Business Attorneys Offer Advice on What to Do Before Hiring an Employee
Business attorneys can provide you with invaluable assistance when you make big decisions that affect your organization. One of the key decisions that an attorney can help you with is whether a person you are bringing into your organization to work for you should be treated as an employee or as an independent contractor. 
Employees have many more workplace rights than independent contractors and there are many specific steps that you will need to take if you make the decision to hire an employee. However, if the worker who will be performing work for you fits into the legal definition of an employee, you must treat him as one and not incorrectly classify him as an independent contractor or this could create serious legal problems.
Brown & Charbonneau, LLP can help you to determine how your workers should be classified and can provide you with assistance in taking the necessary steps to comply with your obligations when you bring an employee on board. Give us a call today to talk with our business attorneys and find out more about how we can help you with the hiring process.
What to Do Before Hiring an Employee
If you are hiring an employee, some of the key steps you need to take before bringing your new worker into your organization include:
- Obtaining an employer identification number. You’ll need this from the IRS to use on paperwork you submit when you file payroll taxes as an employer.
- Determining your tax obligations. Employers must comply with key income tax rules, including having an employee complete IRS forms to determine the correct withholding. Employers must withhold state and federal taxes from an employees paycheck and submit withheld funds to the IRS.
- Obtaining necessary insurance. You will likely need to obtain both workers’ compensation insurance and unemployment insurance when bringing a new worker on board.
- Reviewing worker protection laws. It’s important that you review all of the laws aimed at protecting workers including wage-and-hour laws; workplace safety laws; and anti-discrimination laws. Running afoul of these regulations could have serious legal consequences including making your company vulnerable to a lawsuit.
- Considering whether you should have an employee sign a non-compete or non-disclosure agreement. Depending upon the nature of your business and the role that the employee will play, you may want to take steps to ensure that the employee cannot take your trade secrets to competitors, solicit your customers, or otherwise engage in anti-competitive behavior that is damaging to your organization.
These are just some of the many steps that business attorneys can help you to take so you are prepared and ready to bring an employee on board while remaining in full compliance with the law.
Getting Help From Business Attorneys
Bringing an employee or independent contractor on board is just one of many big decisions that you may need to make when you are running your company. It is one of many decisions that business attorneys can provide you with help making. It is beneficial to get legal advice and to get the perspective of a lawyer with both business acumen and knowledge of rules and regulations when you make these big decisions that affect your organization.
To find out more about how business attorneys at Brown & Charbonneau, LLP can provide you with comprehensive help making the right choices so your organization can grow and thrive, give us a call at (866)237-8129 or contact us online today.
