Why do you need HR policies and procedures?

Policies and procedures are a set of documents within a company. Policies explain the company position and procedures tell your staff how to do things.  Policies talk.  Procedures do. 

This documentation gives your staff a written unequivocal explanation of your company’s culture. It provides them with the structure and order they need as well as answers to their questions. It defines what is and what isn’t acceptable behaviour. It forms the backbone of your company. Order is just as important to a small business as it is to a much larger one.

 What kind of documentation?

There are some legal requirements to take into account when creating your company policies and procedures. You must make the following information available to your staff:

• What holiday pay they’re entitled to
• What to do when they’re off sick and how they get paid
• What pension scheme is in place (if any)
• Notice periods
• Procedures for making a complaint/raising a grievance
• Disciplinary procedures

We also recommend that you include policies on equal opportunities and bullying and harassment. If a member of staff were to claim discrimination and an Employment Tribunal found in their favour, there is no upper limit on the amount of compensation which can be awarded.

Other relevant information would be your staff’s entitlement to leave (maternity, paternity, adoption and parental). You don’t have to give a lot of detail but it’s a good idea to state that your company complies with the statutory requirements.

Ask us about writing policies and procedures to suit you or implementing the ones you’ve already got.  Even better, request your free HR health check!