First Employee - Advice? Protecting Myself?

[veevee]

I've been looking for an assistant for quite a while, I've found an acquaintance of a friend who seems ideal, but it seems like there are quite a few things to trip up on, any general advice anybody has would be much appreciated.

I run an e-commerce store with all the stock on the premises, is there anything I can do to deter against any of it going walkies?

The business I run has quite low barriers to entry, in theory anyone with a few thousand pounds could start up, but it works because of specific product/sector knowledge which not everyone has, is there any way I can stop an employee quitting and immediately starting up themselves? Or even leaking info to someone else to do the same (I realise this is more tricky!)

If they turn out to not be very good at their job, is that a good enough reason to dismiss them?

Thanks in advance.

[veevee]

I didn't say I didn't trust them, I was asking for general advice from people with experience, as I don't have any at all. If I'd asked for advice on motorcycle leathers, it doesn't mean I'm biting my nails over falling off.

Is it OK/legal to ask my employee to work a couple of weeks in hand, as a sort of retainer?

[veevee]

It's an acquaintance of a friend, and their relationship is pretty tenuous, so should be fairly safe in that regard. I definitely wouldn't want to employ anybody I know personally.