There are many milestones in a young business, and hiring the first team member is one of the biggest. The problem is, many companies jump so quickly into hiring that they forget to consider what it entails beforehand. If you’re at the stage in your business where you are prepared to expand the team, then here are some things to remember first.
Safety
When you welcome someone into your team, safety isn’t just about you anymore. While you may have previously been comfortable with letting some safety measures slide because it was just you in the office, now you must ensure they are up to standard.
Before their first day, make sure you have a first aid cabinet, a work accident form, fire safety measures, and alarm systems in place.
Your Finances
While you might be at a stage where you can afford to pay someone’s wages, what about a year from now? You must also consider insurance prices, as hiring an employee doesn’t just cost their wages. As someone responsible for another’s livelihood, you should be positive you have the finances to keep them on board.
What You Expect
As a business owner, you’ll likely have expectations of the new employee, such as how they will be presented and what tasks they should complete within a certain time frame. Make sure you specify this on the ad and let all candidates know what the job entails.
What The Employee Expects
Your employee expects just as much from you, so make sure you understand what is expected before you welcome somebody into your business. From sick leave to workplace safety, you must make sure you are prepared to give your new team member a satisfying and comfortable job.
The Space
To hire a team member, you should have ample space for them to do their job. If they’re to be an office worker, for example, then provide them with a good-sized desk and plenty of storage space for their work and personal belongings. It’s also a good idea to provide a break space, as many people prefer to spend their lunch hour away from their work station.
Time Off
Your new employee cannot be expected to work forty hours a week for fifty-two weeks of the year, so make sure that you account for their time off. Most companies now have an internal leave tracking system. So it’s a lot easier now to keep track of the leaves of your employees. You’ll need to keep in mind both sickness and holidays, and when they do take them, you should have preparations in place to take over their work.
Your Communication Skills
Working alone in a small business is entirely different from working as the boss of others. If you’ve never been in a managerial role before, you should work on your communication skills before hiring your first team member. You’ll need to be a great listener, a confident speaker, and show both power and friendliness in your body language and voice if you want to be an excellent boss to your new employee.
Your business growth is always exciting, but make sure you are well prepared for its development.
