November 19th, 2020

​What do you do when you take on a new employee? Obviously training is a priority. The individual needs to become productive as quickly as possible.
As part of that process the new staff member needs to be inducted into your Health and Safety processes. For their sake and for yours. I’m sure you are aware that a safe worker is a more productive worker. (Not to mention your responsibility under the Health and Safety Act).
One of the things I ask business owners is “Do you have a written statement around your firms Commitment to Health and Safety”. If you do, get your new employee to read over it. It should include detail around your commitment as business owner and the staff’s commitment. You are in this together. (If you don’t have a written statement, flick me an email, I will give you some examples. No charge for that).
Of course a written employment contract is a legal requirement for new employees (and all employee’s).
Have a look at the following webpage from the ministry of Business and Innovation. It provides an excellent process for customising employment contracts. You just go though it step by step and print it off. It tells you what is mandatory and what is optional. It includes a great section around general workplace rules that the employee is expected to follow, rules around Kiwisaver, overtime, how to handle work related expenses, mobile phones, work vehicles, public holidays, annual leave, sick leave, health and safety, drug and alcohol testing, resolving conflict, serious misconduct and much more.
https://eab.business.govt.nz/employmentagreementbuilder/startscreen/
 
Here’s a statement from their webpage:
“Our new Employment Agreement Builder helps you create contracts tailored to your business and to each person you employ. It’s packed with tips to help you decide what to put in your agreement — and what NOT to put in. It covers what you must do by law, and also sets out common mistakes made by employers and how to avoid them.”
Trusting the last month has been a productive one for your business,