Employment Policies

The need for employment policies

Employment policies are a formal way in which the management or business owners use clear written statements usually in an employee handbook or some other formal notice.

Establishing clear written employment policies sets clear boundaries, protecting both employees and employers a matter that is important for a business of any size.

Company policies cover variety of topics and will differ from business to business, however employment policies are generally based around employment law and are therefore required by every employer.

Remember, employment policies should be reviewed and, if necessary, revised in the light of legislative or organisational changes in the company.

Essential employment policies:

 

Discipline policies:

• Every employer must provide each of its employees with a written disciplinary procedure that should comply with statutory requirements. This should include your disciplinary rules, your disciplinary/dismissal procedure, and the name of the person to whom they should appeal to in the event they are unhappy with a decision.

Grievance policies: 

• Grievance Procedure- every employer must provide each employee with a written grievance procedure complying with not less than the statutory requirements.
• Victimisation- Employment policies in this area define behaviour and outline procedures for dealing with complaints of harassment, bullying and victimisation. Bullying can lead victims to claiming constructive dismissal.
  

Family policies:

There is quite a number of employment policies about the family and what’s known as “the work life balance” they include the following: 

• Adoption Policy - Similar to maternity leave, eligible staff can take time off to be with their newly adopted child.
• Flexible Working-Parents and carers can apply to the Company to work more flexibly around their family needs.
• Maternity Policy- enabling eligible employees to take time off for the birth of a child.
• Paternity Policy-leave and pay for father / parent-to-be.

Equality policies 

There are a whole host of acts of law in regard to equality and discrimination. Every employer must ensure that its employees have equal chance and opportunity in employment. This means that the Company must provide workplace policies to help ensure that no unlawful discrimination occurs, either directly or indirectly, against any person on the grounds of age, gender, colour, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, race, religion, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic or national origin.

• grounds of sex, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, religion/belief and age. Even if a worker harasses a colleague, the victim can make a discrimination claim against the employer.
• Public Interest Disclosure- workplace polices that encouraged employees to speak out if they find malpractice in an organisation, they are protected in certain ways under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

Workplace Health and Safety Policies

Workplace policies in this area generally are included because of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) The Act places a general duty on both employers and employees to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and of any other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions whilst at work.

Health and safety Workplace policies play a key role in fulfilling the Companies obligations under the ACT and to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and visitors.

Health and Safety workplace policies should include:

• Drugs and Alcohol Policy-to control the risk to Health and Safety from drugs and alcohol in the work place.
• Health and Safety Policy Statement- to ensure the health, safety and welfare of your employees.
• Smoke-Free - to protect all employees and visitors from exposure to second-hand smoke.

Workplace Policies review

Workplace policy should be reviewed and, if necessary, revised in the light of legislative or organisational changes. You should inform your employees that policies are subject to change and variation from time to time.