Recruiting and managing employees

Effective recruitment and management can have a major impact on the success of your business. The right human resources policies can help you ensure that your recruitment, selection and employee management meet legal requirements and deliver strong business performance.

Recruitment and employment contracts

Effective recruitment and selection starts with a well-planned recruitment process. Focusing on what you need the employee to do helps you prepare a job description and person specification setting out what skills and experience are required.

Make sure you understand how what you say or write during the recruitment process (such as during a job interview) can constitute an offer of employment or become part of an eventual employment contract.

When you do make a job offer, it makes sense to send out a written offer clarifying the main terms and conditions. You will need to ensure that these comply with key legal restrictions such as limits on the working week.

Discrimination

You must avoid any form of discrimination in the way you recruit, select and manage staff. This includes racial discrimination, sex discrimination, age discrimination and so on.

Disability discrimination is also unlawful. You may need to make reasonable adjustments to your premises or work practices to prevent disabled employees being disadvantaged.

Bear in mind that you might be held responsible for an employee’s conduct: for example, if it amounts to racism or harassment.

Employment policies

Clear employment policies and procedures can help you manage effectively and avoid legal pitfalls. Your procedures should be designed to help employees: for example, setting out how to work safely in line with health and safety requirements.

You should communicate your human resources policies and procedures to employees: for example, in an employee handbook and with appropriate training. A good induction process helps new employees get off to the right start, giving them the key information they need in a structured way.