Online help for hiring staff launched

An online toolkit that provides employers with help when taking on their first employee has been launched by Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson today.

The “Employing staff for the first time” toolkit, updated since last year, aims to help potential employers through the process of hiring their first member of staff and sets out the relevant legal requirements. This includes information on setting pay, getting the right insurance, understanding tax requirements and checking a new employee’s right to work in the UK.

Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson said: “We know that around 300,000 businesses look to take on staff each year. For some businesses there is a perception that hiring for the first time is a daunting process. This is especially the case if you are the owner of a small business and do not have your own HR staff.

“Our toolkit is a valuable one-stop-shop that provides businesses with free access to everything they need to know about taking someone on. Making sure businesses feel confident about growing will help to build a stronger economy and create more jobs.”

Institute of Recruiters (IOR) Director General, Azmat Mohammed said: “Taking on an employee for the first time can be a challenging prospect for a small business. This is why it is important that they have access to support to help guide them through the process.

“This excellent free online toolkit will provide free access to key information a business needs to consider when taking someone on. It will make their life easier and allow them to focus on growing their business.”

In addition, The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) will today launch six new guides to help small firms make sure they comply with the law when hiring, managing people and dealing with complaints at work.

The free guides include a legal checklist, useful tools and templates that can be downloaded from the Acas website at www.acas.org.uk/stepbystep

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