2. This article could easily be titled "Employees, Paperwork,
Leadership...oh my!". I'm sure it would be safe to say that when you
decided to start your own business and venture into the world of an
entrepreneur - there are many things you anticipated. You anticipated the
long hours, tight budgets, having to do your own marketing, and making
sales calls. You also dreamed of how it would be to have flexibility, be
the master of your schedule and reaping the rewards of your hard work.
You have seen your company grow and now you find yourself hiring
others to assist in the work load. Here is the good news/bad news. The
good news is that you have developed from a one person operation to
several people or more. The bad news, these extra people have laws,
expectations and dreams of their own that you need to manage.
3. Legalities. Having employees means having to follow
both state and federal laws, the laws you have to follow
vary by the number of employees you have and the state
you live in. You can visit the Department of Labor to learn
which federal laws apply to you and through this site you
can visit your state's site. Regardless of size or state - you
will have to do the following:
4. 1. All employees must complete tax forms (general rule of thumb -
if you are taking money out of someone's paycheck you will need
their signature on a piece of paper).
2. All employees must complete an I9 form (this is the one where an
employee declares they are legally able to work in the USA)
3. I9's must be kept separate from the employee file.
5. Benefits. Most people don't realize this but a company does NOT
have to provide benefits (yes, this will change for some in 2014
with healthcare reform). You must pay people at least minimum
wage but benefits are currently not a requirement. However and
this is big HOWEVER - if you do provide benefits there are rules
on how they are provided and what has to be done when someone
leaves. For example: if you provide healthcare insurance you will
have to abide by COBRA when someone leaves. States also vary
on this so check out your states Department of Labor site for
details.
6. Recruitment. This is how you are going to find people to work
for you. You must have a clear plan on the requirements you
need, how you will determine if candidates possess the
requirements, how you will interview and what you will offer.
For many business owners this can be a difficult task as there is
a tendency to hire strictly based on personality or skill instead of
a balance between the two. Spend extra time on the process and
don't rush to hire the first person who walks in the door.
7. Listen. Having people work for you is a great sense
of accomplishment and can be time consuming as
well. If you did your recruitment correctly the next
step is to listen. Listen to their
concerns, ideas, thoughts, etc. You don't have to
agree with them but listening and giving your
attention will go a long way in building a strong
working relationship.
8. Open Communication. Let those who are around you
know what you are up to. Share your
plans, ideas, concerns, etc. as much as you are
comfortable. Tell them about the new client you are
going to see, discuss the new product/service you want
to implement, and ask for their feedback. This will
allow you to start building your credibility as a leader.
9. Coach. Your employees aren't going to think the same
way you do or view your business the same way. You
need to coach each one on how they fit into the
organization, on their position (training) and how to
improve. Push the limits, set high expectations, and
help them get there.
10. Departures. Some people will decide to leave or you will ask
them to leave. Treat each person with dignity as they depart and
they will become a positive spokesperson for your business. You
never know who they are talking to - future employees, future
clients or possibly future investors.
Don't let your dreams get clouded because you aren't following
the basics. Having employees will help you grow your business
your business beyond your expectations - enjoy it!
