Employees can make your life easier as a business owner in a vast number of ways. They will be able to handle tasks that you do not have time for, cross the bridge between you and your customers, represent your brand, and contribute exciting ideas that you might not have thought of on your own. However, introducing employees to your company is not always a breeze, especially if you originally wanted your company to be a one-person show. If that is the case, here is what you might struggle with and what you can do about this.
Recruitment
Before you even start interacting with your team in an office setting, it is vital that you make sure you have the right people along for the ride. You might be tempted to take on the first people that you interview. However, although they might be friendly and engaged, they might not have the correct skillsets. What you want is the best of both worlds: those who are friendly and enthusiastic, as well as those who have the right qualifications and experience. This will enable them to properly float your business. To make sure this is the case, you should try to streamline your recruitment by advertising on the right platforms and creating thoughtful and revealing interview questions, encouraging your potential recruits to think outside the box.
Delegation
It can be hard to delegate at first, especially if you are used to doing everything on your own. However, rather than trying to control every single aspect of your business and being reluctant to let any go, you should see your employees as a chance to focus on the elements you are most interested in and to open yourself up to new opportunities. This could also allow you to be more engaged in the tasks that you do instead of constantly thinking of the next.
Employment Law
Employment law is full of pitfalls for the unsuspecting business owner. Even worse, the laws change all the time, meaning that they can often be difficult to stay on top of. However, you can get reprimanded for ignoring or failing to recognize these laws, and this could mean the end of your business. To check that you are always on the right side of the law when it comes to employment, you should consider hiring an external HR company to deal with this for you. To find out more about why outsource your HR, including how it can save you time, you should read one of the many guides online or ask an HR professional to take you through them.
Pay Roll
Payroll can be a nightmare for business owners, especially if they do not have any financial expertise to play with. You might find that you regularly pay your employees late, that you do not provide them with the correct wage, or that you do not process any invoices quickly enough. Luckily, there is a range of software that can help you to combat this, automating each of your financial processes and ensuring that your employees are happy and able to pay their mortgages. You should always look around for a simple app option, though, that will allow you to do the tasks that need completing without any fuss.
Employee Satisfaction
You might believe that anyone would be happy to work for you. However, it is easy to become complacent with your employee satisfaction levels and you might soon find that your staff are reluctant to come to work each day. This could cause higher rates of absenteeism and less productivity. To turn the situation around, it is important that you often conduct staff surveys, that you offer appraisals, and that you speak to your employees one to one. It is also an employer’s responsibility to create a welcoming and focused environment for their staff to work in and this space should also prioritize cleanliness and hygiene. In most situations, it is best to avoid hotdesking and allow your team individual workspaces that they can grow attached to.
Discrimination
Discrimination can be horrible to encounter for the victim, and it can also be horrible to know that harassment, bullying and discrimination are happening within your workplace. To stop it before it occurs, it is important that you have thought of and written up a comprehensive policy that shows your stance and what will happen to those who breach the conditions of this policy. It will also cover the steps that you are taking to stop negative experiences from happening in your workplace. This can make each one of your employees feel safe and as if they are well supported.
