Employee Handbook (HBEU) - HSBC careers site

such documents to earlier Handbooks, including “Let’s Work Together”, should now be takento refer to this Handbook.About HR Procedures, Policies and other HR DocumentsThe Human Resources Procedures Manual (the "HR Procedures Manual"), which can befound on the bank's intranet site, contains the bank’s principal HR policies and procedures.You can navigate through the HR Procedures Manual by using the A-Z index. At the end ofmost sections of the HR Procedures Manual, there are "contact point" tables, so that youknow who has the expertise to guide you with any specific issues.It is important that you take an opportunity within the first few weeks of your employment withthe bank to familiarise yourself with the format and contents of the HR Procedures Manual.The HR Procedures Manual does not form part of your contract of employment.Other sources of information are specific to certain situations, such as the ‘EmployeeMaternity Guide’ or the ‘Business Instruction Manual - Compliance’ and are referred to in theHR Procedures Manual and can be obtained from your line manager or through the bank'sintranet.Where a matter is referred to in the Handbook and further information is contained in the HRProcedures Manual or other documents, directions to the appropriate document will normallybe provided. Please note, however, that any documents referred to in this Handbook do notform part of your contract of employment (unless otherwise expressly stated) and are notincorporated into your contract of employment by reference.What is the difference between a policy and a procedure?Most of the sources of information are referred to as ‘policies’ and/or ‘procedures’. A policyusually describes the bank’s approach to a certain issue. A procedure usually describes theprocess which the bank will follow in respect of a particular issue. Some subjects will haveboth a policy and a procedure; in other subjects the policy may form part of the procedure.Regardless of whether information on a particular subject is called a ‘policy’, a ‘procedure’ orboth, the key factor is that they set out guidance on how you should act, and how the bankwill act towards you.