Employment Considerations

Author: Youth 2 Youth.

This can be a challenging aspect of running a small business. Not only do entrepreneurs find it hard to delegate authority as well as find and retain great staff, but the issues surrounding employment can be complicated to deal with. This article contains some basic information on this.

There are some considerations facing the small business owner thinking of taking on employees:

• Should you employ staff or contract out the work?
• What will it cost to employ and can you afford this?
• How will you find, induct, train and retain the right staff?

The laws surrounding employment should also be looked at by the prospective employer. You need to understand your legal obligations in terms of:

• awards and contracts of employment;
• Industrial Relations Act 1979;
• Industrial Training Act 1973;
• Workplace Agreements Act 1993;
• Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993;
• long service leave;
• taxation;
• work safety issues;
• superannuation;
• record keeping;
• workers compensation; and
• equal opportunity legislation - essential in hiring and firing of staff.

You also need to ensure the role, responsibilities and duties of the employee are clear to both you and them (and to any other relevant staff):

• Do you have a duty statement for them?
• Are you equipped to manage, train and professionally develop staff?
• Do they have a contract and have they signed it?!

Don't be afraid to seek professional advice on these matters, as they can be complex.

'Copyright 2003 Youth 2 Youth'

Disclaimer: This article is for your information, but it may not apply to or be suitable for your situation, so seek professional advice. Youth 2 Youth cannot be held liable for anything resulting from how you use the information provided in this article.