HR Simplicity
I have been working with a new client recently and I was struck by the elegant simplicity of their approach to HR policies and paperwork. As HR professionals we can get ourselves knee deep into paperwork too quickly without really reflecting on whether or not our business needs it.
This client’s approach (as a relatively small business) was to have a ten-page guide for staff on what they need to know for their work day to day – hours, holidays and calling in sick all that stuff. Everything else they chose to take a best practice approach which means links to GOV website and ACAS rather than an 85-page handbook.
· No reason why they can’t make some parts more than statutory if they want to
· No reason why they can’t add to this selection as they grow and develop
· No reason why they can’t say – “we don’t have policy for that, but now you’ve asked we will come up with an approach that’s right for us.”
· No reason why their response couldn’t be 2-lines than a full policy
There isn’t very much paperwork you must have as an employer (contract, health & safety, disciplinary & grievance) and why can’t these be statutory rather than written out in repetitive and laborious detail?
If I was working with a new business I would suggest you need 3 HR things:
1. A contract template for fixed term and permanent roles with all the key contract details included
2. A short employee guide (under 10 pages) with links to GOV and ACAS
3. A spreadsheet with employee details on
That’s it – the rest can develop as you do.
