1. Managing the individual employment relationship

The personnel manager's first question should be about the nature and duration of the envisaged employment relationship. The usual relationship is that of an open-ended employment contract. New forms of work have led to new initiatives in regulating the contractual relationship.

There are many different types of employment contract, each with its own specific purpose. Before hiring, it's important to consider the nature of your staffing needs.

Is there or is there not a need for long-term hiring or for the services of another company?

Should you hire on a permanent or fixed-term contract, or use temporary work or subcontracting?

Is it worth acquiring new skills, or not, depending on the company's business model and how it evolves?