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Human Resource Policy: An Overview by Bill Brine

On paper, nearly every company that has more than one individual working for it, has a human resource policy. But how effective or efficient the human resource policy actually is, is a matter of opinion. Some employers believe that a human resource policy is an affront to their goodness and are loath to consider writing and documenting one. But the vast majority of employees would be lost without a written human resource policy to guide them.

What exactly is a human resource policy? Simply put, a human resource policy is a document, written by the Human resources head of a company, that provides details of all the activities of the department as well as the rights, duties and obligations of both the employer and the employees. Additionally, an effective human resource policy will also detail the salary structures, the promotion guidelines, conflict resolution details, leave and other benefits as well as other legalese pertaining to the effective employer-employee relationship.

Do all employers have an effective human resources policy? Well, the answer to that is a matter of opinion. Some employers believe that the employment contract is the only legal document that needs to be adhered to. After all, the employment contract provides nearly all the details of the relationship between the employer and the employee, especially with regard to timings, work expected of the employee, salary to be paid by the employer, benefit structures, duration of contract, breach of contract etc. But other employers are of the opinion that an effective human resource policy is what will enable them to keep a check on the activities of their employees. Employees on the other hand, often refer to the human resource policy only when issues crop up at work.

One of the most common uses of a human resources policy is in determining the leave structures of employees. Statistics reveal that most employees consult the human resource policy only when it comes to questions about their leaves. A notable exception is during the bonus season, when each employee consults the human resources policy to evaluate and estimate how much bonus will be paid out to them! Still other employees refer to the human resources policy when they confront a personnel or professional problem at the workplace. An effective human resource policy will therefore include tips on conflict resolution. In fact, this is one area of the human resource policy that is often undermined by employers. They believe that all employees will function comfortably and collaboratively to the best of their ability. But being human, not all employees are capable of being this way all the time. It is at times when there is a breakdown in the structural fabric of employment that the conflict resolution ability of the human resource policy comes into play.

Finally, an effective human resource policy is also a great way to retain good talent. If your employees know that you have a fair human resource policy, they will do everything in their power to remain steadfast and loyal employees. This is where the human resource policy has its greatest benefit... 

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