Category : Employment Law

Every major sports tournament has serious implications for businesses and the World Cup in Brazil will inevitably cause reduced attendance at work. Rather than fight it, plan for it and provide flexibility in order to maintain workforce productivity. Organising events can also enhance employee engagement. Employers, however, should also remember that not all staff are football fans and be aware of the high emotions that can get stimulated by “results on the field”. We all hope our team does well and progresses, but it is important that celebration and disappointment does not take over business workflow.

Please click on World Cup 2014 for more information and guidance.

How much disruption do you expect to your business?

Your personnel might be your most valuable resource. It’s largely thanks to their hard work and skill that your organisation is able to continue running. This is why it’s so important to pull out all the stops when it comes to motivating and training your employees.

An eager and talented workforce is an enviable thing and it could help to set you apart from rival organisations. In many cases, a carrot and stick approach is required to ensure personnel are performing optimally. This is where staff appraisals come in handy. These analyses can provide you with a great chance to see the areas in which your employees are performing well and those which require improvement. You can then issue any reprimands or rewards as appropriate.

Delays

However, as important as these exercises are, their implementation is often delayed. It’s one thing to intend to conduct thorough and valuable appraisals and another thing to actually make this desire a reality. After all, in the pressure of the working day, it’s easy to get waylaid and distracted, meaning appraisals fall to the bottom of your to-do list.

Also, if you’re not careful, the assessments can become a tick-box exercise, which is no good to anyone. Honest and insightful analysis is required in order to achieve positive results.

Time to rethink?

If you feel as though the appraisal system in your firm needs a revamp, now could be the perfect time to set about this task. After all, there are lots of reasons why it pays to get this right. For instance, by clarifying key objectives with employees, you can help ensure everyone is aiming for the same goals. Also, personal development plans are a great way of encouraging people to improve.

Meanwhile, by recognising any advances workers have made, you can reward them and this provides instant motivation. On the flipside, you will find it easier to identify and correct any problems.

Also, feedback from your personnel can be used to improve your business and ensure it’s running exactly as it should.

Some help

It’s important that your appraisal system is fair and clear, otherwise workers won’t respond to it. Here at Simply-Docs we offer a range of staff appraisal form templates that could help you fine tune your analyses.

These staff appraisal template documents are part of our Employment Document Folder and they are easy to use. Being able to refer to the templates could help ensure you avoid many of the pitfalls of improvised appraisals.

Your bottom line

Ultimately, this could boost your bottom line. After all, by having an effective system of rewards and checks in place, and by communicating properly with your personnel, you stand to bolster productivity and efficiency.

It really is worth putting some effort into this aspect of employee management. You may be surprised by how quickly you start to see results.

See for yourself

If you’re interested in these templates and think they could benefit your organisation, just take a look around our website. You might also benefit from other templates in our range of legal documents.

Starting a new business can be exhilarating. You’ll get to be your own boss and, providing your idea’s good and you have the necessary skills and dedication, you stand to make potentially large sums of money. Then there’s all the career satisfaction you can get from heading up your own company.

However, there are so many issues to consider when you launch an enterprise and, particularly if you have limited or no prior experience in such tasks, you could easily find you get lost. At the same time, you might not have access to mentors to help you or be able to afford costly bespoke legal and business advice.

A helping hand

The good news is, you don’t have to shell out a fortune in order to benefit from expert guidance. Here at Simply-Docs it’s our mission to provide the full spectrum of business documents and, with these templates at your disposal, you should find it much easier to navigate your way through the initial phases of establishing your business.

The best thing is, our documents can continue giving you a helping hand in the long-term. By subscribing to our documents each year, you can ensure you always have access to up-to-date, accurate templates.

Plus points

One of the major plus points of our business document templates is the fact they’re so affordable. For hardly any money at all, you can access the information you need. This may be especially important during the launch period of your company. After all, money may be in short supply as you’re getting your firm off the ground.

Also, once you’ve subscribed to the folders, you can access them 24/7. The business world never sleeps and you’ll no doubt find yourself working late into the night and early in the morning from time to time. Luckily, you won’t have to wait for regular office hours to access the expertise you need. Our documents will be ready and waiting at all times.

You might also be pleased to note that our portfolios are constantly updated. After all, it’s no good using a template that looks and sounds great if it’s no longer relevant. In fact, this could get you into trouble.

Different areas

We provide business document templates in a number of areas, namely: business, corporate, employment, health and safety and property.

If you need guidance on any of these topics, or indeed on all of them, just take a look around our website. You might be pleasantly surprised by how little our services cost and how comprehensive they are.

Maximising your chance of success

OK, so you’ll have to spend a little money to benefit from our expertise, but this should prove to be a shrewd investment. After all, our templates may prevent you from making potentially damaging mistakes and thereby help to secure your long-term success.

It’s certainly well worth taking a look at the options available to you. With our help, launching your enterprise should be that bit smoother and less stressful.

If your firm is going through a period of expansion, you should be commended. After all, business conditions remain tough and so it’s no mean feat to achieve and maintain success.

Taking on new personnel can be exciting. Your enterprise might be entering a new phase and many opportunities no doubt lie ahead. However, there are certain pitfalls to avoid. For example, it’s really important that you get to grips with employment contracts. These documents play a vital role in establishing the rights and responsibilities of both workers and employers and, if they aren’t drawn up correctly, all sorts of issues can arise further down the line.

You’re not alone

One thing’s for sure; you’re not alone in taking on additional members of staff. According to a Small Business Index produced by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), confidence among small companies is rising. The index reached 15.9 points during the second quarter of 2013. This was 9.6 points higher than the previous three-month period and it was the second highest reading since the index began in 2010. Financial service firms reported the highest confidence levels and small manufacturers were also among those noting they have high hopes for coming months.

Meanwhile, more firms expected their turnover to increase during the third quarter and a larger number of businesses planned to increase staffing levels over the three-month period.

Here to help

Here at Simply-Docs we know that periods of expansion can be thrilling and daunting in equal measure and we go out of our way to make the process of taking on new personnel that bit easier. Our Employment Documents Folder contains a complete range of contracts, policies, forms and letter templates to help you recruit and manage staff with greater confidence.

A team of lawyers and HR professionals

You might not have the resources to use an in-house team of lawyers and HR professionals, but the good news is, you don’t need to. Our contract templates have been drafted by a team of experts from these fields and they address the specific needs of the jobs and staff seniority that are implied by their titles.

A full year

By subscribing to our Employment Documents Folder, you can ensure you have access to all the documents it contains, including employment contracts, for a full year. Whenever you need to draw on the relevant expertise, you can do so quickly and easily.

Efficient

Having access to these legal documents can make the process of recruitment much more efficient. Given that you may want to move quickly to take advantage of market conditions, this could be welcome news.

Also, by using our templates you can provide yourself with a confidence boost. Knowing that your documents are up-to-date, accurate and authoritative can be a big relief. There is plenty to stress about when you’re heading up a company, so it’s important to make your life easier wherever you can.

For more information about our documents, just take a look around our website or get in touch with our friendly and helpful team.

If you are thinking of setting up your own private limited company then you are to be congratulated. The responsibility of turning a profit from your own endeavours is a tough ask, so taking on the task shows that you are the type of person who certainly isn’t afraid of a challenge!

But why set up as a limited company? Why not go for the apparently more simple option of operating as a sole trader?

Sole Trader

While operating as a sole trader is generally easier (in terms of administration) and cheaper than setting up a private limited company, it does have a significant downside when it comes to the issue of personal financial liability. If your business fails as a sole trader, you are personally liable for its debts. The worst case scenario of this kind of liability is that you may well become personally bankrupt if your business becomes burdened with sizeable debts.

Limited Company

Unlike operating as a sole trader, setting up a limited company affords you limited protection against business debts. This is because a limited company is regarded as being a separate legal entity.

So, whilst operating as a sole trader might appear to be a simpler option at the beginning, it is clear to see that setting up a limited company is still your best bet in the long term.

But once you decide that setting up a limited company is the right thing to do, how should you actually go about doing it?

Setting Up your Limited Company

The first thing you need to do when setting up a limited company is to register its name with Companies House. This is a relatively simple task which requires you to do nothing more than furnish officials with some specific information and sign and date a number of important documents. If you are looking to form a brand new limited company (rather than purchase a pre-existing name) then you will need to send a Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association and a completed IN01 form to Companies House. A Memorandum of Association details the limited company’s name, registered office and nature of business, and must be signed by the director(s) in front of a witness. The Articles of Association sets out the rules for the running and regulation of the company.

These documents are readily available for download from our Corporate Documents Folder here on the Simpy-Docs website. In fact, we have a wide array of document templates, guidance notes, and other supporting legal forms which can be invaluable when starting up a limited company, so you may well find it very beneficial to have a good look round our pages and folders before you set up your own business empire!

It is fair to say that most employees have pulled a “sickie” at one point or another during their working lives. These contrived excuses are occupational folklore as they generally involve wannabee absentees putting in Oscar worthy performances down the phone while they relay convoluted stories of malady and woe with some nicely timed coughs here and there.

But why is this? Why do some people feel the need to give work a miss when others are diligently working away?

Well, there are a number of reasons.

In general, people who feel inclined to call in sick when they are not really unwell are either bored at work, depressed, or have more pressing things to deal with such as personal issues or family matters. In addition, some Machiavellian absentees also take time off if they feel they have been working too hard.

Whilst some of these reasons may seem valid in certain circumstances, the truth is that unnecessary workplace absenteeism can have a very detrimental effect on employers. After all, it is employers who have to foot the bill of getting in a temp or paying other employees extra money to cover absent workers.

Of course, it’s not just in the coffers where unnecessary absences can have a negative effect. They can also cause staff morale to suffer too, as reliable employees will soon get fed up with having to pull up the slack of those who individuals who are sitting in their pyjamas watching telly at home while they slave away in the office.

So what is the answer? How can companies deal with this potentially debilitating problem? Well, the solution is actually very simple – have up-to-date working practices.

As established earlier, most employees go missing for a day or two because they feel the need to have a break from the monotony of work. Therefore, the answer lies in nipping this monotony in the bud. The best way for companies to do this is to adopt more flexible working patterns, such as flexi-hours and working from home for part of the week. Working in this way provides employees with some much needed variety and therefore makes it easier for them to remain engaged in their work. This in turn helps to keep them motivated and, in the long term, reduces the likelihood of them feeling the need to take a few unsolicited days off.

Of course, companies that adopt this approach will need to amend their staff handbooks as well individual workers’ employment contracts. Fortunately, all of the document templates needed to do this are available in our Employment Document Folder here on the Simply-Docs website. In fact, we have everything from full and part-time contract templates to staff handbook policy templates available for immediate download, so any company that is looking to upgrade its working practices can rest assured they will be able to do so in double-quick time when they come to us.

Taking on new members of staff can be exciting. Perhaps you’re just starting out with your company, or maybe you’re going through a period of expansion.

However, before you get carried away, it’s important to think through all the implications associated with employing new people. There are a series of legal issues to deal with and if you don’t get to grips with these from the outset, you could run into serious problems further down the line.

Contracts

For example, once you’ve chosen the individual or individuals you want to welcome into your firm, you’ll need to complete employment contracts. These documents will define your relationship with the new workers and it will detail your respective rights and responsibilities.

To make your life easier, it could help to take advantage of our document templates here at Simply-Docs. We offer a range of legal contracts and should have exactly what you’re after.

The facts

Employment contracts are agreements that set out an individual’s employment conditions, rights, responsibilities and duties. These are referred to as the ‘terms’ of the contract. Both employers and employees must stick to these contracts until they end; if either the worker or company gives notice or if the employee is dismissed. A contract can also end if the terms are changed, usually by agreement between the worker and employer.

Employers must also make clear to workers which parts of their contracts are legally binding.

In addition, it’s important to bear in mind that as soon as someone accepts a job offer, they have a form of contract with their employer.

Collective agreements

In some cases, employers make an agreement with employees’ representatives such as trade unions or staff associations. This is called a collective agreement and its terms may include matters such as how negotiations will be organised, who will represent workers and which employees are covered.

Check out our templates

The matters covered are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to employment law. As you can see, the issues are many and varied and so trying to handle all of this without assistance could be very time consuming and difficult. Also, you may be at serious risk of making mistakes that could come back to bite you later on.

By coming to us to use our legal forms, you could make your life much easier and potentially protect your organisation from legal difficulties. Our Employment Contracts Folder contains a wide selection of up-to-date employment contracts that can be applied to your needs immediately or with simple editing.

All of our employment contracts have been drafted by legal specialists to address the specific needs of jobs and staff seniority implied by the titles of the contracts.

How much?

You might be surprised to learn how inexpensive our employment contracts are. For only £35 plus VAT, you can access the entire Employment Document Folder for an entire year. To find out more about our employment contract templates, just take a look around the rest of our website.

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 you are an employer, you will need what is known as a ‘contract of employment’. This is due to the fact that you have to give an employee your set of rules and regulations, which is called a “written statement of employment particulars”. This document has to be given to your new worker within two months of them starting work. A statement of employment particulars is the minimum that the law requires; however, employers are not fully protected by it. A comprehensive employment contract can work out much better for employers and employees. Luckily, you are able to sign up and download an employment contract template from a website offering document templates.

What exactly is an employment contract?

A contract of employment is typically comprehensive and allows the employer to detail the duties of their employees, along with any responsibilities. This ensures that employees know what is expected prevents misunderstandings.

There are many different types of employment contract templates available for download and these can be tailored to fit the needs of your particular business. For instance, a basic standard minimum contract will differ from those which are suitable for more senior staff, such as an executive employment contract. The difference between document templates could, for example, be the inclusion or exclusion of confidentiality clauses. You can generally find a contract of employment template to suit any scenario.

Elements of the template

Depending on the documents you have downloaded, you would typically find the following included in the template.

• The employee name and address in full along with the organisation details
• The date the employee started working for you. This is a very important thing to have on the form
• The exact job description and title of the job, which was specified when advertising the job, along with any offer letter that you sent
• The exact location where the employee works
• The amount of hours the employee works. The employee may also agree to working additional hours, providing it is reasonably requested by the employer. Bear in mind that this cannot generally exceed 48 hours in any week
• Salary details should be included, which cover the salary before tax and national insurance, along with deductions, if any. This section should state the date when payment is made
• Holidays should be stated and this becomes important if there are any busy times when the employer wants to prevent employees from taking time off work. It should state the amount of days per year holiday that the employee can take. Bear in mind that there is a 28 day statutory minimum for employees working a five day week.

Of course, the above are just a few of the many things that should be included in any employment contract template that you download to use in your business. It is likely that there will be many other clauses, such as those relating to retirement, severability, notice periods, sickness and disability.

If you run your own small business then you will (hopefully) know that you are obliged to provide all of your employees with a ‘statement of terms’ (i.e. a contract) within two months of their start date. Like many other small business owners however, you may not have an overly extensive knowledge of how to go about sorting contracts out and ensuring all of the legal technicalities are suitably taken care of.

Of course, a quick look on Google will soon show you that there are plenty of free employment contracts available to download from the Internet. However, whilst these documents may initially appear comprehensive enough, they do not always cover the important aspects which you as an employer require.

Fortunately we here at Simply-docs can help in this respect as, whilst our contracts, templates and other employment documents are not free, they are guaranteed to provide you with everything you will possibly need.
Comprehensive Contracts

A comprehensive contract of employment is one that enables you to clearly specify an employee’s duties and responsibilities. This is important as it ensures employees know exactly what is expected of them.

At the very least, a comprehensive employment contract template needs to include:
• Names of the Parties
• Employment Contract Start Date
• Employee’s Job Title and Description
• Place of Work
• Hours of Work
• Probationary Period
• Salary
• Assessments
• Deductions
• Expenses
• Holidays
• Sickness & Disability
• Pension
• Notice
• Restrictive Covenants
• Grievance and Disciplinary Procedure
• Retirement
• Severability
• Prior Agreements
• Jurisdiction
• Particulars of Employment
Simply-docs Contracts and Templates
Our Employment sub-folder contains a wide selection of up-to-date contracts and templates (all of which have been updated from the 6th April 2011 to allow for the removal of the Default Retirement Age). The legal contracts and templates we offer cover a wide range of employees’ responsibilities and duties so you will find that they can be can be applied to your company’s own particular needs immediately or with just a little bit of simple editing.

All of our contracts and templates have been drafted by an expert team of lawyers and HR professionals so you can rest assured that any documents you choose to purchase from us will address the specific needs of the roles they represent, as well as the staff seniorities which are implied in the titles of the contracts.

In addition to employee contracts and templates, you may also find our Staff Handbook Policies to be an invaluable investment as these can provide your company with all of the employment policies and documents required to manage your employees and help to ensure you comply fully with all current employment regulations.

To find out more about our downloadable documents, contracts and templates, and view relevant samples of our high-quality offerings in greater detail, simply take a few moments to explore the contents of the Employment sub-folder here on our web pages.