Knowing your employees
PERSONNEL RECORDS ARE IMPORTANT SO THAT YOU:
- Make decisions based on fact, not rumour or recent impression
- Can manage staff costs accurately
- Measure how effectively individual employees are performing
- Anticipate problems on recruitment, labour turnover, absence, lateness, accidents, discipline and sickness
- Ensure customer need is matched by the right number and quality of staff
- Know the discipline policy is being applied fairly
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?
- Start with a straightforward manual (or computerised) record system
- Record only what is needed; find out from your managers and staff what they need
- Compile a comprehensive application form; it is a base document for selection purposes
- Consult your employees; they need to be confident about the use of the recording system
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Meet the requirements of Jersey data protection law*
WHAT DETAILS DO YOU NEED TO KEEP IN YOUR PERSONNEL RECORDS?
- Personal information... name, date of birth, address, educational/professional qualifications, previous experience, next of kin and Island residential status**
- Employment information... date started with employer, job title and date started current job***
- Terms and conditions ... pay rate(s), hours of work, holidays, maternity leave and pensions***
- Absence information... lateness and sickness (authorised and unauthorised)
- Details of accidents at work
- Information on disciplinary actions... warnings and decisions
- Training and development projects and courses
- The A to Z of Work provides further advice
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP
- The Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service is available to give free advice on this and all other employment relations matters. Just give them a ring on 730503.
- Help on training and Investors In People matters can be obtained from the Project Manager, Business Development, telephone 280265.
*Employees are entitled to have access to their personal details held on computer under The Data Protection (Jersey) Law 1987.
**Details about the recruitment of staff, especially non-Island residents, are set out in The Regulation of Undertakings and Development (Jersey) Law 1973 as amended.
A guide "Starting A New Business ... Taking On Staff’ is available from the office on 603710.
***Some of this information is required to be contained in a written statement given to employees under Employment (Jersey) Law 2003.