HR Policies: Ensuring Business Efficiency

[Fit Small Business | ]( HR Insights from Our Experts [2023 image]( To ensure that your HR policies are consistent with any new laws or changes in your company structure, review and reevaluation should be done periodically. Reviewing your employee handbook annually is crucial for maintaining your efficiency and preserving your legality. Let’s talk about it! (TLTR) Too long to read? If you’re pressed for time, just check out these articles: [Employee Handbook Guide]( [Maternity Leave Policy & Free Templates]( [Paternity Leave Policy & Free Templates](//link.fitsmallbusiness.com/click/29980128.23217/aHR0cHM6Ly9maXRzbWFsbGJ1c2luZXNzLmNvbS9ob3ctdG8tcGF5LWludGVybmF0aW9uYWwtZW1wbG95ZWVzLw/5da4de6d3f92a45a8360dd30B3cb1a417 [Sexual Harassment Policy + Free Template]( [Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy + Template]( [Employee Attendance Policy + Template]( [Progressive Discipline Policy & Sample]( Work From Home Dress Code: Tips & Template]( [Federal & State Labor Laws Employers Need to Know](   [Image of HR policies & procedures book]( Must-Have HR Policies For Any Business   Strong HR policies are essential components of any successful business. Setting appropriate policies will ensure a clear understanding of all standards and expectations and protect your employees’ rights. Here are the top HR policies that any business should have: - [Workplace Health and Safety Policy]( - [Harassment, Bullying, and Discrimination Policies]( - Code of Conduct - [Leave Policy]( - Drugs and Alcohol Policies - Grievances Policy - Internet and Email Policy - [Discipline and Performance Counseling Policies]( - Privacy Policy - Social Media Policy - [Work-From-Home Policy]( - [Attendance Policy](   [Image of employee handbook]( Top Tips For Reviewing Your Handbook and Policies   An annual review of your HR policies is crucial to ensure that problems are taken care of even before they arise. Many businesses do this by year’s end since legislative changes usually take effect at the start of a new year. However, remember that policies affected by any changes in the law should be reviewed as soon as possible. Here are some tips for your policy review and update: - Review employment trends: Now is also the best time to check what benefits other companies are offering and come up with competitive ones. - Re-evaluate emergency policies and procedures: Revisit your safety procedures for emergencies and ensure you include an escape route, a safe zone, and employees to contact during an emergency. - Consider states where you have employees: Ensure that your policies comply with all the state and local laws where you have employees. - Revisit telecommuting or remote work policies: Consider how employees are tracking their time or establish procedures for maintaining security in the employees’ remote work environment 📌 For your handbook and policy review, you may want to read [our guide on HR compliance](. It also comes with a free compliance audit checklist, perfect for your annual HR planning. [Illustration of employees running uphill]( Conducting an Annual Salary Review   Salary reviews evaluate an employee’s work and performance to determine if their salary should be modified or not. This process considers various factors, including market data, terms of employment, business and individual objectives, and budgetary constraints. It’s usually done annually, after completion of a project, or after an employee promotion. While a pay review is not a legal requirement for employers, many businesses do this as part of their employee motivation and rewards program. Here are our tips: - Plan, plan, plan: Determine your goals and expectations and document the steps of the salary review process. - Review contract terms: Before conducting a salary review with an employee, perform an audit of employee contracts so that you’re aware of any obligations and restrictions on salary adjustments. - Revisit job descriptions: Check if the job descriptions match the level of employee performance. Research market salary data to ensure that you offer competitive salaries that coincide with industry standards. - Calculate budget: The budget will depend on your company size, internal policies, and other factors such as market rates and pay scales. - Conduct the performance review: Evaluate how the employee performs and if they have met the set expectations. 📌 To help give structure to your employee management and review process, you may need [performance review templates](.   HR Payroll Software & Services Spotlight [Image of Compease interface]( If you want to stay competitive by effectively managing compensation, consider using compensation management software. Compease by HR Performance Solutions is our top pick for small businesses needing salary benchmarking and merit compensation management. Read more about Compease and our other recommendations in our [best compensation management software guide](. If you’re only looking for a way to quickly compare salaries, read our [guide to the best salary comparison tools](.   What’s Hot In HR Content This Week Here’s some of our latest (and greatest) HR content [Featured Article]( [Payroll Template - download now]( [What Is Employee Management + Tools & Tips]( The goal of employee management is to help team members achieve their personal goals, thereby contributing to your business’s goals. Proper employee engagement helps keep employees engaged and productive. [Get Our Tips]( [Template of the week]( Your employee handbook covers your company mission, policies and procedures, and everything you need for consistent employee management. Learn how to draft one and download our [free employee handbook template](. [Payroll Template - download now]( [Employee Handbook: Guide for Small Businesses [+Free Sample]](   Our Expert Advice on HR Policy Reviews   [-Juvy Vallescas, HR Staff Writer ] “WAn annual HR review is essential for smooth and efficient business operations. By taking time to evaluate and review your policies and processes, you will save resources in the long run. Use our templates and guides in your HR review. -Juvy Vallescas, HR Staff Writer   Ease into the new year knowing that your HR processes and employees are in check. Conduct a policy audit so you can update HR policies and your employee handbook accordingly. Perform salary and performance reviews to keep your employees motivated and engaged. This way, everyone in your business can welcome the coming year with a bang! Best wishes, Juvy Vallescas   For more quality resources on growing your small business: [Marketing]( | [Financing]( | [Accounting]( | [HR]( | [Retail]( | [Ecommerce]( | [Sales]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [Alternate text] Want to change what you receive in your inbox? [Update Your Preferences]( [Image]   We spend hours researching and writing our articles and strive to provide accurate, up-to-date content. However, our research is meant to aid your own, and we are not acting as licensed professionals. We recommend that you consult with your own lawyer, accountant, or other licensed professional for relevant business decisions. Our business model allows us to bring you the best answers to your questions, without editorial biases or cluttering the site with banner ads that everyone hates. The solutions we recommend to business owners often include products and services. Our expert team of writers make recommendations in our buyer’s guides and reviews based on independent quantitative and qualitative assessments. To maintain editorial independence from our business operations, our writers and editors always have the final say on whether a partner is included anywhere on our site. [Read our editorial policy here](. When a product or service is included in an article or an email, we sometimes earn a fee or a commission from the advertising partner based on readers’ actions. Learn more about [how we make money]( and see a list of [our full list of partners](.   This message was meant for: {EMAIL} Our HQ: Fit Small Business - 355 Lexington Ave, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10017, United States Want to give feedback? Reply to this email! We monitor it daily. This helps us make your subscriber experience better. Want to change the content you're receiving? [Update your preferences](. Want to stop receiving emails all together? [Unsubscribe](.