Handrick also noted that, while the activities of the first week tend to focus on paperwork, the true value of onboarding is what happens in the first 30 to 90 days and its effects in the future. However, since people tend to associate with others like them, relying on staff recommendations can make the workplace less diverse. It's not just about being politically correct. Having a more diverse workforce is better for your company.
In fact, studies show that racially diverse teams outperform non-diverse teams by 35 percent. In addition, 57 percent of employees believe that their companies should be more diverse. To hire an employee, you'll need an IRS employer identification number (EIN) and a state tax identification number if your state requires it. The EIN is the tax identification number of a company.
It works like your Social Security Number (SSN) for tax purposes, and you can get it for free if you apply online through the IRS. Instead of looking for candidates that match your current culture (which, if this is your first hire, means that they're just like you), look for candidates who add an element that you're missing. There are other considerations that should weigh more heavily when hiring employees than adjustment to culture, such as skill set, successful past experiences, and development potential. Depending on the company you run, your state may also require you to have unemployment insurance, workers' compensation and general liability insurance to ensure employee safety.
Work with an attorney to ensure that you also meet all of your state's requirements for reporting new hires. For more information on developing a system for storing and maintaining personnel records, including state regulations on employee access to their files, see The Employer's Legal Handbook, by Fred Steingold (Nolo). In addition, you must have a system for declaring those taxes on the payroll, as well as for collecting information and authorization for direct deposits, if that's how you pay employees. Your ads (and other hiring and employment practices) cannot show any preference for or against a person because of race, skin color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy or parenthood, national origin, age (40 years or older), ability or genetic information, explains the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Whether it's your first hire or your thousandth, you must have a defined process for hiring and onboarding. Ultimately, the best thing you can do to successfully hire employees for your company is to be clear about their needs and wants for the position. When considering what's required for the position, look beyond qualifications and consider what a new employee could add to your company culture. In some cases, the paperwork can be one-time, in which a template is created and the necessary information is entered for each new hire.
This is a checklist on how to hire employees, including what you should do before and after hiring. The New Hire Notification Program requires employers to provide information on all new employees in order to locate parents who owe child support. Starting with your immediate network is fine, especially if this is your first hire and you expect to have a very small team by now.