Hiring your first or second employee? Need to outsource work to an independent contractor or agency?

Having a small knowledge base of employment law isn’t enough when you’re an entrepreneur who will be hiring support. You need to know the ins and outs of what’s legal and what isn’t to protect yourself, your business, and your employees.

Employment law is an essential factor that both small and large businesses should be aware of when they start the hiring or recruiting process. Unfortunately, many small businesses and large companies are completely oblivious to the fact that they are committing crimes by not paying attention to the most common and relevant employment laws. One wrong decision could cause your business to be dragged into legal disputes when it comes to managing your employees and their rights. Obeying with employment law will ensure your company is safe from having to undergo a tribunal, which could not only leave your business bankrupt but lead to a tarnished reputation. Be sure to stay apprised of the latest laws and trends and consult an experienced and capable employment law attorney, when needed.

Here are the most common employment laws and things to know in when you’re a business owner:

Don’t confuse independent contractors with employees. Make sure your independent contractors understand their position, tasks, and entitlements.

Some businesses refuse to hire employees, but instead, aim to integrate as many independent contractors into the company as possible for cost reasons. Businesses pay out thousands of dollars every year towards employee wages, vacation/parental leave, taxes, health benefits, and sick pay which can become extremely expensive for smaller businesses, (especially when the employee leaves).

In contrast, independent contractors have far fewer benefits and rely on the company a lot less. Businesses themselves don’t decide if individuals should become employees or contractors – this is in the hands of the authorities. It’s essential to ensure you have properly categorized the worker to prevent legal disputes occurring. Still, if you have made a mistake, it would be recommended to seek help from Spillane Law to win your business trial. Spillane Law lawyers are professionals in dealing with a range of employment disputes.

Ensure your employees and independent contractors understand your organizational health and safety policies and procedures. Ensuring the safety of your employees and other team members is of the utmost importance.

Employers are held accountable for the wellbeing of their employees (and independent contractors) when they at the workplace physically. This is especially true if they are required to use specific equipment, machinery, or hazardous chemicals that could pose of injury or illness. Workplace injuries occur daily, but all businesses should make sure that employees are kitted out with the necessary safety gear and ensure that risks are kept to an absolute minimum by putting health and safety strategies in place. Employers should also make sure to hang relevant signage for employees and independent contractors to see safety protocols.

Beware of discrimination, what’s legal and what’s not during the hiring and employment process, and how it can impact your business.

The Equality Act is a policy to ensure that all employees are treated with equal rights while in employment. Discrimination of all types is prohibited, and it doesn’t have to be intentional to be seen as illegal, leading to legal disputes. Some of the most common examples of discrimination in the workplace include:

·       Disabilities

·       Sexual orientation

·       Religion

·       Race

·       National origin

·       Marital status

·       Genetic information

·       Illnesses

·       Pregnancy or parental responsibility

·       Age

·       Gender identity

With this in mind, discrimination in the workplace isn’t always obvious and may be taken wrongly or misinterpreted by an employee. As an employer, you may have good reasons to put your point across without being discriminative. If the employee brings the matter up with you, it is your responsibility to try and resolve the issue as soon as possible, but they have every right to seek legal action if they aren’t satisfied with the outcome. It’s important to keep that in mind going through the hiring process.

Be fair to all employees when it comes to benefits, vacation, paid time, and wages. Pay according to skill level and job responsibility.

All employees are entitled to at least the minimum wage when hired on a full-time or part-time basis. To prevent being faced with a lawsuit, you must research and meet the current National Living Wage. Employees should also be entitled to around a four to five-week vacation allowance with full pay.

If you want to attract and retain the best team members to your business, then you need to ensure your organization is fully compliant with all employment laws. One little mistake or mishap can cause significant legal issues for your business.