Managing your people essentials

As soon as you decide to hire your first member of staff there are legal requirements that you have to meet. This page outlines the essentials that you need to know about and directs you to relevant areas for further information.

One of the first steps in becoming an employer is drawing up an employment contract for your staff; find out what you need to know about contracts and determining the employment status of your staff members

Understand your obligations with regards to the data you hold about your employees and your duties to comply with data protection regulations

Find out what you need to do to take on staff: from job adverts to interviews and inductions

Understand how to manage absence (both planned and unplanned) and how to support your staff on their return to work

Find out how to manage annual leave, the amount and the pay, and how to ensure your staff take the time off that they need

Access guidance on how to manage employees going on maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave

Find out what you need to know about employee’s rights to request flexible working and how to handle these requests

Redundancy is all about dealing with a job that has disappeared. It is an uncertain and difficult time for you and your staff and must be handled carefully. Find out how to effectively manage a redundancy process

Access guidance on how to prevent bullying in your workplace and how to handle any instances that do occur

Access guidance on the best procedures to handle any grievances raised by your employees

Information on how to effectively manage a disciplinary process to deal with misconduct or poor performance

Access guidance on the best way to manage a dismissal, with information on avoiding unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal and constructive dismissal