Inconsistent management practices across your business, why you need clear policies and procedures

Disclaimer, policies by themselves won’t make perfect managers but clear polices and processes will ensure you have consistent guidelines in place, outlining your expectations around employee behaviour.  Policies are good foundations to build company culture whilst covering regulations required by employment law.  These policies will provide a framework to manage a particular issue and also give clear oversight of the company’s stance on an issue. 

There are 3 policies that all companies, by law, in the UK need to have in place,

• Dismissal and Disciplinary

• Grievance Policy

• Health and Safety required if you have more than 5 employees.

Some policies will outline statutory processes as set out by UK employment legislation, for example maternity leave, by law all employees must take 2 weeks off after the birth of their baby although the total maternity leave entitlement is 52 weeks.  Whether an employer has a formal maternity policy in place or not the employment rights will still apply.  However, having these policies helps employees understand what their rights are and allows employers to facilitate conversations around pay, holiday entitlement and when holiday will be taken etc.

Flexible working rights have been a big focus in the UK with the statutory entitlement to these rights becoming effective from day one.  Flexible working requests have to be dealt with in a timely fashion, a meeting should take place to discuss the request and if it is declined it must be due to one or more of the 8 reasons as set out in the Employment Rights Act 1996.  An employee also has the right to appeal the decision and there have been cases of employers being taken to a tribunal following a flexible working request decline, often with a discriminatory basis.

Having a social media policy in place can help protect the business by ensuring that employees do not disclose confidential information, post opinions on behalf of the company which is not representative of company views, post photos of the office or other employees without permission and not posting during work time.

Having policies and procedures in place will assist in navigating employment law and rights and helping to avoid making potentially costly decisions.  They will outline best practice in the business, help discipline employees if there is a breach and give managers a clear understanding of managing performance issues

Policies such as harassment and bullying, equality and diversity, leave i.e holidays, parental leave or bereavement are essential. 

However, having policies is one thing, it is vital they are communicated clearly, understood by employees, are easily accessible and are updated.  Policies on harassment need updating as of October 2024, in line with new Government regulation set to protect employees.  Statutory payments, typically  tend to increase in April in line with the new tax year and policies should be updated accordingly.

Not sure what policies you should have?  Need advice on how to implement and manage them?  Contact me for an HR policy review at bev@bdhr.co.uk.