Post a question to a panel of experts

I’ve been in business for a year and am thinking of making my first hire. I feel a personal assistant would really help me, but I only need someone part-time. Any advice you can offer me on part-time contracts?

Meet The Experts

I’ve been in business for a year and am thinking of making my first hire. I feel a personal assistant would really help me, but I only need someone part-time. Any advice you can offer me on part-time contracts?

Your proposed first and part-time employee should be recruited, selected and managed in the same way as if they were going to be a full-time employee. It is very important, especially since it is your first employee, that you compile the job description for the role, the person specification – setting out what you are looking for as the ideal employee skills and experience – and then commence recruitment.

Be clear

You should be clear that the role will be part-time, highlighting the proposed hours or work, where the person will work from, etc.

Probabtion

In the person’s contract of employment, you should set up a probation clause of perhaps six months (with the option to extend to say 10 months) with one week’s termination notice by either party during this period to ensure the person and role works for your business and for the proposed part-time employee.

If the proposed employee will be hired for a specific period of time you should ensure their contract of employment clearly says it is a fixed-term contract: when it commences and concludes and that the provisions of the Unfair Dismissals Acts do not apply upon expiry of the contract.

Legislation

There is legislation protecting part-time employees that they should not be treated in a less favourable manner to that of comparable full-time employees. I am aware that you do not have any other employees presently however you should be cognisant of this if your business’s people requirements grow.

Answered by

Carol Ann Casey

Useful Links

Business
1. Business and Leadership
  Ireland's leading online source for breaking business news from Ireland and the world; plus analysis, features and interviews with the decision makers and thought leaders.
2. Companies Registration Office
  The Companies Registration Office is the central repository of public statutory information on Irish companies and business names.
3. Endeavour
  Endeavour is an intensive global launch pad for entrepreneurs. It is targeted at ambitious, high achievers who are totally focused on changing the business space they are about to enter. They need not necessarily have been in business up to now, but will have proven themselves as achievers in their career or some other aspect of their lives.
4. Irish Franchise Association
  The Irish Franchise Association promotes the development of franchising in Ireland through exhibitions, seminars, newsletters, awards and networking.
5. Irish Internet Association
  Established in 1997, the Irish Internet Association (IIA) is the professional body for those conducting business via the internet from Ireland. The IIA provides leadership to enterprises and society conducting business in Ireland.
6. Irish Patents Office
  The Patents Office provides an efficient and effective system of industrial property protection through the implementation of the relevant legislation.
7. Revenue Commissioners
  Provides information on Irish tax and customs.
8. Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
  Social Entrepreneurs Ireland aims to encourage and support the development of social entrepreneurship in Ireland. Its mission is to promote social entrepreneurship by fostering the early stage development of a new generation of social entrepreneurs and by actively working in conjunction with the business, third level, public and voluntary sectors to support the development of a new social entrepreneurship movement. 
Education
1. FÁS
  Ireland's national training and employment authority
2. M50 Enterprise Programme
  The M50 Enterprise Programme is an enterprise support programme provided in partnership by four higher-education institutions located in the M50 economic corridor.
Funding
1. AIB Business Banking
  Details of AIB's business start-up package.
2. City and County Enterprise Boards
  CEBs provide direct grant support to new and existing enterprises and promote entrepreneurship, capacity building and women-in-business at local level.
Networking
1. Plato Ireland
  Plato Ireland is a confidential business support forum for owner managers of SMEs.
Support
1. BASIS - Business Access to State Information and Services
  This website has been developed in order to provide business with a single access point to all government information and services.
2. Enterprise Ireland
  Enterprise Ireland is the government agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector.
3. InterTradeIreland
  InterTradeIreland has been given responsibility by both governments to boost North/South economic co-operation to the mutual benefit of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
4. Shannon Development
  A government-owned regional development company dedicated to promoting and developing the Shannon Region.
5. Synergy Centre
  Synergy Centre at ITT Dublin is the innovation centre of South Dublin County, providing office space and business supports to early-stage enterprises.
6. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
  The Irish state-sponsored body with responsibility for securing safety, health and welfare at work.
7. Údarás na Gaeltachta
  Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht.
8. Young Entrepreneur Programme and Awards
  The Young Entrepreneur Programme is dedicated to illustrating the validity of entrepreneurship as a career choice, helping to identify, inform, recognise and celebrate Kerry’s next generation of business leaders - and their educators.
Technology
1. Digital 21
  Digital 21 is a campaign to highlight the imperative of creating an action programme to secure the digital infrastructure and services upon which the success of the Irish economy depends.
2. Gadget Republic
  A great guide to all the latest gadgets and gizmos!
3. Silicon Republic
  Ireland's technology news service, winner of ‘Best Technology Website’ Award at the Realex Irish Web Awards 2009
4. Tibus
  eBusiness solutions provider encompassing web design, web app development, networks infrastructure, hosting and broadband provision.

Ask an Expert

Question of the week

I am the principal shareholder (80pc) in a new start-up and I have applied for a new bank account. Is it necessary that the minority non-executive director (20pc) also provides all his personal details?

This Tax & Accounts Question
Answered by: John Crawley FCCA

Bizstartup.ie - I’ve been in business for a year and am thinking of making my first hire. I feel a personal assistant would really help me, but I only need someone part-time. Any advice you can offer me on part-time contracts?

ASK AN EXPERT

Browse by topic

Featured Question – Business Formation

Featured Question – Sales & Marketing

Featured Question – Raising Finance

Featured Question – IT & New Media

Featured Question – Tax & Accounts

I’ve been in business for a year and am thinking of making my first hire. I feel a personal assistant would really help me, but I only need someone part-time. Any advice you can offer me on part-time contracts?

Meet The Experts

Be clear

Probabtion

Legislation

Answered by

Carol Ann Casey

Useful Links

Business

Education

Funding

Networking

Support

Technology

Ask an Expert

Question of the week