How to be a good employer: 10 of the top characteristics you need

Fostering a positive work environment that brings out the best in your employees requires embodying key leadership qualities.

How should I pay my employees?

First, make sure you’re offering the right rates for the jobs you need to fill. Do this by looking at similar jobs on the market.

You have a degree of flexibility here, but you do need to be up to date with current national minimum wage and living wage rates.

Handling the payroll

You can either process payroll in-house using software, or outsource it to a payroll service or accountant.

Outsourcing payroll gives you more time to focus on your core business, and can save money by avoiding fines and not overpaying employees.

If you outsource your payroll to a payroll service provider, you need to tell HMRC. Here are some tips on managing PAYE. 

Do I need to contribute to my employees’ pensions?

All employers with at least one member of staff are required by law to provide and contribute to a workplace pension for their employees. 

Your employees can choose to opt out, but you have a duty to organise their automatic enrolment onto a workplace pension scheme.

You can use the duties checker tool from the Pensions Regulator to work out what you need to do.

What happens if an employee is injured at work?

As soon as you become an employer (i.e. as soon as you hire your first member of staff) you need to have employer’s liability insurance.

This covers the compensation you might need to pay if one of your employees becomes ill or injured as a result of the work they do for you.

You can be fined up to £2,500 per day that you are not insured.

Your insurance provider should be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and your policy should cover you for at least £5 million.

A financial adviser will help you get the best price and make sure your policy is appropriate for your business.

How can I attract and retain the best people?

Aside from meeting legal obligations, many employers choose to provide extra benefits to attract, motivate and reward their employees.

Although you don’t have to provide these extra perks, you may find that they help improve staff retention and boost productivity.

From practical considerations such as flexi-time, childcare, health insurance or additional pension contributions, to fun extras such as social events and away-days, there are many benefits you could offer.

Many employee benefits are taxable, however, so you need to report them to HMRC.

A financial adviser who specialises in this area can help you decide which types of employee benefits are the most cost-effective and useful to your business.

Regular staff appraisals are also important to keep you in tune with your employees' progress and morale.

10 characteristics of a good employer

As well as the above, here are 10 of the top characteristics that prospective employees look for in a employer.

If you want to attract the top talent then ensuring your business has these in place is paramount.

1. Competitive salary and benefits

Offering fair pay and good benefits like healthcare and retirement plans makes employees feel valued.

2. Work-life balance

Allowing flexible schedules and generous time off policies helps employees avoid burnout.

3. Professional development

Investing in training, mentoring and education keeps employees engaged and skilled.

4. Positive culture

Fostering a supportive, collaborative environment boosts morale and retention.

5. Employee recognition

Praising good work and providing opportunities for advancement improves satisfaction.

6. Diversity and inclusion

Ensuring equal opportunities for all creates a respectful, progressive workplace.

7. Strong leadership

Having ethical, transparent leaders provides direction and inspires trust.

8. Open communication

Encouraging input from employees leads to better policies and innovations.

9. Workplace wellbeing

Promoting health, safety and wellness protects and empowers employees.

10. Corporate social responsibility

Being a responsible business with ethical practices attracts top talent.

Final thoughts

Creating a positive, supportive work environment may require effort, but the rewards are immense.

Companies that invest in their employees see impressive gains in recruitment, retention, and productivity.

By focusing on competitive compensation, work-life balance, inclusion and communication, you empower your team members to do their best work.

Leading with transparency, integrity and care for your staff's wellbeing sets the foundation for a thriving workplace culture.

Implementing the strategies outlined here positions your company to not only attract exceptional talent, but unlock their full potential.

When you support your people, they will support the success of your business in turn.