Really Good Employer

Managing employees well does take time and effort, but if you follow these top tips, you can make sure it is a far less stressful process:

1. Talk to your Employees

Introduce a short, but regular time when you can speak to your staff and keep them informed about what is happening in the business – ideally, face-to-face.

2. Listen to your Employees

Make sure that your staff can talk to you too, whether it is giving you feedback, or making suggestions for how to improve the business – ensure they see you do something with their information.

3. Put it in writing

Ensure all employees have their terms and conditions put in writing within two months of them joining you, ideally in a contract of employment – make sure that other workers such as sub-contractors and freelancers also have written service agreements with you.

4. Do it the right way

Make sure you and your staff know their statutory rights eg National Minimum Wage, working time rights, protection from unfair discrimination etc.

5. Ensure you insure

Even if you employ only one member of staff, make sure you have the correct employers liability insurance to protect you against any claims from something that happens whilst they are working for you.

6. Protect your people

Don’t think that Health & Safety is only for larger employers – even though they only have to be in writing if you employ five or more people, make sure everyone knows about your Health & Safety procedures.

7. Check your procedures

Check that everyone knows and understands your key employment procedures (including yourself!) – as a minimum, make sure you have an equal opportunities, grievance and disciplinary procedure (not just a policy statement, but an explanation of what happens when action needs to be taken).

8. Monitor performance

Monitoring performance is not just a ‘big business’ activity – you need to assess your workers’ performance to ensure people are being treated both fairly and consistently, as well as enabling capability and behavioural issues to be handled correctly.

9. Invest in development

If you can provide varied training and development opportunities for your people, you won’t have to rely as much on large wages or salaries to attract and keep good people

10. Communicate some more

Find something to communicate even during the most uncertain of times – people are always stressed more by the ‘unknown’ than by bad news – remember that a breakdown in communication is one of the most commonly cited factors leading to an Employment Tribunal.

What now?

Make it happen today!

You can do all the above by yourself if you invest some time.  Alternatively, if you need a little help, please do contact me – details at the top of this page.

If you’d like a few more FREE management ideas to make management easier, have a look at The Art of Engagement and 5 New Year Resolutions for Busy Owner Managers

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