Lesson 3:

Introduction to Managment Duties

If someone asks you: what is the most important asset to be successful in your role, the answer should be clear: people, that is, your human capital. One of the most important tasks you will have as a supervisor is managing your workforce. It is your job to make sure you have the right people, the right number of people, and keeping your department running smoothly. The employee selection process is fundamental in your role as Supervisor since your employees will help you meet your objectives and goals. One of the most relevant elements in managing people is the personnel selection process. If done effectively, you will have a clear competitive advantage, not only in terms of performance but also in terms of long-term strategies. In this lesson we will explore the importance of selecting and training new employees and learn some tips and strategies for successful hiring and training.

Note: CC0 Public Domain

Hiring Employees in Saskatchewan

Your company’s employee selection process will determine the quality of your new hires and can have an impact both on daily operations and your company’s long-term success. Choosing the wrong employees can make your workforce less productive, reduce quality, lower customer satisfaction, and cost you more money.

On the other hand, choosing the right employees can boost morale, improve performance, and can even give the department a strategic advantage. Understanding your role in selection and the importance of the process can help you make better hiring choices. As you proceed, keep in mind that most First Nation communities and public works and housing management agencies have their own hiring practices, which supervisors are expected to follow. These practices ensure that various regulations, such as Equal Employment Opportunity mandates and any specific procedure are followed. Even with these documented hiring practices, the supervisor can still make mistakes and those errors can create situations requiring significant resources to remedy.

The article below introduces the process of hiring an employee in Saskatchewan. Topics covered include letter of offer, job description, employee versus contractor, payroll, workers compensation, employment standards, workplace health and safety and training. *Disregard any information about CFIB membership. It is not required. *

Read: Are you hiring your first employee in Saskatchewan?

Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan. (n.d.). CAO Sample Employment Contract1. Wynyard.

First Nation Hiring Authority

Many First Nation and public works and housing management agencies strive to promote from within and work hard to develop employees to be the ‘candidate of choice’ for available jobs. There are times that filling a position from internal sources may not be possible and candidates from outside may need to be explored. In these situations, a job description is the primary interviewing tool.

As a supervisor you may be expected to perform most, or only a few, of the activities shown below. If your First Nation community or public works and housing management agency has a human resources agency or department, ensure that you work closely with them so that proper hiring steps are followed.

Be sure to discuss with your own department head and with human resources before starting the process, and understand the limits of your authority to recruit, interview, select, and hire new employees.

The onboarding process typically includes:

1. Retaining signed employees’ contract and legal information: Once the job offer has been sent and accepted by the candidate, you can then go ahead and send an official contract that details:
   1. Basic job information such as job title, job description (including duties and responsibilities), department assignment, skill requirements, and any required personal tools or PPE needed for the job.
   2. Duration of employment
   3. Salary/Wage Compensation
   4. Benefits and Incentive Opportunities
   5. Time off, holiday, sick, and bereavement policies
   6. Classification – is the employee a contractor or an employee?

      

      Note: (Saskatchewan, 2021)

   7. Confidentiality agreements are important to include and easier to have within the contract. This makes sure that the employee or contractor knows that they are to keep certain data or information confidential.
   8. Termination and Severance policies
2. Employee orientation: Orientation training for new employees is the process of introducing new hires to their job tasks, company processes, and teams. But it’s also the beginning of a relationship between the employee and their employer. Like any relationship, a shaky start usually leads to an imminent end.

   Watch: What Is New Employee Orientation? – YouTube​

   Note: (Jotform, 2022)

3. Training: New employee training is an important part of the hiring process because it teaches new hires about the company’s values, mission and goals, as well as how to be successful in their individual role. Taking the time to effectively train new employees can significantly improve how soon they can start making impactful contributions to the company, as well as increased employee retention rates. There are several components that go into successful new employee training, including ensuring they understand what is expected of them and how their progress will be evaluated.

Note: CC0 Public Domain

During the training process, your new employee will be learning and absorbing a lot of information. Too much information at once might cause information overload, making it harder for your new employee to learn effectively. Make sure you’ve paced your workout when you’re creating your new hire training plan. Allow enough time for the knowledge to be absorbed, reflected on, and reviewed throughout the course. It is your responsibility as a leader to guarantee that your team is always learning. You can also invite other members of your team to offer group training sessions, sharing suggestions and best practices. Never stop training and encourage your employees to keep learning new things.

Read: 12 Benefits of Training Employees in 2023   (Jordan.friedman, 2023)

Training is generally imparted in two ways: On the job, or off the job. On the job, training methods are given to the staff within the everyday working of a concern. It is a simple and inexpensive training method. Both skilled and semi-skilled employees can be fully trained with this training method. Employees are trained in real-world work scenarios. The motto of this training is ” learning by doing.” This workplace training method includes job rotation, temporary promotion, and coaching.

Off-the-job training is done outside of actual working conditions and is generally used for training new employees. Examples of off-duty training methods include workshops, seminars, and conferences. This method is expensive and effective only when many employees need training in a short period. Training outside of work is also called vestibular training. Employees are trained in separate areas that reproduce actual working conditions (sometimes called halls, entrance, lobby, reception area, etc.).