Running a business is a tough task and with so much going on it can be hard to fit absolutely everything in. When things go well and you’re at the point of growth, you may have identified an opportunity to set up a foreign office. If you’re not taking staff with you, you’ll need to work out how to hire your first member staff on foreign shores.
Below are some tips to help you out with the recruitment process and some of your legal obligations as an employer, and also just some general tips of what you should be looking for. If you’re at this point then you should be familiar with hiring, however, employing someone is a big step up when you’re reliant on getting things off of the ground in a new country. We all know that starting any business is an incredibly personal thing so you want to make sure that whoever you hire, is as committed as you and wants to continue to grow the business – so here’s how to achieve this new exciting step!
What Will Their Job Role Be
Before employing someone, you need to make it clear to them exactly what their job role with you will be. Not only will this enable the candidate to decide whether it is the job that they are looking for, but it will also give them the expectations you have from them and this means there they know exactly what they are required to be doing. Depending on the job role, it is now time for you to decide how much you are going to pay your new employee. You must pay your employee at least the national minimum wage, and take into consideration that they have right to sick pay, holidays and maternity leave. Before taking on a new employee you need to ensure you are in a position to pay them consistently every month and to the rate you had agreed on.
Questions to Ask
After deciding what the job role will consist of, it’s a good idea to start considering the different information you want to find out about your potential new employee. Whether you’re planning a more formal or informal interview, come up with some questions to find out the right information. Find out about their past experience in the work world, as well as a bit about them as a person. As your first employee it’s quite likely that you will be working closely with this person so it is important that you feel you will be able to get on and work co-operatively. Working abroad you may find that you’re more inclined to hire someone who speaks the same language as you. What you need to bear in mind, however, is that if the person is from your home country too, they might just be travelling so if you’re looking for a long term hire, that won’t be them. Do your research and speak to local governing bodies/recruitment companies for advice.
The Legal Side
One of the most important parts to consider when employing someone is the legal side. Firstly, make sure that the person has a legal right to work in the country, which you can do through the government website. Once this is done, you’ll need to register as an employer and check if you automatically need to enroll your staff into a workplace schemes such as dental, healthcare or pensions. Finally, to protect yourself and your employee, you will need insurance. To make sure all of this is in place, contact employment lawyers. You must provide all employees with an employment contract which outlines the employee’s rights, responsibilities, and working conditions.
Be Aware of Health and Safety
As an employer, you are responsible for keeping your employees safe at all times. You will need to carry out regular risk assessments to assess any potential hazards in detail. If you are currently working in your home, you will need to look into working elsewhere with another employee joining the team. Although this isn’t necessary, it may make the working environment more comfortable for both you and your employees!
