sample policies

THE BOOK OF COMPANY POLICIES
5
How to Use This Report
This Special Report looks at individual company policies: both those that belong in the
company manual, such as “Time Off,” and those that should be distributed only to
your managers and supervisors, such as “Hiring” and “Independent Contractors.” For
each, we discuss the key issues involved, including legal and regulatory concerns,
along with policy considerations and alternatives for you to think about. In many cases,
we also provide one or more samples of actual company policies so that you can see
how other companies are addressing the issue.
Caution: The sample policies published in this report are presented as isolated examples
designed to stimulate your thinking on each issue. They are not intended to be
boilerplate policies that you should automatically photocopy for your company. When
it comes to setting or revising your own policy, we advise you to think through your
goals and the specific experience and needs of your organization. Then consult with a
competent legal adviser before putting them in writing.
If you already have written policies, we suggest that you review them against the
guidelines in this report. If you don’t have policies set down, use these discussions as
a basis for defining your views so that you can communicate them to your people. Ask
yourself the following:
• What do I want to accomplish
• How will a policy help
• How will having no policy hurt
• Of what legal constraints—federal, state and local—must I be aware
• Are there any special circumstances of which I need to be aware
As you consider them, bear in mind two Webster’s definitions of the word “policy”:
1. “Prudence or wisdom in the management of affairs”
2. “A definite course or method of action selected from among
alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and
determine present and future decisions”
Written policies are not only prudent in today’s litigious environment. They also
guide all the members of your organization in following the course of action you deem
best for the good of your company. In short, you can’t afford not to have them.