Monthly Archives: October 2013

One of the most challenging aspects of running a company is personnel management. By their very nature, people are complex entities and making sure they are happy and productive in their roles isn’t always easy.

Complicating matters further, there is a raft of employment legislation in place these days designed to protect people from mistreatment in the workplace. These laws have helped to improve conditions for employees considerably and they serve an important purpose. However, if you’re not careful, you can quickly end up on the wrong side of law as an employer.

Why take the risk?

The good news is that help is at hand. There is plenty of legal guidance available as long as you know where to look and, by taking advantage of this, you can help prevent problems from arising and deal with any issues if they arise in the most effective manner.

Here at Simply-Docs we appreciate the pressures on firms when it comes to employment law and we offer a range of legal documents that might interest you. For a very small investment, you could access our templates and potentially avoid a considerable amount of hassle.

Some facts

At some point, all businesses have to deal with employee grievances and disciplinary matters. No matter how careful you are when it comes to selecting personnel and managing them, there are bound to be occasions when things go wrong.

Grievances can be defined as problems, concerns or complaints that workers wish to raise. All organisations must have written disciplinary and grievance rules and procedures in place that comply with the ACAS Code of Practice. It’s vital that you follow these rules and treat your staff members fairly.

The simple fact is, if you fail to do this, you may find yourself subject to long and costly legal proceedings. As well as hitting your bottom line, this could damage your reputation.

Our templates

On the face of it, guarding against legal action like this can seem like a daunting task. However, as long as you adhere to the rules, you can avoid problems.

Our Employment Document Folder should contain all the documents you need to help keep you on the straight and narrow. For example, it includes grievance procedures, disciplinary policies, dismissal procedures, suspension policies and letters, qualification disputes, appeal notices and more.

A harmonious environment

By making sure that you’re fully aware of your rights and responsibilities and by being fair and clear in your handling of any disputes with personnel, you can help ensure your working environment remains as harmonious as possible.

Find out more

If you’re intrigued by our employment documents and want to find out more about them, just take a look around our website or get in touch by email or telephone.

It’s also worth noting that we offer a variety of other documents. For example, perhaps you’d benefit from our standard terms and conditions template or maybe our accident book template will be of interest.

Accessing these documents may be cheaper than you think, and they could make your life much easier.

Your personnel may well be your most valuable resource. In order to achieve long-lasting success in the world of enterprise, it’s vital that you have staff with the necessary skill, insight and dedication. Given the tough economic conditions affecting the UK and many other countries at present, it’s more important than ever to have the right team at your side.

That said, recruiting and retaining the best individuals can be tricky. Finding them and enticing them into your organisation may not be straightforward, and then there are all the legal issues and costs to bear in mind.

Splashing too much cash

If you’re not careful, your recruitment campaigns can cost a small fortune and, currently, this may be money you simply don’t have.

By devoting too many resources and too much time to this process, you can land yourself in financial hot water.

Here to help

Here at Simply-Docs we know how difficult this process can be. To make your life easier, we offer a range of document templates. By singing up to our Employment Document Folder, you can access all the documents you need at the click of a button.

These resources will help you manage the application, selection and interview process and, once you’ve identified the individuals you wish to take on, the documents will guide you through the procedures involved in employing new staff.

Our folders contain letters, guidance notes, employment application forms, policies and job description templates, amongst other things.

Efficient and hassle-free

The great thing about having access to resources like this is they help you conduct your recruitment procedures as efficiently and effectively as possible. You’ll know your rights and responsibilities and won’t fall into legal pitfalls that could cost you dearly further down the line.

With detailed and reliable resources like this at your fingertips, you can make sure your process is as streamlined as possible.

The importance of accurate and fair employment contracts

As well as conducting the recruitment process in the best possible way, it’s vital you don’t take your eye off the ball when it comes to employment contracts. Far too often, firms land themselves in legal trouble because of ambiguities or errors in these contracts.

Trying to wing it is not a good idea. Unless you have extensive knowledge and experience in the field, it pays off to take advantage of professional resources and our document templates are ideal for this purpose.

A targeted approach

As well as legal templates, there are plenty of other things you’ll need to think about when you’re trying to attract new personnel. For example, to get the crème de la crème of individuals within your industry, you’ll need to offer attractive employment prospects and make sure you market your vacancies via the most suitable channels.

If the right people don’t see the roles you’re offering, the whole process could prove to be a waste of time.

As long as you’re shrewd and make sure your positions are properly advertised and you follow the legal processes, you should achieve the results you’re after.

If your firm is feeling the financial pinch, you might be looking for ways to save cash. Indeed, there are bound to be certain areas in which you can cut back. However, make sure safety isn’t one of them.

Regardless of how much pressure your organisation is under, it’s vital that you don’t skimp on health and safety. If you do, the consequences could be disastrous both for your personnel and for the future of your company.

Your responsibilities

Under UK laws, you’re required to meet certain minimum standards of risk management and, if you fall beneath these, you’ll face potentially serious repercussions.

Also, even one lapse in your health and safety systems could result in accidents that cause serious harm to your workers. Dealing with the human suffering and feelings of guilt associated with incidents like this is extremely tough.

A savvy approach

Thankfully, there are ways in which you can ensure the quality of your health and safety systems with optimum efficiency. For example, here at Simply-Docs we offer a range of health and safety documents that can help you to fulfil your obligations, protect your personnel and remain on the right side of the law.

The documents include up-to-date templates such as health and safety policies and risk assessment forms and they represent superb value for money. For only £35 plus VAT, you can download any template in the Health and Safety Document Folder at any time over a one-year period. This unlimited download access includes updates and additions for the duration of the subscription.

Making your life easier

As well as helping to ensure your processes are as effective and efficient as possible, these templates can also make your life easier. You’ll have peace of mind that you’re conforming to the law and you’ll benefit from additional guidance and information.

To check out our health and safety documents, and to see the rest of our document templates, just take a look around our website.

Health and safety in the spotlight

If ever you need reminding of the significance of effective risk management, just take a look at the figures provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which reveal that, over the period from April 2011 to March 2012, a total of 173 workers were fatally injured.

Meanwhile, there were 22,433 major injuries such as amputations, fractures and burns and employees suffered 88,731 other injuries serious enough to keep them off work for four or more days. In addition, an estimated 1.1 million individuals said they were suffering from an illness caused or made worse by their work.

Commenting in a press release towards the end of 2012, Chair of HSE, Judith Hackitt noted that “Britain has earned the reputation of being one of the safest places in Europe to work, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.”

Organisation is key

The key to effective health and safety management is organisation. As long as you use the right documents and stick to systematic and thorough policies, you should be able to keep control of this aspect of your firm – and our document templates should make this task easier.

Setting up a new company can be an exciting time. The thought of being your own boss and realising your ambitions is a tantalising prospect and, if you’re successful, you stand to reap potentially significant financial rewards.

However, there’s no getting around the fact that you’ve got plenty of hard work ahead of you and there is plenty to think about. Particularly if you’ve got little or no experience of company formation, you’ll have a steep learning curve to negotiate.

Help is at hand

The good news is that help is at hand. By using the starting up and company formation documents we provide here at Simply-Docs, you should find the process easier. These business documents are constructed in Word in a stable format and they can be edited to suit the needs of your business.

Whether you’re setting up as a sole trader, creating a private company limited by shares or teaming up to form a partnership, our documents will help guide you through each stage of the process.

Peace of mind

Having these business documents templates at your disposal can really boost your peace of mind. You’ll know that you’re following the right track and can rest assured that they are user-friendly and professionally drafted.

Getting your hands on the resources requires a small amount of expenditure, but this should prove to be a great investment. Not only will the documents make your life easier, they will also help you avoid mistakes that could cause you hassle and expense further down the line.

Research your market

Of course, there are lots of other issues to think about too. For example, before you commit too much time and energy to the project, it’s crucial that you research your market to establish whether or not your idea is viable. Talk to potential customers and find out if there is indeed a niche in the market.

You could also test your product or service with real customers and adapt it until you’re certain there is demand for it.

Getting funding

You’ll also need to think carefully about how to finance your venture. Without sufficient funding, your fledgling company won’t stand a chance.

There are a number of options. Perhaps you’re in a position to fund your new firm yourself, or maybe you’ll need business finance or a bank loan. Alternatively, perhaps you’ll be keen to take advantage of government-backed schemes.

Your premises

Then there are your business premises to consider. Depending on the nature of the company you’re planning to set up, you might be able to use your home as a base initially. This will help minimise your overheads.

If you need to take premises on, you’ll need to think about whether to rent or buy, and find a property that’s within budget, in the right location and has all the resources you need.

Find out more

If you’re interested in the corporate documents we have to offer and think they may be able to help you, just take a look around the relevant section of our website.