People pointers
Keeping track of your responsibilities as an employer can be difficult. It is therefore vital to familiarise yourself with the most important aspects of human resource management and what you need do to keep everything running smoothly.
Human resources or HR is a term that refers to the people who work for a company. In situations where a company is sufficiently large, it also is used to refer to the department responsible for managing those resources, such as hiring and training new employees, and any other employee related issues.
Any business that has paid employees on its book has to comply with regulatory requirements and employment law is a complex topic that cannot be taken lightly.
Reputational risk
Get your human resources management wrong and you could end up paying for it – literally – while seeing the good name of your business ruined. But if you take the right approach you will not only be able to retain good people, but also motivate them to work hard and do their best.
The starting point is ensuring that all employees (permanent, temporary or fixed term) are provided with a contract/written particulars of employment within two months of commencing employment and are given a copy of the disciplinary procedure within 28 days of signing a contract of employment.
An employer must also notify each new employee, in writing, within five days of commencement of employment of the full names of the employer and the employee; the address of the employer; the expected duration of the contract; the rate or method of calculation of the employee’s pay; and the number of hours the employer reasonably expects the employee to work per normal working day and per normal working week.
Record takers
Employers are legally obliged to maintain records of days and total hours worked by all employees for a period of three years. Any information relating to job applications, interviews, or screening criteria must be kept on file for a period of one year after application.
If you are employing people under the age of 18 you have to ensure that employment done during the school year does not put their education at risk. The law provides for rest intervals and maximum working hours, and prohibits the employment of those under the age of
18 on late night work.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has the power to enter any premises and demand to see employment records, working time records and any documentation associated with the employment of staff.
Employment expenses
The fines for breaches of employment regulations are significant. In addition, workers are more aware of their rights than ever before and therefore more likely to take cases against their employer.
It is important to note that a part-time employee may not be treated less favourably than a comparable full time employee in respect of any condition of employment.
The Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011 cover employees in both the public and private sectors as well as applicants for employment and training. The Acts outlaw discrimination in work-related areas such as pay, vocational training, access to employment, work experience and promotion. Cases involving harassment and victimisation at work are also covered.
