Is an employee causing you frustration and COSTING you time and money? How to stop the frustration and make your business more profitable
Is one of your employees taking liberties, under performing, or is surplus to requirements? If so, they could be costing your business more than just their salary or wage. They are probably also affecting your other staff and reducing profitability in other areas of your business.Your have two options: EITHER put up with it and allow your business to suffer OR take positive action to stop the rot. The choice would seem obvious, but you may be surprised to learn that a number of New Zealand businesses choose the first option.
Why employers do nothing
Overall 58% of employees who bring personal grievances before the Employment Relations Authority win. More than that extract compensation at mediation. Also employees win 70% of personal grievances brought because they were dismissed for non-performance issues or redundancy. In fact the only class of dismissal case where statistically employers have the upper hand is in relation to claims for constructive dismissal.With those statistics you can understand why some employers do nothing to stop the rot.
Why doing nothing means you get sued
Not wanting to be sued, some businesses will decide not to deal with their errant employees. They fail to set the boundaries and that's when things get out of hand. The employee takes more liberties, the employer gets more frustrated, and then one day the employer snaps: the employee is dismissed with no process followed and the employer ends up being sued (and losing).This could all have been avoided if the employer had taken action earlier and followed the rules.
Introducing the Small Business Dismissal Manual: the rule book for managing and dismissing staff
If you are looking for a legal text book, you won't find it here. The Small Business Dismissal Manual is written in plain English which anyone can understand. You won't find one mention of an Act of Parliament or references to legal cases - it is just simple, easy to understand, practical advice on how to dismiss employees. It is called a Manual because it is a Manual. Presented in a hard back ring binder file, it can be easily referred to again and again. It won't get stored on the hard drive of your PC and never read (like most e-books), nor shoved in the bottom draw never to see the light of day. It is an invaluable resource tool that every business should have.Here is what a lawyer said about its plain English style:
Before I bought the Manual I thought it would be another law book written by a lawyer for the use of other lawyers. But on receiving the manual I was pleasantly surprised to find a refreshing absence of lawyer-speak and instead a readable and understandable text. I like the logical sequence of the material throughout the manual and the absence of legal gobbledy-gook. The content is extensive and in sufficient detail to grasp the issues without becoming mired in trivia. It has a practical layout for ease of reference and locating particular information required. I would definitely recommend it to someone else because it explains the background and concepts to employment law issues plus practical "how to" advice. Peter Mackenzie - Mackenzie Law
It isn't just for Small Businesses
Although aimed at small business owners, it is not just for small businesses. If you are an HR professional for a medium to large company, this Manual will be an invaluable tool. It doesn't matter what industry you are in either, just take a look at the type of people who have bought the book already: fencing contractor, interior designer, podiatrist, insurance broker, investment banker, accountant and yes, even a lawyer!! The content of the Manual is very valuable so make sure it doesn't get stolen, like one copy I had...Warning: Don't leave it lying around
When you buy the Manual learn from my mistake: don't leave it lying around. I left a copy at a restaurant one day and when I went back to collect it I was told that the restaurant owner had taken it away to read - I'm still waiting for it back!Here is what one person had to say about the Manual's popularity:
When you hear that a book has been written by a lawyer you think that it is going to be filled with "lawyer speak" and difficult to understand. When I read the Small Business Dismissal Manual I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was nothing like that all. It is written in plain English in a language that anyone can understand and the layout is very easy on the eye. I have already recommended the Manual to other people and when I lent my copy to someone to take a look, he couldn't get it out of my hands quick enough! Gail Godfrey - J T Jamieson Finance
Why you should invest in the Small Business Dismissal Manual: procrastination costs you money
Investing in the Small Business Dismissal Manual is worth every penny. But don't take my word for it, consider the facts:1. Look at the alternatives: chances are that at some stage you will have to deal with an errant employee. Even if it doesn't amount to a dismissal situation you may have to give a warning or get the employee back on track. When this happens you could hire a lawyer to give you advice who will charge more per hour than it costs to buy the Manual. The alternative is that you get the procedure wrong and risk being sued. Worse still, you could end up with the errant employee forever!
2. You have nothing to lose: the Small Business Dismissal Manual comes with a "dog chewed it" guarantee. That means that if you are not happy with the Manual you can return it to me and get your money back - even if the dog has half chewed it to pieces!
3. It is written based upon experience: the Small Business Dismissal Manual is written by me, a practicing barrister with 10 years legal experience working in London and New Zealand. I am staking my reputation on this Manual so I have made sure it is top quality material.
4. The price keeps going up: the price of the Manual started off at $125 +GST (ridiculous, I know). It didn't stay at that price for long. For a while it sat at $200 + GST but people who has bought the Manual still said I was mad to offer it for that price. So, currently it is sitting at $225 + GST. I can't say how long it will sit at that price before the next increase. By the time you next visit this website it may have gone up again.
Have you ever seen a lawyer's bill for less than $225?
Do the maths: most lawyers charge in excess of $225 + GST per hour. For even the simplest of tasks they rarely charge less than an hours work. It took me three weeks of solid writing (and I write quickly!!) to complete the Small Business Dismissal Manual. That's 3 weeks x $225 = ummm… a lot.$225 for a Manual crammed with information.
What is in the Manual?
The Manual is structured to answer the most important questions you may have when dismissing an employee.Here is what is covers:
The fundamentals of New Zealand Employment law: These are the principles you must know before you employ anyone.
How do I dismiss an employee for misconduct?: Misconduct arises regularly in the employment environment. This is your recipe for how to deal with it.
Examples of misconduct situations: Misconduct comes in many shapes and sizes, each with different twists and turns when it comes to fair process. This chapter explains the twists and turns.
What if I cannot afford to keep an employee and need to restructure?: This chapter covers redundancy and the procedures to be applied when you have to lose staff.
My employee isn't up to scratch - non performance dismissals: Everyone makes mistakes when hiring staff. Here is what to do when that mistake rears its ugly head.
What if my employee suffers a long term illness or isn't physically capable of performing the job? This chapter deals with incapacity of the employee and what you need to do if it occurs.
What if my employee doesn't turn up or resigns? This Chapter deals with the issues of abandonment of employment by the employee and constructive dismissal cases.
What happens when it all goes wrong?: What is the procedure for resolving a personal grievance? Should I litigate or settle? How much will it cost? This chapter answers these practical questions.
Every topic is easily labeled and easy to find when you need it as one reader found out:
Before I bought the Manual I was hoping that it was going to be a constructive tool which I could use in my business: when I read I it I found that it was exactly that. The Small Business Dismissal Manual is easy to understand and is laid out in such a way that it is easy to locate specific areas of interest. I would rate both the content and the layout as excellent and have already recommended it to my clients. Steve Furlong - Parker Murray & Co., Chartered AccountantsAnd then there are the bonuses….
The bonuses which I give away with the Manual would normally cost more than the Manual itself:| Bonus 1: CD of materials: I have decided to open up my own personal library of precedents for you to use - the crown jewels. The CD contains example dismissal letters, warnings and meeting agendas. All are in Word for you to cut and paste as necessary Value = $1125 |  |
One reader found the CD the best part of the Manual:
Overall I have found the Small Business Dismissal Manual to be very good and simple to follow. It will be and is of use to my business and I believe other businesses will find the same thing. I am not a lawyer but it appears to be legally accurate yet the layout is easy to follow and I particularly like the analogies used to explain the principles. From a practical perspective I found the CD of template letters the most valuable. I would definitely recommend it to other small businesses. Michael Major - Soul Limited, Interior Design and Project Management.
| Bonus 2: The Dos and Don'ts of Video Surveillance in the Workplace. Video surveillance is a modern day tool used by some employers to monitor employees' conduct in the workplace. However, there are special rules concerning the use of video surveillance and many an employer has been caught out by not following the rules properly. This report explains what they are and includes a bonus video surveillance policy. Value = $84.38 |  |
| Bonus 3: How to choose the right candidate for the right job - listen to this interview with Brian Noble of Achievement Discoveries on how to accurately predict whether an job candidate will fit the job advertised. Many problems with employees could be avoided if the right person was put in the right job. But choosing the right person for the right job is a science and if you don't know how the science works you are asking for trouble later on. Value = $33.75 |  |
| Bonus 4: The 10 Most Common Mistakes Made by New Zealand Employers (and how to prevent financial disaster) - wouldn't you like to know how to avoid financial disaster employing staff? Make sure you don't fail where other New Zealand businesses have failed by reading this key report. I am seeing new mistakes every month and I keep you appraised of those through my monthly Bulletins. Value=$84.38 |  |
So, the bonuses alone come to $1327.50. Sound like a good investment?
Make a better investment
The Manual alone represents a great investment in your business. However, if you want complete peace of mind you can upgrade to the premium package. With the premium package you not only get the Manual but also one year Membership of my Legal Hotline. By being a member you get free updates to the Manual, the ability to ask me as many legal questions as you like during the year and access to the Premium Member's only section of this website which contains a library of precedent materials to help you grow your business and keep you out of court. To read more about this click here. Here is how it works...Two Options
Standard |
Premium |
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NZ$225 + GST
OR Call 09 358 2725 |
NZ$500 + GST
OR Call 09 358 2725 |
Payment Can be made by Cheque, Direct Credit or Credit Card ( VISA, Mastercard, or AMEX)
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about the Small Business Dismissal Manual , the Hotline or the two packages which I haven't answered on this page then please feel free to ask either by calling me (09 358 2725) or completing the online form below.
Regards,
Michael Smyth LLb. (Hons.), Dip, Cert
The Approachable Lawyer
Ps The Manual costs less than a night at the Hilton Hotel or one hour of your lawyer's time!!
Order Now |
Manual and Bonuses $225 + GST
|
Manual, Bonuses and Membership of Legal Hotline $500 + GST
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Before I bought the Manual I was hoping that it was going to be a constructive tool which I could use in my business: when I read I it I found that it was exactly that. The Small Business Dismissal Manual is easy to understand and is laid out in such a way that it is easy to locate specific areas of interest. I would rate both the content and the layout as excellent and have already recommended it to my clients. Steve Furlong - Parker Murray & Co., Chartered Accountants
When you hear that a book has been written by a lawyer you think that it is going to be filled with "lawyer speak" and difficult to understand. When I read the Small Business Dismissal Manual I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was nothing like that all. It is written in plain English in a language that anyone can understand and the layout is very easy on the eye. I have already recommended the Manual to other people and when I lent my copy to someone to take a look, he couldn't get it out of my hands quick enough! Gail Godfrey - J T Jamieson Finance
As soon as I received the Manual I read it from cover to cover. It immediately came in handy as I had an employee who went AWOL just before Christmas. This type of behaviour from the employee in question had started to become a pattern previously. I followed the processes outlined in the Manual and used the letters on the CD which put the ball firmly in the employee’s court to improve or find something else. He then chose to avoid my calls, became abusive when I tried to get hold of him and eventually walked out 4 days before Christmas. I then sent him a letter putting him on notice of abandonment of employment and haven’t heard from him since. Without the Manual I would still be lumbered with this employee disrupting my business. Learna Tatana - TWU Limited
Before I bought the Manual I thought it would be another law book written by a lawyer for the use of other lawyers. But on receiving the manual I was pleasantly surprised to find a refreshing absence of lawyer-speak and instead a readable and understandable text. I like the logical sequence of the material throughout the manual and the absence of legal gobbledygook. The content is extensive and in sufficient detail to grasp the issues without becoming mired in trivia. It has a practical layout for ease of reference and locating particular information required. I would definitely recommend it to someone else because it explains the background and concepts to employment law issues plus practical "how to" advice. Peter Mackenzie - Mackenzie Law, lawyers
Overall I have found the Small Business Dismissal Manual to be very good and simple to follow. It will be and is of use to my business and I believe other businesses will find the same thing. I am not a lawyer but it appears to be legally accurate yet the layout is easy to follow and I particularly like the analogies used to explain the principles. From a practical perspective I found the CD of template letters the most valuable. I would definitely recommend it to other small businesses. Michael Major - Soul Limited, Interior Design and Project Management
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