Employer Responsibilities to Consider Before You Hire Your 1st Employee CareerMetis.com

Employer Responsibilities to Consider Before You Hire Your 1st Employee Source â€" UnSplash.comIf you’re a small business owner getting ready to grow and scale your business, you’re likely experiencing a tremendous amount of confidence and trepidation â€" and you probably have loads of questions about onboarding your first employee.Before you hire your 1st employee, you’ve got to make sure your business is in good legal form. Regulations increase when you become an organization of more than one, so be sure to get your paperwork in order.Legal Business Requirements to Meet Before You HireYou’ll need an employee identification number, which you can get for free from the IRS. Go straight to the IRS websitefor this â€" do not pay another agency to do this on your behalf. It’s a very simple process.evalIf you haven’t done so already, form an LLC or S-Corpafter determining which is best for your business, then register with the Department of Labor in your state. You may also have to register with local entities, especially if your business is locat ed within a city. Be sure to ask about any applicable city wage tax if you do.If you get lost, the Small Business Associationand your local Chamber of Commerce are expert resources and provide many services, including mentorship, free of cost.Decide on What You Need From an EmployeeevalDo you need someone in-office at all times? Could a remote worker handle what you do? Will you guarantee full-time hours, or do you only need part-time help? Many small business owners begin their business scaling and growth processes by outsourcing admin tasks, marketing duties, and more to part-time employees and freelancers.Considering the paperwork and expense involved in onboarding a full-time, in-office employee, a remote option might work better for you.Your First Employee: Tax and HR SetupIf you’re like most small business owners, human resources tasks will fall to you. Here’s what you need to do to get ready for your first employee:Get the right insurance:Workers’ compensation is especi ally important. This protects workers if they become injured on the job. Even if you work in an office setting, accidents can happen.Set up payroll:You’ll be legally required to withhold and deposit some of your employees’ earnings directly to the IRS. This includes Medicare tax, social security, and more. Additionally, you’ll have to calculate and withhold the correct amount for your state and local taxes. Consider using payroll software to help you get this right.File your form:Each year, you’ll need to file IRS Form 940 for federal unemployment tax.Employee Tax and Verification FormsYour new employee will need to fill out certain forms if they are a full-time worker. Note: Many startups treat full-time remote workers as 1099 If you’ve worked in a retail or office location before, you’ve seen those OSHA posters. These signs inform workers about their rights concerning workplace safety. If you have any additional on-site safety considerations, always post additional ins tructions for safe use. Document any training or education you provide regarding equipment with safety risks. This reduces your risk.evalCreate HR Files and Establish BenefitsDoes your business provide health insurance, disability insurance, or a 401You’ll want to have some basic tasks ready for any employee to complete on their first day. Appear organized and focused. Have an action plan with your new employee to make them feel valued.Decide What to DelegateWe recommend delegating tasks to your employees when the task is:Not worth your time For in-office or remote employees, include standard operating procedures or process walkthroughs for project management software, customer relationship management tools, and more. It’s possible to organize this completely in a Google Drive folder and provide read-only access to employees.While employee trust is important, a resentful employee can really wreck your day. Make sure you protect yourself from the start by providing read-only acce ss to necessary documents.Above all, enjoy the help you’ve worked so hard to afford. Best of luck scaling your business!