HR Policy And Procedure Template

An HR policy and procedure template is a sensible starting point and a genuine risk if it is published unchanged.

The risk is that a template makes commitments. Timeframes for responding to a complaint. A number of warnings before dismissal. A promise of confidentiality. Named roles that do not exist in your structure. Each of those becomes a standard you can be measured against, and departing from your own published policy is difficult to defend afterwards.

So the clauses to check before publishing are the specific ones. Any number, any deadline, any firm promise, any job title, and any reference to a jurisdiction or an Act that may not apply to your organisation. Read the template as a list of commitments rather than as guidance.

Generic principles rarely cause trouble. Borrowed specifics do.

The Fair Work Ombudsman covers employment obligations. This is general information rather than legal advice.

See Sentrient’s workplace policy templates and policy management software.