5 top tips for getting started with HR
HR MADE SIMPLE #1
You don't need an HR department to look after your people well.
When you're running a small business, HR tends to slip to the bottom of the list. There are customers to win, invoices to chase and a hundred other jobs to do. But a handful of simple foundations will save you time, money and stress later. Here are the five I'd put in place first.
1. Get contracts in writing, on day one
Every employee is entitled to a written statement of their main terms from their first day. Make it clear and specific: pay, hours, place of work, holiday, notice and what the job involves. It protects you as much as them, because nobody is left guessing what was agreed.
2. Check right to work and keep good records
Before anyone starts, you must check they have the right to work in the UK, and keep a record that you did it. While you're at it, get into the habit of keeping tidy records of holiday, sickness and pay. Holiday records now need to be kept for six years, so a simple system pays off.
3. Write a short handbook your team will actually read
Cover the essentials in plain English: working hours, holiday, sickness, expenses, and what to do if something goes wrong. If your team can read it in ten minutes and find what they need, it's doing its job. A 60-page document in a drawer isn't.
4. Plan the first week
The first few days set the tone for everything that follows. Have the equipment and logins ready, name a person they can ask questions, and be clear about what they're doing and why it matters. A good start is the cheapest retention tool you'll ever use.
5. Talk regularly, and write it down
A quick monthly one-to-one stops small niggles becoming big problems. Jot down a few notes after each chat so you both remember what was agreed. If you ever need to manage performance or resolve a dispute, those notes will be invaluable.
None of this needs a big budget. It just needs a little time up front, and it's far easier to do before you have a problem than after.
Want a hand with this? Get in touch for a friendly, no-pressure chat.
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