• Subject, reach and exclusions

  What the policy is about and why, who it covers, and what it does not cover with a pointer to the policy that does.

• The rules in plain words

  Five rows for rules, plus a blank for what is not acceptable, described so nobody has to guess.

• What to do and who is responsible

  Step-by-step instructions, who to ask, and each role's part: everyone, managers and the policy owner.

• Approvals, exceptions and reporting

  Who approves, who may make an exception and how it is recorded, and how and to whom to report, with a promise not to treat honest reporters worse.

• Records, training, breaches and review

  What records are kept and for how long, how people are told and trained, what happens if it is not followed, and review dates.

A workplace policy is a general frame for a rule about one subject, such as attendance, expenses, use of vehicles, drugs and alcohol, social media or anything else an employer wants to write down. It sets out what the policy is about and why, who it applies to, the rules, what is not allowed, what to do, who is responsible, approvals and exceptions, reporting, records, training and review.

This blank form is completed by the employer and issued to staff. It does not contain any subject's rules for you: you write them in plainly, based on what you actually want and the law that applies to your workplace. Some subjects are regulated and need particular content, so ask a lawyer before you rely on a policy for one of them.

Not sure? Talk to an attorney about your situation first.

These are separate documents, for different jobs.

• Employee handbooksThe policies and expectations for your staff, in one place.View document
• Remote-work policiesSet the rules for staff working away from the office.View document
• Harassment PolicySet out your workplace's rules against harassment.View document
• Employment-policy reviewHave a lawyer check your workplace policies.View document

• A company writes a policy on company vehicles
• A team sets rules on expenses and approvals
• An organisation records an exception and who approved it

• Employment agreementsSet out pay, role and terms for an employee.View document
• Offer lettersMake a job offer in writing, with its key terms.View document
• Employee handbooksThe policies and expectations for your staff, in one place.View document
• Remote-work policiesSet the rules for staff working away from the office.View document