Once you’ve found the best candidate to join your business, you’ll need proper documentation for the hiring process. Hiring documents allow employees to see aspects of their future position, such as responsibilities, benefits and hours of work. They further allow you to outline your expectations of new employees in writing.
When running a business and creating employee records, it’s important to know which labour laws apply to you and your employees. In Canada, provincial labour laws cover employers' and employees' rights and responsibilities. There is, however, an exception for those in federally regulated workplaces that the Canada Labour Code covers.
With that said, it's crucial to know which jurisdiction your business falls under because it may impact which documents you're legally required to have. If you need help determining whether your company falls under federal regulations, seek advice from an attorney.
Employment Offer Letter
The first step to hiring a new employee is to write a formal Employment Offer Letter. For federally regulated employers, the offer letter must include an employment statement that follows Canadian Labour Code template guidelines. However, provincially regulated employers can also benefit from creating offer letters.
An Employment Offer Letter includes the key job details for a candidate to consider before accepting the position. By writing an offer letter, you create transparency with your potential new employee and open communication about the role. The key points include:
Job title
Start date
Compensation
You can make the offer conditional by setting requirements for the applicant to meet. Conditions can include signing a contract or passing a criminal record check.