Policies and work procedures
Policies, together with work procedures, manuals and instructions, are the basic internal regulations of an organization that are used to manage processes and people. They are internal documents containing rules on how employees should perform their work, processes or how they should behave in different situations and workplaces. Guidelines typically apply to employees and also to external workers (contractors). The purpose of guidelines is to support the effective management of people and processes. It is one of the management tools because it contains information about who is to do what and how. They describe the responsibilities of both employees and employer, contain the rights of employees as well as the interests of the employer.
Why are policies and procedures important for companies?
Company policies and procedures communicate the values of the organization and expectations of desired employee behavior and performance. They are are used to outline the internal company rules and workplace practices. Well-written policies clearly define acceptable and unacceptable workplace behavior, as well as the consequences when employees do not follow them. Without documented procedures, it is difficult to defend evidence of good practice.
- ensure efficiency, consistency of processes, and quality of work output
- set expectations and guide how to deal consistently with situations in the workplace
- ensure that processes comply with the requirements of legislation, laws, or standards
- clarify the expected behavior and outputs of employees
- serve as a training tool for employees, especially new employees, during onboarding
The difference between policies and procedures
Policies
- Policies are usually summary instructions, rules that shape processes and provide a framework for day-to-day activities. They help people explain the framework of the process
Procedures
- Procedures are detailed instructions, typically for a specific process or activity. They are detailed steps that workers must perform in a given process
- Procedures are a documented set of steps necessary to perform a specific task in conformance with an applicable policy
Mandatory and optional policies
Every company has to have a set of basic policies required by legislation, laws, and regulations together with other documents that each company creates voluntarily, based on the needs of its processes and the company management.
Examples of mandatory policies (vary in different countries):
- Accounting policies and procedures
- Health and Safety Policy
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
- Bribery Policy
Examples of other company policies and procedures
- General company rules on the most appropriate way to behave (dress codes, email, internet policies, or smartphone use)
- Absence Policy
- PPE & OHS Policies and Procedures
- Security policy
- IT security policy
- Performance Management Policy
- Employee Code of Conduct Policy
- Internet and Social Media Policy
- Compensation and Benefits Policy
- Travel Expenditures Policy
- Purchasing Policy
- Legal Issues for the company (head off charges of harassment or discriminatory hiring and promotion)
- Workplace standards, rules, and regulations (safety rules, breaks, or smoking rules)
- Fair treatment for employees (benefits eligibility, paid time off, tuition assistance, bereavement, or jury duty)
- Employee onboarding policy
- Employee offboarding policy
How to manage policies
Some companies have an extensive and very detailed library of all the different policies and procedures, while other companies have only the most basic documents possible. It is important to maintain a balance and set the scope so that the firm is manageable. Typically, policies are in paper form in folders somewhere. Ideally, they should be in a digital form easily and conveniently accessible to all employees on the intranet, company DMS, team tools, wikis, or other means. Also, a lot depends on how often they are changed. Policies are "live" documents that require change and good communication with employees.
