Elementum

HR Essentials and Handbook.

Put the handful of policies a small organization actually needs into a short handbook people receive, because their absence is where small problems become disputes.

Assemble a short handbook covering, at minimum

Policy	In place?
Time off: vacation, sick, holidays, leave
Conduct and the basics of how people treat each other
Harassment and discrimination policy, and how to raise a complaint safely
Basic terms of employment: hours, pay periods, at-will status where it applies
Health and safety basics for your setting
Technology and confidentiality, if relevant to your work

Policy

In place?

Time off: vacation, sick, holidays, leave

Conduct and the basics of how people treat each other

Harassment and discrimination policy, and how to raise a complaint safely

Basic terms of employment: hours, pay periods, at-will status where it applies

Health and safety basics for your setting

Technology and confidentiality, if relevant to your work

Two rules

Keep it short enough that people actually read it. How you will keep it lean:

Have every employee receive it and acknowledge it, kept in their file. How you will track that:

The edge: some policies are legally required and some required wording varies by place. The compliance step and, where needed, a professional confirm you have what your jurisdiction requires.

Your answers stay in your browser on this page and are never sent anywhere. Use Save or print to keep your copy.

Its acknowledgments live in Personnel Records and Filings. Legal requirements confirmed by the Employment Compliance Checklist. Back to the guide, or start over.