Instant HR Policies is a one-stop resource for creating fast, plain-English policies. It combines the simplicity of an electronic document with up-to-date, legally researched policy language to help you create or update your policies quickly and efficiently. Instant HR Policies includes 69 model policies from hiring to termination.

Policy Writing and Updating: Myths and Truths. Full story here.

• Business Owners
• Managers
• HR Professionals

All of the information in Instant HR Policies is copyrighted, but we are making a special exception for employers who use the model policies to create or update their internal manuals or handbooks. These ready-to-go policies should not be shared with other organizations either for profit or free of charge.

• Consultants/Lawyers

If you’re a consultant or lawyer who wants to use Instant HR Policies to create a manual or handbook for your clients, you simply need to buy one copy of Instant HR Policies for each client in order to comply with our copyright. For more information about the copyright and appropriate use of Instant HR Policies, please call us at 1-800-437-3735.

Supervisory policy manuals vs. employee handbooks

The 69 model policies provided in Instant HR Policies are intended to help you create a supervisory policy manual.  As a general rule, a supervisory policy manual is a guide for managers and supervisors and contains information that they need to implement the organization’s policies.  Accordingly, each policy provides a general statement of policy (identified as the “Policy”) and is followed by several comments (identified as “Comments”) that instruct managers how to apply the policy.

In contrast, an employee handbook is designed for broad distribution to all employees.  It is typically intended to provide general information about the organization’s practices, benefits, hours of work, pay policies, and work rules.  It usually does not include information about supervisory procedures.

Although the Instant HR Policies, as written, is designed to create a supervisory policy manual, it also can be easily modified to create an employee handbook.

How to create a supervisory policy manual using Instant HR Policies

For example, the model Vacations policy, Policy 502, requires employees to submit their
vacation plans to their supervisors at least four weeks in advance of their requested
vacation date. If your current vacation policy requires more (or less) notice, you
would modify that section of the policy to reflect your organization’s practice.

How to create an employee handbook using Instant HR Policies

An employee handbook serves a different purpose than a supervisory policy manual.  Typically, an employee handbook focuses on the policies that affect employees and that govern their relationship with your organization.

Although the model policies in Instant HR Policies are intended primarily to be used to create a supervisory policy manual, they also can be used in an employee handbook by removing the references to supervisory procedures. 

Generally, you can use the Policy statements “as is.”  Review the “Comments” section and remove any references to what supervisors and managers are expected to do so that the information is more relevant to employees.

For example, the Comments section in the model Orientation and Training policy, Policy 202B, includes several steps that the Human Resources Department and supervisors should take to develop and implement training programs.  Most employers would not include any of this information in an employee handbook since it does not affect employees directly.

In contrast, the Policy statement and all of the Comments in the model harassment policy, Policy 201A, should be used in both a supervisory manual and an employee handbook since they contain pertinent information on reporting sexual and other forms of harassment that all employees should know.

Choosing individual policies

Not every organization needs all 69 policies.  If you currently have a supervisory manual or employee handbook, compare your policies to the Instant HR Policies model policies to decide which policies  you might want to add or update. 

If you don’t have a formal policy and procedures manual, you should begin by looking through the Table of Contents to determine which policies you want to include in your manual.

In choosing policies, you should consider the following issues:

• the culture of your organization and its recurring issues or problems;

• any memos on policy topics (such as vacation and holiday schedules) and past practices (i.e., what you have done in the past to address a particular employee relations issue); and

• the HR practices followed by other organizations in your industry (including vacation lengths and leave allowances).

At a minimum, most employers develop policies on:

• at-will employment,

• pay procedures,

• benefits (including any paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and other forms of leave),

• meal and rest breaks,

• personal conduct (work rules),

• attendance and punctuality,

• sexual and other forms of harassment,

• equal employment opportunity,

• disciplinary procedures, and

• termination. 

In addition, many employers include policies on:

• performance appraisals,

• smoking,

• safety procedures,

• appropriate dress and appearance,

• use of communications systems (including telephones, computers, e-mail, Internet access), and

• drug and alcohol use.

You can get Instant Policies online through this web site or on a 3.5" disk.

Why is it priced so low?

To provide extraordinary value and introduce you to Personnel
Policy Service, Inc., the publishers of Instant HR Policies.

How do these policies protect me?

Policies are our primary business. For nearly 30 years—since 1972—our company,
Personnel Policy Service, Inc., has helped over 20,000 human resources
professionals, business owners, consultants, and lawyers create and maintain
sound personnel policies. In fact, all of the model policies in Instant HR
Policies are taken directly from our flagship product, the 800+ page
comprehensive desktop reference, Personnel Policy Manual.

Instant HR Policies is the result of the team effort of our editorial staff
of HR professionals, policy writers, and legal experts. Our staff has
distilled years of research and analysis of thousands of court cases,
regulations, legislation, and employment policies into the easy-to-use
Instant HR Policies.

The language used in each policy is drafted carefully to reflect applicable
federal requirements and the type of language typically used by employers
across the United States.

In addition, our legal editors, experienced employment law attorneys with
the Chicago-based firm of Vedder Price Kaufman and Kammholz, have reviewed
the language of each of the model policies. The detailed legal research and
writing has been done for you.

However, that said, a special note of caution is always in order. No policy
manual or handbook should ever be issued or revised without a final review
and check-off by your own legal counsel.

Can I see a sample policy?

Yes. Simply click on this highlighted link to see our PAY PROCEDURES POLICY.
When you go to this page, you’ll see how each model policy is set up.

How does the license agreement work?

Because Instant HR Policies is the original copyrighted work of Personnel
Policy Service, Inc., it is protected under the trademark and copyright
laws of the United States of America. No copying, reproduction, or
republication is permitted, except as described in the license agreement,
without written permission of Personnel Policy Service, Inc. Therefore,
you'll need to agree to the license before downloading the product.
 
Preview the license agreement.

How does the guarantee work?

It's simple. If you’re not satisfied, for any reason, let us know. We will
refund your money in full - 100%. That's how confident we are in the quality
of information you'll receive from Instant HR Policies.

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