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Easy Personnel Policies for the Holidays

This holiday season, we at YES! Your Human Resources Solution are all about making things easier. We know that in the span between the raw turkeys “dancing” on the countertop and the sugarplums dancing in our head, our personal lives take over: shopping, travel, shopping, food, family—possibly more shopping. Who really has their mind on the office, never mind on Human Resources policies? Ironically, it’s exactly this time of year that solid HR policies are most needed, especially in a small-business environment. Is Jan allowed to put in for that three-week vacation now? Should Phil be shopping Cyber Monday Deals Week on the office computer? Clear policies will help keep employees on the same page.

To make your job—and your workplace—a little less stressful, take a look at these simple personnel policies you can implement in your office now, before the holidays get too hairy.

Basic Office Rules – A little office etiquette can go a long way, especially toward building a company’s reputation. It’s good to start with the basics to keep employees honest and professional. When are employees expected to be at their workstations? What is the dress code? How long are lunch periods and rest breaks, and when may they be taken?
Leave Time and Absence Notifications – Policy should address paid and unpaid leaves, including vacation, sick, and personal time. What is the procedure to request time off? Who must be told, by what method, and how far in advance of a desired leave? Be sure to sort out scheduled absences well in advance of the winter holidays to ensure the office is adequately staffed.
Computer Use – Are employees allowed to use the computer/internet for personal use? Under what circumstances? Be sure to disclose that employees should have no expectation of privacy when using a company computer. Also list any categories of websites that employees should not be surfing at work. Specify consequences for policy violations.
Starting and Ending Employment – Employees may be less willing to start or end a job during the holiday season, so now is the perfect time to ensure employment and termination policies are in place and current. Review and update the standard offer letter for new hires. Make sure the letter has fields for the employee’s start date, compensation and benefits, and scheduled pay days. Also make sure policy is in place outlining standard reasons for termination, such as substance abuse and sexual harassment.

A little effort at the start can help make the office that much merrier this holiday season! And if you already have updated policies in place that work for your business, now is a good time to remind employees what they are. Now that you have your basic personnel policies in place, how about planning that holiday party…?

For more information on setting effective Human Resources policies for your business, say YES! to Orange County’s premier HR consultants. Visit our website or contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you on the road to continued success!

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