Good Employment Practices

These are some other elements of good employment practice you should consider:

• All employees should have a written contract of employment when they start their employment.
• Have a written staff policy and/or a staff handbook, that is amended as soon as new laws are enacted or working practices are changed.
• When recruiting, start with a very clear job analysis, then write a detailed job description, followed by a focused person specification that will form the basis for selection.
• Advertise positions as widely as your budget will allow and use a range of screening and selection techniques that are focused on equality of opportunity.
• Use a probationary period to find out if you are right for each other.
• Have a thorough induction process for all new employees.
• Invest in training and development for all staff.
• Provide good systems for supervision, support and appraisal (including external non-managerial supervision for the most senior member of staff).
• Accommodate, where possible, flexible work practices that will enhance employees’ life balance (for example, working from home, time-off-in-lieu(TOIL), career breaks, study leave, child care provision).
• Have written disciplinary and grievance procedures.
• Have systems for staff ceasing employment (exit interviews, references, retirement planning, redundancy, etc).
• Consider using some form of appropriate pay-scales with increments and also the possibility of honouring national wage agreements.
• Consider making company contributions into pensions or PRSA's.
• Consider covering the cost of health care schemes.