When you need to expand your business, you design an application, put out a call for applicants, and hold interviews. Once you’ve found your new hires, make sure to complete these essential tasks.
Request Their Tax Forms
Depending on what kind of business you run, you might not have employees who make enough to pay income tax. For example, if you operate a pool company and employ high schoolers and college students as lifeguards in the summer, most of them do not work enough hours to meet your state’s minimum filing requirements.
However, every person who makes a wage must pay federal taxes to fund programs such as Social Security and Medicare. As a result, whenever you hire someone new, have him or her fill out Form W-4. This form includes a worksheet that helps employees figure out whether they need to have income tax withheld from their wages. Additionally, check with your state government to see if any other tax forms are required in your area.
Once new employees have completed their tax forms, store them securely so that you’re ready when it’s time to complete your business’s taxes for the year. To help you keep track of which employees have claimed exemption from income tax withholding, invest in payroll tax software. Finally, make sure you have your employees’ addresses so that you know where to send their tax reports at the end of the business year.
Review Your Company’s Policies
Every company has a unique set of regulations and expectations, so you must thoroughly review these policies with new employees even if they’ve worked for a similar company before.
Prepare packets detailing your rules on sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and termination, and give your new hires plenty of time to ask questions. Explain your disciplinary proceedings, such as verbal warnings, written warnings, suspension, and termination. Be sure to include your reasoning and relevant laws for any procedures that are unusual or controversial.
Complete Necessary Training
Now that your employees understand what kind of behavior you expect from them, it’s time to give them the knowledge they need to do their jobs. Hold as many days of orientation as are necessary to teach new hires their duties.
For example, if you run a cafe, your new baristas must know how to operate the espresso machine, work the cash register, and store food at the proper temperature. On the other hand, if you run a factory, teach your employees how to use the machines that they need to oversee.
Provide Their First Assignments
As soon as you’re confident that your employees know how you do business, give them their first assignments. Offer plenty of help and answer their questions patiently so they don’t make foolish mistakes due to stress. Once these tasks are complete, provide your employees with feedback so they know if they need to adjust anything before their next assignments.
By following these steps, you ensure that your new employees transition smoothly into your workforce without causing delays or drops in quality.