Having competed against 17 other candidates on this year’s series of The Apprentice, Peterborough’s Joseph Valente has been hired as Lord Sugar’s latest business partner and will receive a £250,000 investment in his business venture.
We all know The Apprentice is a “reality TV show” and should be taken with a pinch of salt; however, if business owners hired and fired in the way portrayed by Lord Sugar without understanding the employment law, they could find themselves in hot water. Dismissals, if handled incorrectly, can cost a business thousands, not only in monitory terms but also reputational damage.
Unlike Lord Sugar’s TV persona, you should never make a rash decision to fire someone on the spot. Where there are concerns regarding an employee’s conduct or performance, a full unprejudiced investigation should be carried out to establish the facts of the situation. It is vital that the process is transparent and there is clear communication with the employee about what is happening and the purpose of any meeting they are asked to attend. You should also ensure they are given an opportunity to explain their side of the situation.
When it comes to selecting new members of the team, the process you implement is not only about measuring the candidates’ skills and ability to do the job and show passion for your business; it is also an opportunity for some positive PR if you show your business in a good light to potential employees (and the world). Hours of confrontational interviews designed to make candidates nervous, as seen in this week’s Apprentice, isn’t recommended if you want your applicants to leave with a positive impression of your business!
Although it’s just a TV show, The Apprentice does cover many HR management processes and, in some cases, gives us good examples of how not to do it in the real world.
If you’re considering managing any of the areas covered here, you seek expert advice to ensure your practices don’t land you in hot water. Simplicity HR is here to help, so please do feel free to give us a call or fill in our contact form.