you the freedom to set out your company procedures and processes in areas that are not governed by the law.
How can SVC help me with Employing Staff?
Our Small Business package will provide you with the peace of mind and confidence that you are complying with legislation when employing staff (workers or employees).
You will get robust documentation which will protect your people, and importantly you and your business.
HR Small Business Package
Get Personalised Help for YOUR business:
- 30 Minute Consultation with one of our experienced HR Consultants
- Contract of Employment
- Disciplinary and Grievance Policy
- 48 Hour Opt-Out form; and
- Compliant Health and Safety Policy.
- Message us privately by using the Contact Us button below.
- Or Call Us on 01206 262117.
Client Testimonial
Fully understands our business
We have been outsourcing our HR to SVC for over 10 years, our dedicated HR Consultant works closely with our management team and fully understands our business. The fact that we have a dedicated HR Consultant who we can contact whenever we need to, takes away the burden and pressures that HR issues can sometimes bring. Our dedicated HR Consultant will often work on projects onsite to help our business and will always respond promptly and swiftly. We always get 100%, HR and commercial knowledge is fantastic. The advice and support given is always highly professional.
Adam Kimber Managing Director, Mansols Preforms
