To employ or not to employ ?
To employ or not to employ ?
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Discussion

Jon Ison

Original Poster:

1,304 posts

254 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
Small business run be me and Mrs, now at the point we really need another pair of hands, be gentle we have never employed anyone before.

Business, ecommerce selling on eBay and from a website in 2nd year of trading, profitable but running us two ragged its in bank but hey we want to spend some to, VAT registered t/o this year will be in excess of £350k

Brief job description of what we need,

Pick and pack items, take in deliveries and place in warehouse, some pc work, we do have drop in customers so some cash involved, collection delivery of items, in general bit of everything that me n Mrs do now.

I have mulled the idea of bringing in a partner rather than employing someone, we don't need the cash injection but my strange thinking is they may be more committed if it was their money to ? Maybe not a good idea ? We are successful because we are good at what we do, the service, back up and customer care we give, its that bit that worries me when it comes to employing someone I feel like we are putting our hard earned reputation on the line ?

Help ?

In brief to a 1st time employer what am I looking for, how do I be sure I found it and what are the costs, salary aside ?






Eric Mc

124,639 posts

286 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
How much do you intend to pay them?

I wouldn't be keen on giving an individual ANY stake in my business if they are just being used as a "mere" operative.

jon-

16,534 posts

237 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
Perhaps motivating the new employee with a bonus relating to a target / KPI would give you the same result without sharing the ultimate spoils.

Kinky

39,898 posts

290 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
Jon,

Will you be chattable on MSN later? (after 8ish)?

Regards,

K

singlecoil

35,650 posts

267 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
You would be surprised ho much help and information you can get at your local job centre


Do not be tempted to employ a member of your family, a friend or a neighbour. Also, if thinking about employing a person of the female persuasion consider whether you are likely to have to deal with pregnancy related issues. When I had jobs in my gift the minimum age for a female was 40.

Two part timers can be better than one full timer.

JustinP1

13,357 posts

251 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
singlecoil said:
You would be surprised ho much help and information you can get at your local job centre


Do not be tempted to employ a member of your family, a friend or a neighbour. Also, if thinking about employing a person of the female persuasion consider whether you are likely to have to deal with pregnancy related issues. When I had jobs in my gift the minimum age for a female was 40.

Two part timers can be better than one full timer.
Agreed. That's good advice there.

If you are offering a relatively low-end job such as picking and packing, the turnover of staff will be high. People want to move on.

I have had youngsters work for a few months and then bugger off to work in a bar in Spain and it took longer to train and rehire than the time they spent working. However, a part time woman over 40 will just want to do it for the cash and may be more 'grounded'.

However, of course I would not be suggesting that you should give people a job based on sex or age - as that would be discriminatory you see. Also you can't put that in an advertisement. smile

For something like this an agency will charge £3k or so to find someone. However, at the Job Centre there is a queue of people waiting for a job for free.

Jon Ison

Original Poster:

1,304 posts

254 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
mmmmm that's the problem its not a low end pick pack job as such, its a bit of everything just like me and Mrs do now, if my hands need to get dirty they get dirty, if I need to sit behind desk that's where I am, if I need to collect or deliver I'm off, if the phone rings I answer it etc..... we are very lucky, we enjoy what we do just need someone to take the strain and enjoy it with us.

I see a semi retired B&Q type chappie, someone who wants to come into a nice working environment with a bit of variety all day every day ?


Jon Ison

Original Poster:

1,304 posts

254 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
Kinky said:
Jon,

Will you be chattable on MSN later? (after 8ish)?

Regards,

K
No but over weekend maybe ?

singlecoil

35,650 posts

267 months

Thursday 11th February 2010
quotequote all
Jon Ison said:
I see a semi retired B&Q type chappie, someone who wants to come into a nice working environment with a bit of variety all day every day ?
I think you are thinking along the right lines there. One of the most important things with an employee is that they be there, and such a person is more likely to turn up to work rather than "go to London with his mates" or "go on a stag week to Bangkok" or any of a bunch of excuses/reasons I've heard over the years.