06 Apr Hiring New Employees? What To Do First.

With the summer season not so far away businesses in seasonal communities like Nantucket are ramping up.  Finding and hiring new employees is almost always a part of that and often the most troublesome.  Beyond finding a prospective employee here are a few tips for keeping your employee records in order.  

1. Create a file in your permanent documents for each employee and keep copies of all of the following documents within it.

2. Request a completed employee application.  This is a great opportunity to collect vital employee information.

3. Have your employees fill out their W-4 and I-9 forms right away and no later than three days from the start of work.  If someone gets hurt the first hour on the job you want all their information.

4. Have an employee handbook that has a page to sign and return stating they have read and understand the rules of the company.

5. Have employees complete additional benefit forms such as health insurance applications and disability insurance even if they don’t qualify immediately.  Many insurance companies require that you report new employees right away regardless of waiting periods.

6. Store the information in a secure place in keeping with the information security regulations of your state and the federal government.

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