As your business grows, you may need to hire more employees. It’s not always easy finding the right employees for the job and retaining them for the long term. To make sure applicants are a good fit and employees stay in their position, plan ahead to deal with common problems that may come up.

Being Unclear About Job Descriptions

Start with an accurate job title that is easy to understand. Be specific in the job description; list the skills and qualifications necessary for the job, including any technical skills needed or knowledge of specific software. Job seekers who have these skills will be more likely to apply.

Then, in a bulleted list, describe in detail what the employee will be doing on a day-to-day basis. Try to be as accurate as you can, and list everything you can think of. You want to attract applicants who are willing and able to do the job without feeling under-challenged or overworked.

Payroll Errors

Payroll issues are a major cause of employee dissatisfaction. If employees are not paid accurately or on time, they may start looking elsewhere for work. Managing payroll requires careful accounting and attention to detail. An omission or recording error can cause havoc with your payroll.

Software can help you minimize some of these errors in your business. There are many software apps that allow you to easily record and change employee data, such as direct deposit information, and keep track of hours worked. They calculate taxes and other withholdings and allow you to generate reports quickly.

Scheduling Issues

Scheduling employees is never easy, as you must balance the needs of your business with the individual needs of your workers. This is especially difficult if you have a bricks-and-mortar business and need employees to cover work shifts the entire time the business is open.

Planning ahead can address these issues. Schedule in advance, and ask for employee input. Be fair about times and hours. Setting policies for absences and shift-swapping can be helpful. Using scheduling software can give you the big picture of your scheduling needs.

Productive and satisfied employees can make positive contributions to your business. You must take time to think ahead and anticipate some problems that may occur in hiring and retaining personnel. Having sound policies and procedures in place can prevent many conflicts.

Check out this article on how to use your communication skills to build your business!