Human Resource Policy and Procedures Manual

A comprehensive human resource policy handbook is a collection of policies, procedures, and expectations for employees of any organization. It aims to provide a framework for making consistent decisions and promoting equity in the way that people are treated.  

Some of the synonyms for Human Resource Policy and Procedures Manual include: 

• Staff Policy Handbook 
• Employee Handbook 
• Staff Policy Manual 
• Human Resource Policy Manual 

Policy manuals are developed to help staff and management teams run the organization. Policies play a strategic role in an organization. They are developed in light of the mission and objectives of the company and they become the media by which management’s plans, rules, intents, and business processes become documented and communicated to all staff. Carefully drafted and standardized policies and procedures save the company countless hours of management time. The consistent use and interpretation of such policies, in an evenhanded and fair manner, reduces management’s concern about legal issues becoming legal problems. 

Some of the essential policies to be captured in the manual include but are not limited to: 

• Recruitment and Selection policy 
• Performance Management policy 
• Leave policy 
• Training & Development policy 
• Code of Conduct 
• Disciplinary and Grievance Handling policy 
• Health & Safety policy 
• Sexual Harassment policy 
• HIV/AIDs policy 
• Separation policy 

The HR policies and procedures manual serve as the required sources of information to be followed to resolve any issues that may arise from either the employer’s or the employee’s perspective. This information is available for employees to use to familiarize themselves with organizational policies and practices on various topics, such as how leaves are sanctioned, various allowances, grievance procedures, etc. The HR manual should contain all such data, pertaining to the employment of the employees, in complete detail to ensure that employees can obtain all the required information in time. 

The HR policies and procedures handbook should be written with the highest objectivity and clarity to ensure that the documents are uniform in approach, free of any complexity, and clear of any overlap. This is crucial to prevent any form of differential treatment from the company and to guarantee efficient and conflict-free internal operations. 

Organizations can hire an HR Consulting Firm for the development of the HR manual. The HR Consultant can assist the organization in the: 

• Preparing a new HR policies and procedures manual for the organization 
• Revise certain aspects of the document or completely revise the HR policies and procedures manual 
• Check the documents for the ever-changing legal rules and regulations, and make the necessary changes 
• Audit the existing HR policies and procedures manual to make sure that the given details provided are relevant to the current industry 

While developing or reviewing an HR policies and procedures manual, an HR Consultant should keep in mind the following important factors: 

• Organizational culture 
• Legal rules and regulations 
• Market trends 
• HR policies and procedures manual of the organization 
• Existing rules and regulations related to the employees in the organization 
• Legal compliances 
• Industry norms 

An HR Consultant, on the call from the organization, may also guide and train the employees in implementing and complying with the policies and procedures.