The First Hire: What You Need to Know Before You Bring Someone on Board

by Brandon L. Mathews - December 15, 2023

Small-business owners and entrepreneurs across Arkansas gathered online and in-person for a full day of human resources training as part of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service's role in the Arkansas Business Navigator program.

Glenda Caton, founder and owner of Caton Consulting, LLC led the workshop titled, “The First Hire: What You Need to Know Before You Bring Someone on Board.” The program provided an in-depth look at some of the essential steps a business owner should consider when hiring or expanding their workforce.

Attendees learned from one another and were able to discuss topics and hot-button issues that they normally wouldn’t be able to with peers and subject matter experts.

The training was recorded and can be viewed online.

The recording is broken into five easy-to-consume videos and follows the Arkansas Business Navigator “Hiring Your First Employee” handbook.

The videos augment the handbook in a positive way by features insightful, anecdotal stories that bring the handbook to life.

Below are links to the five individual video sections. 

Part 1: Contractor (1099) vs Employee 

Part 2: Getting Ready to Hire Your First Employee 

Part 3: Employee Compensation & Benefits 

Part 4: Company Policies 

Part 5: Disciplinary Action 

The video series and handbook are intended as general guidance and should not be construed as legal advice. For specific questions or concerns, we recommend consulting with an attorney or HR professional. 

If you are interested in receiving free, confidential one-on-one assistance with starting or growing your business, you can contact ASBTDC or call 800-862-2040. 

The Arkansas Business Navigator is a program of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center hosted by UA Little Rock and is funded in part through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.