HR policies are the backbone of your workplace. But creating these policies require end-to-end focus on every possible aspect of an organization- from the business side of the same, the people, to employer branding purposes.
Particularly in a startup, things are yet to settle down. There are constant changes in certain ways how the workplace is supposed to function. In short, it is chaotic.
If you are an HR professional within a startup, we know exactly where you are confused and need help. Hence, we have created a one-stop solution to reduce 90% of your hard work when it comes to creating policies for your organization.
In this resource page, you will find HR policy templates where all you have to do is copy, paste, and add your company details- how much more convenient can it get?
Create an end-to-end HR Policy set-up with these templates
Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy
This policy is mandatory for strict prohibition of any sort of unwelcome physical contact, demand for sexual favours or passing remarks around it. It ensures that people who are victim to any such situations can call for strict actions against the person found guilty.
Every organization has this policy to protect their employees from these happenings.
Suggested templates:
Workplace Bullying Policy
Bullying is often considered limited to school playgrounds and young kids. However, it is important to throw light on the fact that bullying occurs in the workplace and has to be prohibited by all means.
Workplace bullying includes physical or verbal acts that might hurt or isolate a person. In order to prevent it, you need to have a mandatory policy against the same.
Suggested templates:
Workplace Anti-Bullying Policy
Anti Discrimination Policy
This policy is a step towards ensuring that no employees face discrimination on the basis of “race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status such as disability, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.”
Suggested templates:
Nondiscrimination/Anti-Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedure
Attendance and punctuality policy
One of the basic, obvious, and the key responsibilities of an employee is attendance and punctuality. The policy works on setting up expectations around the dedication to be shown by the employees.
Employees are expected to reach on a time and days specified by the organization. This policy does not include the paid time-offs provided by the company.
Suggested templates:
Bring your own device policy
Some organizations prefer employees bringing /using their own devices for work purposes. Hence, they need to create their Bring your own Device policy. Though subjective throughout different roles, some common devices include mobile phones, laptops, tablets, USB.
Suggested templates:
SHRM: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy
Ntiva: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy – Sample Template
Cash handling policy
In order to prevent theft within the company, you need to create a cash handling policy which lays down standard expectations to be matched by employees when it comes to handling company’s cash.
This will also state the strict actions taken when there is any sort of misappropriate handling of the cash detected.
Suggested templates:
Simul: Theft & Cash Handling Policy
Business in a box: Cash Handling Policy Template
Child labour policy
Laws against child labour call for strict actions when breached. Child labour occurs when children under the age of 12 are made to work. Not only organizations, but every individual, should take a stance against it.
A child labour policy in the workplace calls for following these laws clearly and maintaining a healthy environment for children.
Suggested templates:
Code of conduct policy
One of the most common policies around organization, code of conduct talks about the company principles, values, expectations from the employees in terms of work ethics and standards.
It is a must-have for all organizations and reflects the culture of the organization. It helps the organization to communicate clearly with the employees around these factors.
Suggested templates:
greytHR: Employee Code of Conduct Policy
Workable: Employee Code of Conduct Policy
SHRM: Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
Company sick leave policy
It is obvious that this policy is also mandatory in every organization. Every employee is entitled to taking paid time off when they are unwell. These kinds of leaves are known as sick leaves and organizations fix a number of time-off to offer per year.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Sample Sick Leave Policy
Computer use policy
How to use the computer and other work-related devices and equipment correctly? To explain this to your employees, you have to create an effective computer use policy. This should include everything- from when to take consent to what to do if stolen/lost/misused.
Suggested templates:
SoftActivity: Sample Computer Use Policy
Conflict of interest
When an employee’s methods or interests clash with that of the employees, it leads to a conflict of interest. Being a startup, you need to be prepared with what to do in such a situation.
Create a policy which effectively discusses what to do in such a situation, and how both the employers and the employees are responsible for resolving it.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Employee conflict of interest policy
Contractor policy
This one is specifically designed to cater to outsourced workers. When you reach out to a third party instead of an employee, the perks you offer, the procedure, etc., changes.
Hence, you need a contractor policy to fixate these factors for any third party worker you coordinate with.
Suggested templates:
SampleTemplates: FREE 8+ Contractor Management Policy Samples in PDF | MS Word
Copedia: Contractor Policies and Procedures Templates
Corporate Social Responsibility
As evident by the name itself, corporate social responsibility means contributions made by a business towards the social good.
This can be around any social work, environmental benefits, and more.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Corporate social responsibility company policy
Corporate Social Responsibility Policy Template
Diversity and inclusion
Over days, every workplace is ensuring great efforts towards introducing and maintaining diversity and inclusion factors.
All sections, caste, religions, gender of different employees should be welcomed, respected, and treated equally. Hence, in order for employees to abide by these rules, it is important to have a D&I policy set-up within the workplace. Here are a few templates you can use:
Suggested templates:
SHRM: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy
Acas working for everyone: Equality, diversity and inclusion policy template
Dress code policy
Many organizations have rules around how they want their employees to be dressed. A dress code policy includes everything- from how to dress, who does this policy apply to, and what if someone violates it.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Sample Business Dress Code Policy
ConnectTeam: Dress Code Policy Template
Drug testing
Every organization needs to make sure that their workplace environment is safe and drug-free. Hence, random drug testing is important in these scenarios. Create an entire drug testing policy which states the need for random drug testing in the workplace and how the entire procedure will be conducted.
Suggested templates:
SHRM: Drug-Testing Policy (Random Testing)
Employee business expense reimbursement
Employees might have to make any work-related expenses while doing their tasks. Ideally, the organization should take responsibility for those expenses.
Suggested templates:
SHRM : Expense Reimbursement Policy
greytHR: Expense Reimbursement Policy
Employee referral
Organizations offer a referral bonus when an employee successfully brings in a right fit for an open position. This bonus can vary based on company, role, and more.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Employee Referral Program Policy
TalentLyft: Employee referral program policy template
SHRM: Employee Referral Program Procedures
Employee relationships in the workplace policy
While a company cannot prevent friendships or romantic relationships between the employees, they often create certain guidelines around it. The purpose of the same is to ensure a strict and fair line between personal engagements and professional responsibilities.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Workplace Romance Policy
Employee remote work policy
As more and more companies have switched to being permanently remote/hybrid, they need a new set of detailed guidelines for this different way of functioning and conducting tasks.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Employee remote work policy template
BetterTeam: Remote work policy
Employee smoking policy
Companies need to keep their workplace smoking-free to:
- Protect non-smokers from passive smoking
- Create a clean workplace
- Avoid possibilities of fire
- Prevent fire alarms setting off due to smoke detection.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Smoke Free Workplace Policy
Sample Tobacco-free Workplace Policy
Employee theft policy
If employees are using anything that belongs to the workplace, they are bound to return it timely and in a fit condition.
This policy should be used for prevention of thefts of these belongings by the employees and strict actions to be taken if anyone attempts to violate it.
Suggested templates:
Employee Theft Prevention Policies
Employee confidentiality
To get certain tasks done, you need to provide confidential information to your employees. However, how to make sure that it stays safe? That is where the employee confidentiality policy comes into place.
This policy talks about how employees should handle confidential information and what are the actions that would be taken in case of the violation for this act.
Suggested templates:
Employee Confidentiality Policy Template
Environmental policy
Organizations should take necessary steps to reduce their impact on the environment. An environment policy consists of steps that the organization would take in order to do the same.
Suggested templates:
Sample Environmental Policy Statement
Small Business Environmental Policy Template
Exit interview
Your employees are the face of your company. They represent you! When an employee resigns from the company, it is important to know why they made this decision and what they now feel about the company.
Hence, it is important to take exit interviews where they answer these questions.
Suggested templates:
Employee Exit Interview Policy Template | Workable
Sample exit interview policy/procedure, #1
Employee fraud policy
This policy prevents employees from indulging into any sort of irregularities with shareholders/contractors/vendors/or anyone else.
Suggested templates:
Gift policy
No employee can accept personal monetary benefits/gifts from an existing/potential client. Gifts to all employees under a reasonable value can be accepted.
Suggested templates:
Grievance policy
This policy covers how an employee raises and puts forward their complaints in a healthy manner.
Suggested templates:
Workable: Grievance procedure company policy
Hiring policy
This policy determines the recruitment procedure of new candidates within the organization- from whether to hire externally or internally, platforms to find candidates, selection stages, and more.
Suggested templates:
Employee Recruitment and Selection Policy Sample
Employee Recruitment Policy Template |Download hiring policy
Internal Job Posting
This policy ensures that any open vacancies are posted internally before externally. The idea is to give employees the opportunity to grow in their career and pursue their passions.
Suggested templates:
Internal Job Posting Policy For Employers Template | Workable
Download Internal Job Posting Policy Template – greytHR
Internet and email policy for employees
The internet/email usage is mandatory for employees to establish connections and handle work processes. The internet and email policy for employees determines the extent to which employees can use these measures and the procedure of using it.
Suggested templates:
Email and Internet workplace policies – SAMPLES
Free Internet and Email Usage Policy template
IT Cyber Security
This policy states the guidelines for securing and preserving the data and technology systems of the organization. Every organization has important data and information that needs to be protected by any sort of leakage, fraud, etc.
Suggested templates:
Company cyber security policy template – Workable
Free IT & Cyber Security Policy Templates For 2022
Free IT & Cyber Security Policy Templates For 2022
Job Rotation Policy
Job rotation is necessary for giving employees a space to explore themselves and their passions. hence, this template decides the procedure for employees who want to transfer their departments within their organization.
Suggested templates:
Download Job Rotation Policy Template – greytHR
Leave policy
The leave policy ensures a reasonable amount of days for recreation and time-offs for the employees every year. Therefore, a certain number of casual and sick leaves are mandatory in every organization.
Suggested templates:
Download Leave Policy template for Free on greytHR
Leave Policy, Company HR Leave of absence Policy for Employees, find Sample format
Sample company sick leave policy
16+ Leave Policy Templates – Free PDF, Word Format Download
Maternity Leave
Maternity leave policies provide a reasonable amount of time-offs to women employees expecting a child or are mothers to newborns. Therefore, these leaves are necessary to bond and take care of their kids.
Suggested templates:
Maternity Leave Policy Template | Workable
Maternity leave policy in India | Get Free Template
Occupational workplace health safety
Your workplace should follow the most hygienic practices and offer the best working conditions to the employees. The policy should cover all legal standards to create a healthy and safe workplace.
Suggested templates:
Occupational / Workplace Health and Safety Policy Template | Workable
Free Workplace Health & Safety Policy Template for Microsoft Word | Simul
Work health and safety policy – samples
Paternity leave
Paternity leave is similar to maternity leave but for the fathers of newborns or adopted children.
Suggested templates:
Payroll Advance policy
This policy ensures early payments to your employees in some cases as a short-term loan.
Suggested templates:
Payroll Advance policy – Workable
Download Salary Advance Policy template for Free on greytHR
Payroll Appraisal And Salary Review
This policy covers all stages of an employee’s performance appraisal– from planning, discussing, and reviewing. For example, it includes transfers, salary raises, and more.
Suggested templates:
Performance and Salary Review Policy
Employee Performance Review Policy Template | Workable
Pets in the workplace policy
Organizations often allow employees to bring in their pets and take care of them within the workplace. This policy covers the do’s and dont’s of the same.
Suggested templates:
Pets in the workplace company policy
Dogs in the Workplace Policy Template – Hire Ventures
Travel policy
Suggested templates:
Your employees might have to travel to different places due to work-related tasks. And ideally, it is the responsibility of the organization to reimburse/pay for these travel expenses.
Corporate Travel & Expense Reimbursement Policy Template
Company travel policy – Workable
Notice Period
While the aim is to retain your employees, often for some particular reason, resignation is inevitable. After an employee resigns, there is a set of particular rules and guidelines to be followed.
Suggested templates:
Employee Resignation Policy Template | Workable
Separation/Termination of Employment Policy Sample
Probation and confirmation
Every employee’s first few months of employment are probationary. Here, the company analyzes their performance and then confirms their role. Hence, every organization needs a policy to cover the regulations of the probation period.
Suggested templates:
Probation Confirmation Policy – mPower HR.
Employee Probation and Confirmation Policy Template| greytHR
Employee Probationary Period Policy
Rewards and recognition
If employees do not get the recognition they deserve, they will not remain motivated for long. The key ingredient to effective employee retention and dedication is to make them feel valued and recognized for their contributions. This recognition can either be monetary or a simple pat on the back.
Suggested templates:
Employee Rewards and Recognition Policy | greytHR
Separation policy
A separation policy ensures that the termination of an employee is done with full clarity and zero disputes.
Suggested templates:
Separation/Termination of Employment Policy Sample
Employee Separation Policy template in India | greytHR
Social Media Policy
Along with your company’s social media, it is probable that whatever your employees post from their own social media accounts can pose a threat to the company and its image. Hence, this policy prevents any such situations.
Suggested templates:
Company social media policy for employees
How to Write a Social Media Policy (Free Template + Examples)
Whistleblower policy
A whistleblower is a person who reports any sorts of violations or misbehavior within the organization. This policy covers the protection offered to the whistleblower in terms of confidentiality and against retaliation.
Suggested templates:
Free Whistleblower Policy Template for Microsoft Word | Simul Docs
Transport Policy
This policy ensures transport facilities to employees especially when they are working late or having early shifts for their safety and convenience.
Suggested templates:
Download Transport Policy Template for Free – greytHR
Violence at workplace
This policy makes employees aware about what workplace violence is and additionally to encourage them to report any early signs or threats.
