Hiring and Training Employees

First Steps• Obtain an employer identification

number

• Register with your state's labor department

• Get workers' compensation insurance

Hiring Employees• Adopt workplace safety measures

• Create an employee handbook

• Set up personnel files

Job Interviews• Don't make promises you cannot

keep

• Questions that are unlawful Examples: religion, race national origin

• Do not ask about prohibited topics/ do not tell the applicant anything false

Interview Questions• Describe your responsibilities in detail.• Describe your relationship with your

supervisor.• Do you like most of your fellow

employees?• Do you have any physical limitations

that would prevent you from fulfilling those responsibilities?

Testing Job Applicants

• Skills Tests

• Drug Tests

• Rules and Regulations

• Other daily tasks must be tested frequently

Avoiding Legal Issues• Respect employees

• Evaluate employees on a regular basis

• Adopt policies and follow them

• Take action when necessary

Employment Law in Louisiana

• Louisiana is an "employment-at-will“ This means that an employer may legally hire, fire,

suspend or discipline any employee at any time and for any reason or for no reason at all.

• Being called to military service • Political opinions or voting • Wage garnishment • Filing workers' compensation claim • Being called to jury duty

Employment Law in Louisiana

• 40 hours per week be paid at 1.5 times the usual hourly rate for the additional time. This overtime rate, however, does not apply to employees on a fluctuating workweek.

Hourly Rates • There is no state minimum wage law.

Defer to federal wage. • As of July 24, 2009 $7.25 for all

covered, non-exempt workers.• An employer of a tipped employee is

only required to pay $2.13 an hour.

Background Checks• Inquiries are related to the job

• School records

• Credit reports

• Driving records

• Ask for consent

Employment Contracts• Employee's responsibilities

• Benefits; Vacation Days

• Grounds for termination

• Protection of your trade secrets and client lists

Training • Prepare the Learner.

• Break it down into key parts or steps.

• Demonstrate exactly how the task or skill is to be done for the employee.

• The learner now has the opportunity to perform or do the task.

Training • Common Mistakes

• Overwhelming New Hire

• Showing Boring Orientation Videos

• Failing to prepare for the new hire

Training • Have targeted goals.

• Make the first day a celebration

• Make new hires productive on the first day.

• Use feedback to continuously improve.

Training and Development Options

• Expand the job to include new responsibilities.

• Re-assign responsibilities.

• Provide more authority to self-manage and make decisions.

• Invite the employee to contribute to more important decisions.

Training & Development Cycle

Monitor Performance Development

Identify Training and

Needs

Identify Training and Methods to

Evaluate Success of Training

Customer Service• Customer service should be a number

one priority to any business

• Great attitude and knowledge of the business

• Real desire to help the customer get what they want

Competitive Advantage • Unique• Speed • Price• Plug the gap• Convenience• Quality

How Many Employees Are Needed?

• Size: A single-floor firm will need fewer staff.

• Type of product: The higher the price and complexity of the product, the more personal selling required.

• Opening hours: The number of work days and the hours of business may require shifts and flexible work times. Changes in holiday business will also

Preventing Theft • Maintain rotating employee

assignments.• Team different employees together or

with you. • Initiate procedures for balancing the

cash register or drawer after each employee's shift.

Preventing Theft • Take physical inventory at least

annually; more often if practical. • Check daily receipts against a list of

items sold.• If you suspect an employee of stealing,

randomly audit sales by contacting customers to verify sale details.

Preventing Theft • Put items that are easy to shoplift close

to the checkout counter. • Use packaging that is hard to conceal.• Install mirrors and/or closed-circuit TV

cameras to monitor all portions of your store.

• Post signs stating your policy of prosecuting shoplifters.

Questions and Evaluations

Mohannad MohammedBusiness Consultant