Taking on your first employee is a big step — and it comes with legal responsibilities you need to get right from day one. This practical 3-hour workshop is designed for businesses in Northumberland, Durham and Gateshead who are about to make their first hire, or have recently done so, giving you the confidence to do it compliantly.
Led by HR technical specialist Heidi Turner, the session will cover:
- The legal basics — employee vs worker vs self-employed, day one employment rights, right to work checks, and setting up your workplace pension
- Contracts and terms of employment — what must be included, and the clauses that matter most for a first hire
- Recruitment and onboarding — running a fair, consistent process and setting your new employee up to succeed from day one
- Probation and early performance management — making probation work for you, and handling issues before they become bigger problems
- Avoiding tribunal claims — the Fair Work Agency, and the most common mistakes that lead first-time employers into disputes
- Common legal pitfalls — holiday pay, statutory notices, and informal promises that create binding terms
You’ll leave with a clear, practical understanding of your obligations as an employer — and the tools to put them into practice with confidence.
This workshop is delivered by NBSL as part of the NE – RGP & Northumberland Small Business Service.