Hiring your first employee? Read this first

Business owners are lucky to have many ‘firsts’ to celebrate – your first day working on your passion, making your first sale and setting up your first office.

There are some firsts, though, that can feel a bit daunting. If your business has grown to the point where you’re considering hiring your first employee, congratulations! But you may be wondering, how do I get started? What do I need to know?

Building your team

Building a team is one of the joys and challenges of business ownership. Surrounding yourself with people who are as committed to making your business work as you are is an uplifting experience. However finding those people and developing the best framework for success can be a learning process.

The relationship you have with your staff has its own lifecycle – there’s a beginning, a middle and an end. The cycle is governed by a set of processes, and it’s important to be aware of what they are, so that your business remains compliant with employment laws.

Equally important is knowing how to make the most of each stage of the employment process so that you can effectively begin, manage and end employment relationships – as well as attract, develop and retain the right kind of people with the right skill sets.

What do I need to know?

From the outset, you need to make sure that you’re ready to hire. If you are ready, decide what the actual job will be and figure out what kind of person will best fit the role.

Knowing whether you’re ready to hire involves working out whether you can afford to hire, and making a call as to the type of employment arrangement you need. Do you need someone permanently? Or for a fixed length of time? Have you considered alternative options like contractors, volunteers or interns to get the help you need?

From a compliance perspective, it’s important to give Inland Revenue the right information about your business and its employees, and make sure you have a good payroll system in place. Setting up a file for each employee means that all their documentation, such as their contract, KiwiSaver forms, and tax declarations – as well as leave and performance records – are all in one place and accessible.

MYOB Essential Employer Guide

MYOB’s Essential Employer Guide covers all of these essentials and steps you through each of the employment lifecycle stages:

1. Pre-employment
2. Hiring process
3. Managing employees
4. Employee performance
5. Ending employment

Whether you’re employing staff for the first time, taking over a business with employees or an experienced employer, our Essential Employer Guide will help you meet your obligations.

Don’t be a good employer – be a great one! Download your FREE Essential Employer Guide today.