Pre Employment checklist

Before you go ahead and employ a housekeeper, butler or other domestic staff there are several issues you need to consider.

Your responsibilities as an employer:
If you employ domestic staff in the UK you have the same responsibilities as a commercial employer. These obligations can be not only complex but also time-consuming, especially for a first-time employer. Without working knowledge of the tax system and current employment law, you are entering a minefield. Businesses use skilled payroll, legal and human resources professionals. Now you can too - at a fraction of the price! Subscribe to Stafftax and experience the peace of mind of knowing that all your pay and employment responsibilities are met - and get up to £175 in incentive payments from HMRC.

Employment contract:
You must provide your employee with an employment contract or a statement of the terms and conditions of her employment within two months of their starting date.

Reference check:
If you use a domestic agency they will usually do a thorough reference check on all candidates they have on their books, but it is still recommended that you personally contact all references and verify their qualifications.

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure:
A CRB disclosure, or check, will determine whether your candidate has a criminal record and if so of what sort. Many agencies now insist that all candidates have a CRB check, or have at least started the procedure, before they will be considered for placement.

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