Working With Employees For The First Time: What To Know

One way that you'll know that your business is becoming a true success is that you can no longer do everything by yourself. You will have to begin bringing people on and paying them appropriately for the work they do to help your company to grow. However, having employees means that you need to remain aware of legal employer behavior and have plans in place for dealing with the people that you hire. From hiring them to firing them, you'll need to pay attention to issues like those below.

Avoiding Illegal Questions

When you first sit down to interview various people for the positions you need to fill, it's natural that you'll have many questions that you think will give you an idea of whether they should be hired or not. However, without the proper knowledge, it's rather simple to go beyond legal bounds and ask things that are just not legal--even if the questions seem fine to you. For instance, even if you wonder whether a woman is pregnant and would therefore be requesting a leave of absence, know that you cannot ask about family, marriage or pregnancy status. You may want to ask how old someone is or what kinds of religious behaviors they practice; those are also illegal questions. Do some research and reach out to a lawyer to ensure you understand what may be asked.

Asking About Work-Related Philosophy

It's not enough that you know whether a person has the skillset to do the work you require. You also need to be sure that as the owner of the company, you set the standard for employee interactions and culture. You should also remember to ask interview questions about how people handle interpersonal conflicts at work and how they see themselves progressing over a period of time. Ask whether they are sincerely interested in the industry your company is in. By attempting to hire those who share your work ethic and passion, you can build a more cohesive team.

Compile a Manual for Workers

Even if you're only bringing on a handful of people to start, you're really going to need to consider working on a manual for all the employees you hire. You won't have to answer the same questions all the time, for one thing, but more importantly, you can give people an idea of what kind of boss you'll be. You can outline your policies regarding days off and disciplinary action so that they understand what they can expect.

These suggestions can make working with others easier over the long run. Discuss your needs and business with an employment attorney, like Mohajerian A Professional Law Corporation, who can provide more guidance with these issues.

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