HR policies are procedures for managing employer-employee interactions, covering recruitment, occupational standards, discipline, and termination. They communicate internal procedures, requirements, and consequences, and are mandatory by law. The policies cover all major life events of an employee and are the basis for nearly half of all civil lawsuits.
HR policies are a set of practices and procedures used to manage the interactions between the employer and the employee. In general, HR focuses primarily on employee management, which includes hiring, onboarding, management, and termination. All companies have HR policies, as they are generally required by law. In the United States, the Labor Standards Act provides a list of required procedures for all employers. These procedures cover all major life events of an employee and are mandatory.
There are four broad areas of HR policy: Recruitment, Occupational Standards, Discipline and Termination. The Labor Standards Act provides a basic framework upon which all human resources policies are built. The purpose of the HR policy is to clearly communicate the company’s internal procedures, requirements and consequences. It is worth noting that nearly half of all civil lawsuits are the result of a dispute relating to HR issues.
In recruitment, there are four common HR policies. When a position is vacant, the time period in which applications will be accepted and who can apply is set out in the policy. Prioritizing candidates and granting preferential status during the candidacy process is common in both union and non-union circles. Non-discriminatory hiring practices based on race, religion and gender are standard. Checking references as part of a condition of employment is also standard.
Occupational standards include key elements such as hours worked without breaks, length of breaks and maximum travel allowed. The Labor Standards Act focuses primarily on this aspect of HR. Included in this section are minimum rates of pay, maximum hours worked in a given time frame, overtime and vacation rates of pay.
Common Discipline Policies include guidelines for supervisor-employee interaction when discussing a disciplinary matter. Written documentation of all of these meetings is standard, as is the length of time a warning letter can remain on employee file. Methods for employees to appeal disciplinary decisions, mediation opportunities, and other provisions are generally provided in the policy.
Termination requirements are also a very common type of policy, including provisions for retirement, voluntary termination, layoffs, and termination for cause. The layoffs during slow periods section, delivery times, callback notices, and leave remaining at the time of termination must all be documented. Very few people take the time to read HR policies when they get hired, but it’s always a good idea.
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