Employing & managing staff

The latest guides on employing and managing full or part time staff effectively as a small business owner or sole trader. Contains advice on employment law, health and safety at work, recruitment, training, redundancy and disciplinary information, employee rights, workplace regulations, and much more.

This section provides expert and in-depth advice articles on all aspects of staff management and human resources legislation. Our aim is to help UK small businesses to hire great employees, manage them effectively and look after them properly.

Other key topics covered in this employing staff section include team management, employee motivation, legal rights and responsibilities, managing absence, maternity pay and leave, taking on new staff, induction programmes, communication, workplace policies, flexible working, job descriptions, employment contracts and related information.

We also provide information on HR tools, templates and resources specially targeted at SMEs as well as suitable training courses and workshops that can help you get the best out of your staff to make a more efficient, more profitable, happy and productive company. Sounds good? Then read on…

A small business guide to the National Living Wage

The new National Living Wage has come into effect for 2024/25. Elaine Pritchard of Moorepay explains what you need to know

Employing & managing staff

How to set up an apprenticeship scheme at your small business

Is an apprenticeship scheme right for your business, and where do you begin? Crissi Williams, CEO of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals, looks into the matter.

Employing & managing staff

What’s the right way to go about advertising jobs for my small business?

If you think you should be advertising jobs but want to hire internally, what do you do? We explore the pros and cons of each

Employing & managing staff

Outsourcing HR v inhouse HR management

HR has the power to shape an organisation’s culture and future. Whether that’s achieved through an in-house team or outsourcing depends on your business’s priorities

Employing & managing staff

Small business HR – everything you need to know

HR starts the moment you hire your first employee. There are plenty of resources and organisations out to help run your HR systems smoothly. But you should see HR as an opportunity, not a burden

Employing & managing staff

How to elevate employee engagement levels

Pietro Carmignani, UK country manager at Gympass, provides some simple tips to empower staff and keep them engaged.

Employing & managing staff

Can I monitor my staff while they are homeworking?

Some business owners want homeworking staff to keep laptop cameras and microphones switched on, so they can scrutinise whet they’re doing. But is this even legal, let alone intrusive?

Employing & managing staff

How a Supreme Court ruling on holiday pay could affect your business

A Supreme Court ruling means that police staff in Northern Ireland can bring miscalculated holiday pay claims dating back 35 years .

Employing & managing staff

Can I monitor my staff while they are homeworking?

Some business owners want homeworking staff to keep laptop cameras and microphones switched on, so they can scrutinise whet they’re doing. But is this even legal, let alone intrusive?

Employing & managing staff

How a Supreme Court ruling on holiday pay could affect your business

A Supreme Court ruling means that police staff in Northern Ireland can bring miscalculated holiday pay claims dating back 35 years .

Employing & managing staff

Pensions auto enrolment guide for employers

Pensions auto enrolment rules mean all employers must provide a pension for their staff and automatically enrol them into it. James Brown of Chase de Vere offers a guide to all the considerations employers must make to comply with pensions legislation

Employing & managing staff

The ten most common HR challenges for small businesses

Here, we look at the top ten most common small business HR challenges, and what you can do to overcome them

Employing & managing staff

How to draw up an employment contract

Employers are legally bound to provide a written statement of terms and conditions from day one of a new worker starting. Sue Temelty of The HR Dept expalins what's compulsory and what can be added later, once your new member of staff has settled in

Employing & managing staff