As an employer, it is your responsibility to create clear company policies for your staff to adhere to. The policies should outline all health, safety, and accountability of employees.
Whilst some company policies can be unique to your business, certain policies are required for compliance with UK laws and legislation. These include:
- Equal Opportunities
- Health and Safety
- Discipline, dismissal, and grievances
Aside from the above-mentioned, company policies should be decided based on what is suitable for your company.
The importance of company policies
Company policies are vital; they put into writing what you as an employer expect from your staff regarding performance, values, and behaviour.
For staff, they will also outline the consequences of disobeying the policies. This is important, as should staff face disciplinary action, you will have solid, written reasoning behind it.
Company policies also help to:
- Set expectations
- Hold management accountable
- Comply with law and legislation
- Defend against legal claims
- Assist with fair treatment of employees
Key policies to consider
As mentioned above, some policies are non-negotiable as they are needed for compliance.
You must prepare a Health and Safety Policy. This ensures the physical safety of your staff and that any accidents that occur are not the company’s fault.
Legally, you are also responsible for an Equal Opportunities Policy. This states that you as an employer will not discriminate against employees or applicants. Protected characteristics include:
- Sex and gender identity
- Sexuality and marital status
- Race, nationality, or ethnic origin
- Disabilities and health conditions including HIV and AIDS
- Religion and beliefs
- Working practices
For compliance, you must also create a Misconduct Policy. This should include what happens in terms of discipline should staff members fail to follow the company policies.
Many other policies are not legally required but may be very beneficial for your company. They include:
- Code of Conduct
- Attendance, vacation, and time-off policies
- Employee disciplinary action policy
- Work schedule and rest policy
- Ethics policy
- Substance abuse policies
- Workplace security policies
- Remote working policies
How to develop your policies
To start out, it is best to look at how management and employees deal with issues. From here, you can figure out which areas need more guidance and uniformity.
With this information you can decide the content of the policy. This is where it is key to seek legal advice, as a solicitor will ensure that your policies provide the protection and guidance you need.
Once the policy has been written, you should communicate this to your new and existing employees. You can even add a signature line to ensure all employees are complying.
It is likely that over time, the policy will need updating. This should not only be in line with how your employees and management are operating, but also per any changes to legislation.
When choosing your policies, it is best to consider what type of company you own. Knowing which policies are best for you can be difficult, so it is important to take your time.
If you are unsure of what policies your company needs, then it is best to talk to an expert.
We can help you create company policies that will protect you and your employees.
Get in touch with our team today for help and advice.