Employing people

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Employing people
Good employees can be your greatest asset, so recruiting and retaining the right person is very important. Find out your obligations under the recruitment and retention of staff, government laws, industrial awards and agreements, and contracts of employment.

Hiring people
If you want to hire someone, you need to decide on their employment status and find out what requirements there are for each status. There are also a number of obligations and laws that you need to be aware of when hiring people.
- Recruitment
  If you need to employ someone, consider what you want the employee to do and what skills you require. Also consider the employment conditions, level of pay and other costs of employment, including the physical accommodation of the worker.
- Employment status of workers
  The people working in your business can fall under a range of categories of employment. Each has a different set of obligations for you, the employer, and the people who work for you.
- Hiring apprentices & trainees
  Taking on apprentices and trainees can provide real benefits for your business. Your new apprentice or trainee can contribute significantly to your bottom line, with practical skills and knowledge acquired through their training.
- Hiring people from overseas
  Employing workers from overseas can give your business a real advantage, by introducing new ideas and technologies.
- Equal employment opportunity & anti-discrimination
  In Australia, national and local laws cover equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination in the workplace. All employers are required by these laws to create a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.
- Incentives & support
  Finding people with the right skills for your business can be difficult. Have you considered taking on people facing barriers to employment?
Employer obligations
If you operate a small business you need to know all about your obligations to employees and other people who perform work for you. Under common law employers and employees have certain obligations or duties to each other.
- Legal obligations
  Your obligations to employees and other workers come from a variety of sources - federal, state/territory laws, industrial awards and agreements, tribunal decisions and contracts of employment (whether they are written or verbal).
- Paperwork
  Good business records help you manage your business and make sound business decisions. They are also useful if you want to sell your business.
- Staff health & safety
  As a small business owner you have certain rights and responsibilities regarding health and safety in your workplace.
- Taxation superannuation obligations
  If your business has employees or contractors then you'll need to know how to meet your tax obligations.
- Insurance
  It's your responsibility as an employer to maintain certain insurance, including workers compensation and public liability.
Employee entitlements
You must ensure when you take on new employees that you're aware of their entitlements.
- Wages & conditions
  In Australia, there are minimum standards for wages and working conditions.
- Awards & agreements
  Many jobs are covered by a federal or state industrial award. Awards outline the rights and obligations of employers and the legally binding minimum wage rates and employment conditions for employees.
- Employee leave & holiday entitlements
  Most workers are paid for public holidays, except for contract workers and casual employees who are paid for hours worked.
Skills development training
Your business environment is constantly changing, so you need to ensure that the knowledge and skills of your staff keep pace with those changes. Investing in developing skills can benefit your staff and your business.
- Assess your training needs
  Research shows that training your employees can bring your business an increase in productivity, profits, motivation and higher customer satisfaction.
- Training providers
  Registered training organisations (RTOs) are authorised to deliver nationally recognised training. There are around 5 000 RTOs in Australia, and all differ in terms of their products and services.
- Funding & incentive schemes
  There are a number of funding and incentive schemes designed to assist employers in training their staff.
Complaints disputes employee relations
All employers are required to create a workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. These responsibilities are set out in a range of state and federal laws which help protect people from unlawful behaviour.
- Harassment & bullying
  As an employer, you should be aware of the legal risks associated with harassment and bullying and the steps that can be taken to minimise their potential liability.
- Complaints & dispute resolution
  Establishing a process to resolve complaints is an important part of your legal responsibilities as an employer.
Ending employment
Find out what tax implications and employer obligations apply during the resignation, redundancy or dismissal of an employee.