Michigan Minimum Wage Increase, January 2027

Hiring your first employee is a major milestone in your business journey—and it’s exciting! But let’s be honest: it can also be a little nerve-wracking. Between legal steps, payroll decisions, and writing your first job post, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. At Thistle HR Consulting , I specialize in helping small businesses like yours navigate these moments with clarity and confidence. Whether you're bringing on a full-time team member or just someone to help lighten the load, these are my Top 5 “What-to-Do’s” before and after you make the hire. 1. Get Legally Set Up to Hire Before you post the job or even talk to candidates, make sure your business is legally prepared to employ someone. Checklist: Apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) Set up workers’ compensation insurance Ensure you're complying with federal and state labor laws Choose a payroll system or provider 💡 Thistle Tip: Starting off on the right side of compliance saves you costly missteps later. We can help walk you through every setup step. 2. Write a Realistic, Clear Job Description A job description isn’t just a hiring tool—it’s the foundation for managing expectations, measuring success, and aligning responsibilities. Ask yourself: What tasks will they own? What are the core hours? What does success look like? 💡 Thistle Tip: Be transparent. If they’ll be doing a bit of everything (as many first hires do), call that out clearly. 3. Don’t Skip the Onboarding A strong start leads to strong performance. Onboarding sets the tone for how your new employee feels about your company—and about you as a leader. Simple onboarding plan: Welcome email or first-day checklist Introductions and training schedule Access to tools and systems A few quick wins for their first week 💡 Thistle Tip: You don’t need a huge training manual. Just a bit of structure and thoughtfulness goes a long way. 4. Document Everything As a first-time employer, documentation protects you and builds trust with your employee. Start with: A clear offer letter Signed job description Company policies (time off, conduct, etc.) Any benefits info—even if it's just PTO 💡 Thistle Tip: Need a starter employee handbook? I've got you covered with customizable, small-business-friendly solutions. 5. Plan to Check In—Early and Often Don’t wait until there’s a problem. Set check-in points at 30, 60, and 90 days to see how things are going and make sure expectations are aligned. Try asking: What's working well for you? Any tools or info you still need? Is the role what you expected? 💡 Thistle Tip: These conversations don’t have to be formal—but they should be consistent. They’re key to building trust and long-term success. I'm happy to help with this process as well! You Don’t Have to DIY Your HR Hiring your first employee is a huge leap—and I'm here to make it smoother. From compliance setup to onboarding and beyond, Thistle HR Consulting helps small businesses build smart HR foundations that grow with them. Let’s take “figure it out yourself” off your to-do list. I'm ready when you are. 📬 Emily@thistlehr.com 🌐 www.thistlehr.com