Although it might not be the first thing on your mind when starting a new business, understanding employment law is key to making sure that things run smoothly when you eventually need to hire a team for your company. Understanding basic employment law is crucial when you take on employees as your business grows. Failing to understand the law around employment could lead to errors that might culminate in lawsuits and other types of legal action brought against you. Some key aspects of employment law that every business owner should become familiar with include:

Hiring:

Hiring your first employee is likely going to be a big step for your company, and also the first time that you’re going to put employment law into action. It’s important to ensure that you fully understand the law surrounding hiring employees, including ensuring that no candidates are discriminated against during the hiring process. Similarly, if you feel that you have been discriminated against by an employer, lotaslegal.com can help.

Contracts:

When you begin hiring employees, a contract is designed to outline the responsibilities of both parties. Each employee should be provided with a contract that informs them of the key details of what they are agreeing to by accepting the offer of employment, and anything that could cause that employment to be terminated. The contract should contain information on the employment start and finish date, working hours, probationary period, salary or wages, benefits, and anything else that is applicable.

Employee Rights:

Your employees have certain rights in the workplace that you will absolutely need to become familiar with before you hire your first team. Not upholding the rights of employees could land you in serious legal trouble. For example, your employees have the right to be paid reasonably for the work that they do, including any overtime. They also have the right to not be discriminated against on the basis of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, or disability. Employees have the right to keep any medical information about themselves that is shared with their employer to be kept strictly confidential, and they enjoy the right to work without harassment. Familiarise yourself with the various state and federal employee rights laws that might apply to your business.

Dismissals:

For many employers, dismissing an employee is usually a last resort. However, in some cases, there might be no other choice than to let an employee go, for example, in instances of gross misconduct. However, before you make this decision, understanding how employment law applies to the situation is crucial. Employers will need to have a valid reason for firing an employee and it is unlawful to dismiss an employee on any potentially discriminatory grounds. If you are in a position where you need to dismiss an employee, it might be worth getting legal advice to ensure that you do so in a way that is constructive and fair.

When you’re starting a business, hiring employees is often one of the first steps towards growth. However, before you get started with taking on your new team, getting familiar with employment law is essential.