Human Resources 101: A Quick Guide for Employers

There's a lot more to being an employer than hiring staff. To protect your business and your workers, employers must have a solid understanding of federal and state labor laws. We've written many articles on the various topics related to human resource management, and her;s a quick overview of Business.go-s employment, labor law, and benefit information- covering everything from wages to discrimination.

Hiring and Terminating Employees

Good HR skills can make hiring a new employee a painless process or, if done incorrectly, a difficult one. In addition to finding, interviewing, and selecting the right workers, employers must comply with a wide variety of employment laws. Similarly, just as hiring and managing employees involves several legal steps, so does firing or laying off employees.
For more information, check out Business.go's guides to Hiring Employees and Contractors and Terminating Employees. These brief articles will also help you to learn more about your responsibilities as an employer:

• 10 Regulatory Steps You Must Follow When Hiring Your First Employee
• 5 Things to Know About Hiring Independent Contractors
• Handling Employee Layoffs as a Small Business Owner

Benefits and Compensation

I's important for employers to know what they are required by law to provide, what benefits are considered optional, and what industry standards are. Without a good plan and package, yo're unlikely to get the quality of employee that you desire. For more information on the steps to take to comply with mandatory regulations and tips on setting up an employee benefits plan , check out Business.gov's guides to Employee Benefits and Wage and Hour Laws, and the following brief articles:

• Employee Benefit Plans: What's Law and What's Optional
• Finding and Managing the Right Retirement Plan for Your Small Business
• 'Im Hungry': Aren't Lunch Breaks Required?
• Paying the Boss: 4 Tips for Setting Your Own Salary

Disability and Workplace Safety

Employers are responsible for establishing and maintaining a healthy workplace environment for their employees. While every business should ensure that safety policies are in place to prevent workplace accidents, disability and workers compensation policies ensure that medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and other benefits are available if employees are hurt on the job. For more information, check out Business.gov's guides to Workplace Safety and Health and Workers' Compensation, and these brief articles on federal and state requirements that apply to your business:

• Ensuring a Healthy and Risk-Free Workplace
• Free Workplace Safety Handbook for Small Businesses
• Hurt on the Job: An Employer's Action Plan for Workplace Injuries

Discrimination and Harassment

Although some employers may never encounter these issues, discrimination and harassment in the workplace is a serious subject and must be handled carefully. As an employer, it's important to understand discrimination laws and to teach and train your employees on their rights and responsibilities. Being proactive about these policies is an employer's best tool in creating an appropriate and comfortable workplace. For more information, check out Business.gov's guide to Employment Discrimination and Harassment, and these brief articles that govern workplace behavior:

• Age Discrimination Act: FAQs for Small Business Owners
• Employer's Guide to Discrimination: Hiring and Managing Employees with Criminal Records

• Employer's Guide to Discrimination: Fair Wages and The Equal Pay Act
• Employer's Guide to Discrimination: Pregnancy Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment in the Workplace - Forming a Basis for Prevention and Management