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Guides & Tips

Keep an eye out for excessive behaviour among staff this festive season

Staff behaving badly

As employees start thinking about festive celebrations, there’s a heightened risk of disaster. SmallBusiness.co.uk looks at how to manage internal disputes and staff excess.

Extra staff may be needed over Christmas

Seasonal stopgap

As Christmas approaches, many companies may be considering hiring extra staff on a temporary basis to cover them over the busy period.

Meaningful ideas can come from any member of staff

Innovating from within

Companies are empowering staff at all levels of authority to contribute key ideas and strategies – and the resulting ‘intrapreneurs’ can benefit businesses in multiple ways, writes Ben Lobel.

Make sure your meetings are productive and have an agenda

How to have a good business meeting

The difference between a successful business meeting and a futile one is in the preparation and the staging.

Top tips to cope with Christmas

With staff dropping their work rate and the danger of the Christmas party getting out of hand, the festive period can leave small business owners with a major headache. Use this guide to ease the pain.

Performance-related pay is a crucial part of how many companies work.

The pros and cons of performance-related pay

SmallBusiness.co.uk investigates the benefits of having a variable element to remuneration.

Don't Miss

Modern graduates face a highly competitive job market

First-class employees

Attracting the best graduate to your company is easier if you show an understanding of their journey from higher education to workplace.

Seven ways to beat stress

Michael Jackson, chairman of leading technology venture capitalist Elderstreet Investments, gives SmallBusiness.co.uk his tips for dealing with stress.

Making staff cuts doesn't mean you have to give people the axe.

Reducing salary

There are other ways of reducing your staffing budget without having to take the axe to your workforce.

Employing Staff News

'National sickie day' will see an estimated 400,000 absentees

Duvet day for 400,000

‘National Sickie Day’ will cost UK businesses more than £34 million, a business support specialist predicts.

Duvet day for 400,000

‘National Sickie Day’ will cost UK businesses more than £34 million, a business support specialist predicts.

Nameless CVs for fairer hiring

Businesses should encourage all job applicants to send in CVs that do not identify their name or ethnic background, says an employment law specialist.

TUC rallies against tribunal fees

Introducing fees to take claims to employment tribunals could be a huge barrier to equality at work, says the Trades Union Congress.

Jobs market to remain unstable in 2012

Unemployment has hit a 17-year high of 8.4 per cent, finds data.

Higher education not developing work skills

A fifth of UK employers believe school leavers make better employees than university graduates.

Forum supports education-level skills boost

The Forum of Private Business has welcomed government plans to improve how IT is taught in UK schools to better prepare young people for work.

Workers 'underused and demotivated' by lack of support

The underuse of skills in the UK is resulting in lost productivity both for businesses and the economy as a whole, argues a think tank.

Youth employment scheme backed by lobbying group

The Confederation of British Industry has formally backed the government's £1 billion Youth Contract programme aimed at ensuring ‘every young person in the UK is in education or employment’.

Employee pay rewards stagnant in 2011

The majority of company staff saw their pay packets remain static or shrink in 2011.

Employment opportunities on the rise

Job opportunities were 17 per cent higher in December compared to the same period in 2010 and more than a fifth higher than two years ago, according to the latest Reed Job Index.

Events Calendar

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

The FT Guide to Personal Tax is published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and John Bloxham, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as over 230 tax-saving tips.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

The FT Guide to Business Start Up 2012, published by Pearson Education, is written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc. This unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

Regular Small Business newsletters
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Managing staff Questions & Answers

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Entrepreneurship

Ed Percival, Shirlaws Binfield

Advice for employers

Peter Done, Peninsula

Human Resources

Cecily Lalloo, Embrace HR

29 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Can I make a deduction from an employee's salary? Q: Improving staff performance levels Q: Employee refuses to stop smoking Q: Personal hygiene issues Q: Signing for company deliveries Q: Dealing with changes in employees health Q: Autocratic management and bullying

FREE Legal, Financial, Accountancy & HR Help

Aska Professional understands the challenges faced by small businesses. That’s why we provide instant access to professional advice and legal templates. FREE access to Solicitors, Accountants, Financial Advisors & HR Specialists. Ask our experts a question and get a personal response within 60 minutes. Sign up now to ask a question - FREE.

Bupa for Businesses

We understand that all businesses are different. To help you choose the right healthcare package for you and your employees, call us today on 08457 66 11 15 or alternatively find out more here.

Misco Offers for small businesses

At Misco, we understand the constraints faced by small businesses. This is why, we’ve built a team of specialists readily available to share with you their expertise and work with you to find tailored IT solutions fitted to your business requirements. View our offers or call our team of experts today on freephone 0808 181 7582 or by email smallbiz@misco.co.uk.

Blogs

Winners and losers

Ben Lobel 24/01/2012

It seems that despite the government’s assurance that the Olympics will provide a long-lasting economic legacy for the UK, businesses remain unconvinced. Have your say »

Deciding on your financing needs

Small Business Finance 06/12/2011

Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, looks at the ramifications of getting a bank loan to fund growth opportunities. Have your say »

Winning new business in 2012

Guest Blogger 02/02/2012

Shaun Thompson, CEO of Sandler Training, explains how growth is possible in frugal times. Have your say »

Managing staff Resource Centre

Health for Work Adviceline for Small Business

Free NHS Adviceline helps employers minimise the impact of staff illness and provide essential support to staff with physical and mental health issues. Visit our Health for Work website

Free HR software

Your employees are your most valuable resource, so now's the time to ensure that your HR policies are correct. Our free HR software will ensure that your business is fit for future growth. To find out more click here

Flexible Skills Bank

Tap in to this pool of professionals looking for flexible, or ad hoc work to fit in with their family commitments.

Your guide to recruitment

This market synopsis examines the trends and market developments affecting the recruitment sector within the UK.

Resources for new ways of working

Flexibility provides updates on the world of flexible work, with news, views, reviews, articles, links and other resources.

Promoting health and wellbeing

This site highlights the importance of health and wellbeing at the workplace and provides advice on on common issues such as stress and drug problems.

Solving work disputes

ACAS has over 30 years of experience in helping organisations of all sizes to avoid and resolve disputes in relationships at work.

Understand the causes of stress at work

The material and resources on this site are aimed at helping you to understand the causes of stress at work, and to identify and solve problems in your workplace.

Allowing time of work

This guide explains why allowing your staff time off work for personal and family reasons can have real benefits.

The importance of HR policies

This site by The Department of Health features information about the development and implementation of HR policies.

Management and development of staff

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for those involved in the management and development of people.

More Managing staff Resources

Other Employing Staff Resources

Polls

Video

Selling on eBay

Ebay trader Chris Dawson gives his tips to selling through the trading website.

Compare Insurance quotes for Employers Liability

Employers’ Liability insurance covers you and your business against claims from employees injured at work or taken ill as a result of working for you. Compare Insurance quotes for Employers Liability to ensure your business can cover claims without compromising its financial stability.