So you need a new employee, where do you start? Frequently, I am contacted by employers who seem bewildered by the process and are unsure of where to begin. Perhaps, it is a physician starting a new practice who has never had to hire before or a doctor who needs to replace a long time employee who has moved on or retired.
There is some basic information that I request clients have before I can start down the path to help them.
First of all, define the position. What is the job title? Is is full time or part time? What is the job description for the position?
Determine the working hours. Will it be 9-5 or do you prefer hospital hours 7:30 to 3:30 or 8-4? Will lunch be 30 minutes or an hour? Be sure that you know for your province or state what the minimums are under the Employment Standards Act. For example, in B.C., under current legislation, you have to give at least a 30 minute meal break after no longer than five hours of continuous work.
Decide what you want to offer for vacation, once again, being mindful of the legal requirements.
What salary are you going to offer? You need to know what the industry norm is. You can ask colleagues or call an employment agency. If you’re a physician, look at one of your busiest colleagues, one who seems to have a very efficiently run office, what is he/she paying their staff? Remember that you get what you pay for.
Are you offering benefits? What about parking or a bus pass?
Once you have determined what the actual job is and what you are willing to offer in a compensation package, then you are ready to start looking!
Next up: use an employment agency or go it alone?
Posted by Sally 
