Managing staff

As soon as an organisation starts to take on individuals to carry out its work, it will have certain obligations towards those people.

Some of these responsibilities will be required by law. And some will help you to get and keep the best workers.

Most people who work regularly in an organisation and get paid for their work will be employees.

In addition to full-time, part-time and fixed-term employees, other types of workers to consider include

For further information on employment status and contracts look at Employment contracts and other agreements in the Employment law and HR advice PEACe section or go to the ACAS website.

An employee would also normally receive details of the organisation's Policies and procedures such as Equal opportunities, Health and safety and Disciplinary and grievance.

The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) phone 08457 47 47 47 (text phone 08456 06 16 00) provides up-to-date information, advice and training on employment relations.
The ACAS information includes an A-Z of Work, which is a list of employment and related topics to help you find the information you need on their website.
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the Deprtment of Trade and Industry) provides information on employment relations. It includes up-to-date details of employment legislation with topics such as Discrimination in Employment, the National Minimum Wage, and Part-time Work.
Business Link provides practical advice for businesses in London including a section on 'Employing People' which looks at topics such as taking on people and improving staff performance.
Vol Resource website provides links to useful information on everything to do with running a voluntary organisation, including People Matters.

'Just About Managing' by Sandy Adirondack, published by LVSC and available from DSC. It includes chapters on Managing People, Managing the Recruitment Process and Managing Workers' Performance.
'Voluntary but not Amateur' by Ruth Hayes & Jacki Reason, available from DSC. It includes chapters on Responsibilities in Recruitment and Responsibilities during Employment.
'The Good Employment Guide for the Voluntary Sector' by Wendy Blake Ranken, published by NCVO and available via NCVO's website. The guide takes you through the main stages of employing people covering areas such as finding the right person, paying them, contracts of employment, complying with the law, and equal opportunities good practice.
'The Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook' by Sandy Adirondack & James Sinclair Taylor, published by the Directory of Social Change and available via Sandy Adirondack's website. The handbook is a detailed guide to the law as it affects voluntary organisations and includes a section on Employees, Workers, Volunteers and Other Staff.

Your Responsibilities as a Management Committee which includes how the law affects Management Committees in relation to equal opportunities, employment and health and safety.
Employment Law Basics - An overview of the law relating to the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.
Managing for the First Time which includes recruitment, motivation and dealing with difficult issues.
Managing for Success - A five day course for new managers which includes managing staff.

Please email us and we will try to answer your question as best as we can.

Page last reviewed: 25th January 2008