HR Policy Management

HR policy management is usually designed as a one-way process. Policies are drafted, approved, issued, acknowledged and reviewed. Very few organisations have a step for retiring one.

The result is accumulation. A policy written after an incident in 2016 describing a system that no longer exists. Three policies covering overlapping ground with different escalation routes. A set large enough that nobody reads any of it.

Contradictions are the real cost. Where two live policies say different things, whichever one somebody relied on is the one that gets quoted back to you.

Add retirement to the cycle. At each review, the options should be keep, amend, merge or retire, and retiring requires the same approval as issuing so it is a decision rather than a deletion.

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes workplace policy guidance. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s policy management software and records management software.