Workplace Practices & Policies Solicitors

Ensuring that you have the right range of HR workplace policies and procedures in place and that they are kept up to date is essential to the smooth running of your business.

At Lupton Fawcett, our team of expert employment law solicitors works closely with our clients to develop policies and procedures that genuinely benefit their businesses and assist employees in understanding their rights, duties and obligations.

To speak to a member of our team about your business’s policies and procedures, contact Lupton Fawcett today by calling 0333 323 5292 or filling out the enquiry form on this page and we will get back to you.

What are workplace policies and procedures?

Having a well-drafted set of HR Policies & Procedures for your organisation will help protect employees and employers alike by defining how the business operates when certain issues arise.

They are a set of documents that articulate your company’s values, culture and systems covering everything from day-to-day operational matters to compliance with employment laws.

What is the purpose of policies and procedures in the workplace?

HR policies and procedures enable a business to manage their staff more fairly and consistently.  They are also there to minimise risk.  

After reading these documents employees should clearly understand how to approach their jobs, and what is and is not expected of them across a broad range of issues that affect harmony, stability and efficiency within the workplace.

People work better, and stay longer, when they know where they stand.  Issues such as social media and mobile phone use, smoking, anti-discrimination and grievance handling can easily become points of contention, and all need to be addressed as part of creating an effective and compliant working environment.

Unless you have clear policy and procedure documents in place, your business may be exposed if situations arise involving health and safety or harassment for example. 

What policies and procedures should a workplace have?

All employers (regardless of size) are required to have disciplinary and grievance procedures in place. For most employers, key HR policies and procedures will include:

• Anti-harassment and bullying
• Disciplinary and grievance
• Absence management
• Equal opportunities
• Annual leave
• Shared parental leave
• Capability and performance
• IT and employee monitoring
• Whistleblowing

Optional HR policies

Other policies, can be extremely beneficial to a business and it’s employees. Examples include:

• Anti-corruption and bribery
• Data protection
• Social media company policies
• Flexible working
• Adverse weather and travel disruption

How do I write a workplace policy?

HR policies need to be carefully drafted in order to ensure that they meet the needs and requirements of your own particular business. This is often best done in conjunction with a solicitor who can advise you of the relevant legal requirements and ensure that the policy is robust, practical and up to date.

What information should a workplace policy include?

A clear workplace policy should contain the following information:

Introduction: A clear indication of who the policy is intended for

Aims: The purpose of the policy and what it aims to achieve

Main body: Sanctions explaining the consequences of certain behaviour or situations

Advice: Explaining what support you can provide to employees

What makes a good workplace policy?

A good policy should follow a structure, communicate its aims well and should be written in a jargon-free manner. As well as this, it is important to consider if the policy fits in the culture of your organisation and whether it is suitable for all employees. 

How do I implement a policy?

When implementing a new policy to current employees, it is important that you introduce the document properly by doing the following:

• Once the document has been finalised, provide each employee with a copy or use other effective means to ensure that the new policy has been brought to the employees’ attention.
• Train managers to ensure that the rules within the policy are being enforced.
• Make the document accessible so it can staff can refer to it at any point. This could be in a communal file or on a shared online document.
• Ensure that the document is reviewed on the agreed date.

Talk to us

We have experienced Workplace Policies and Procedure Solicitors ready to answer your enquiries via email or telephone.

Lupton Fawcett are a leading personal and commercial law firm in Yorkshire with well-established offices of highly experienced solicitors in Leeds, Sheffield and York.

We provide a personalised service, with sector specialists and extensive resources to ensure we are giving you the best solutions to your problems.

Within every area of law, we put your interests first.

Our Employment Law Solicitors act regularly for clients across the United Kingdom including Bradford, Birmingham, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield, York and Nottingham.  We also provide specialist niche legal and commercial services for Irish companies wishing to do business in the UK and legal advice for UK companies trading in the Republic of Ireland.  We can support your needs wherever you live in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

We will always respond promptly, and we will be happy to help.