First Employee HR Toolkit for UK Employers

Interactive Checklist

Tick items off as you complete them. Note: requirements vary by business.

Complete

Before making the hire

Define the role, right-to-work requirements, and budget.

Offer letter and contract

Ensure you have an employment contract designed to support compliance ready to sign before day one.

Right-to-work process

Conduct and record mandatory right-to-work checks before employment begins.

Payroll and pension setup

Holiday and sickness recording

Have a reliable system in place to track annual leave and absence.

Essential policies

Implement core policies (e.g. Health & Safety, Disciplinary, Grievance, Privacy Notice).

First day and onboarding

Plan a structured induction to integrate your new hire safely and effectively.

Probation period

Set clear objectives and schedule regular review meetings during probation.

Employee records and data

Establish a secure, privacy-conscious method for storing personnel files.

Disclaimer: This checklist provides broad guidance and is not a complete HR manual or substitute for tailored legal/HR advice. Requirements vary by business and circumstances. All checklist items are reviewed for general accuracy prior to publication.

First Employee HR Toolkit

Interactive Checklist

Before making the hire

Offer letter and contract

Right-to-work process

Payroll and pension setup

Holiday and sickness recording

Essential policies

First day and onboarding

Probation period

Employee records and data

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