Policy
What is an HR policy and what should be included in a policy library?
An HR policy is a written document that establishes the employer's position, expectations, and procedures on a specific employment matter. Common HR policies include employment-at-will, equal employment opportunity, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination, leave, benefits eligibility, code of conduct, dress code, technology use, social media, and termination procedures. A complete policy library is published in an employee handbook, accessible to all employees, and updated regularly to reflect changes in law and company practice.
HR policies are the backbone of consistent employee treatment and the documentation that proves the employer applied rules fairly when disputes arise. The right number of policies varies by company size and industry: a 10-person startup might need 15 policies, a 10,000-employee enterprise easily 100+. The discipline is keeping them accurate, accessible, and applied consistently. Policies that exist on paper but aren't followed in practice produce worse outcomes than no policy at all because they create documented expectations the employer didn't meet.
Common HR Policies in a Standard Library
Employment-at-will and equal employment opportunity statements. Anti-harassment and anti-discrimination. Leave (PTO, FMLA, sick, parental, jury duty, military). Benefits eligibility. Code of conduct. Dress code. Technology and social media use. Confidentiality. Conflict of interest. Substance abuse. Termination procedures.
State-Specific Policy Requirements
California requires specific anti-harassment policy language. New York mandates specific complaint procedures. Many states have specific requirements for paid sick leave policies. Multi-state employers often maintain a base policy plus state-specific addenda.
Where Policy Programs Fail
Policies copied from templates without customization. Policies not updated when laws change. Inconsistent application across managers. Policies employees can't find or don't know exist.
Building a Policy Library That Actually Gets Used
Publish in an accessible employee handbook. Train managers on application. Audit annually for legal compliance. Update for changing laws. Pair with policy and procedures manual for operational detail and grievance procedures for the complaint side. SHRM publishes model policies at shrm.org.
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