6 Must-Have Policies for Every Company (2024)

From the code of conduct to social media in the workplace

by Moritz Homann |Updated: 19.04.2022| 3 min

    6 Must-Have Policies for Every Company (1)

    Internal company policies define how employees should behave in the workplace. They also define what employees can expect from their employer. Which policies are necessary for a company depends strongly on the corporate culture, on the legislative environment and also on the industry. Nevertheless, there are some policies which are must-haves for most companies:

    1) Code of Conduct

    A code of conduct is the basis for many policies because it defines the basic standards of company conduct. Important components of this document are for example corporate values, the protection of corporate property, dealing with corruption and conflicts of interest, but also employees’ personal and professional responsibility. Furthermore, a code of conduct should explicitly state how employees should behave if they observe a violation of the applicable rules and what the consequences of misconduct are.

    2) Policy on Equality

    An equality policy forms the basis of protection against discrimination or harassment in the workplace and helps to promote diversity. The primary objective must be to ensure that the employer does not make decisions that discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, ethnic origin, gender, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation. The introduction of an appropriate policy is a clear commitment by the company and raises awareness among the entire workforce.

    3) Policy on Health and Safety at Work

    It is in every company’s interest to prevent accidents in the workplace and promote the good health of employees. This policy should document the company’s responsibilities and duties to ensure safety in the workplace. The policy should also include any procedures and instructions for work which involves particular risks and conduct in emergency situations.

    4) Policy on the Use of Social Media and the Internet

    These days the definition of what constitutes professional and private use of the internet and social media is a very grey area. All the more reason that every company should introduce a policy to educate employees. In particular, this policy should stipulate what employees may and may not share online and which rules apply to the use of the company’s own IT infrastructure. The policy should aim to strike a balance between the employee’s personal rights and the employer’s interests.

    5) Policy on Data Protection

    At the latest since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force, data protection has been a hot topic in every company. The legal requirements concern both the personal data of employees and customer data. In order to reduce the risk of a data protection violation, every company should introduce a data protection policy. In particular, it should stipulate how the company uses personal data and what measures the company is taking to protect data.

    6) Policy on Working Times, Absences and Holidays

    Companies would be well advised to clarify any possible ambiguities concerning working hours, absences and holidays, thus preventing potential disputes. For example, this policy should state what the minimum and maximum weekly working time is, what the rules are for taking breaks, how working time can be arranged and what should be recorded. The relevant labour law should also govern rules regarding overtime and holiday entitlements.

    Bottom Line

    Companies should always introduce policies based on a company-specific risk assessment. In addition, companies should regularly review whether a new policy is necessary if and when changes occur in the company or within the legislative environment. Careful introduction and communication of policies within the company is vital.

    6 Must-Have Policies for Every Company (2)

    The complete guide to policy management

    How to effectively create, implement and communicate compliance policies and measure the success of your policy program – for everyone who is responsible for Compliance policies in their organization

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    6 Must-Have Policies for Every Company (3)

    Moritz Homann

    Managing Director Corporate Compliance – EQS Group | Moritz Homann is responsible for the department of Corporate Compliance products at EQS Group. In this function, he oversees the strategic development of digital workflow solutions tailored to meet the needs of Compliance Officers around the world.

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    6 Must-Have Policies for Every Company (2024)

    FAQs

    What company policies should every company have? ›

    Equal opportunity policy. Workplace health and safety. Employee code of conduct policy. Attendance, vacation and time-off policies.

    What are policies needed? ›

    Policies are important because they define what is, and is not acceptable in the organization. When created in the right way, they will ensure that all activities undertaken in the organization occur with the simple aim of ensuring the organization achieves its objectives.

    What policies must be included in an employee handbook? ›

    Here are California's required policies:
    • Adult Illiteracy Leave (25 Employees)(School Activity Leave)
    • Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Leave (25 Employees)(School Activity Leave)
    • Bereavement Leave.
    • Business Expense Reimbursem*nt.
    • Civil Service and Air Patrol Leave (15 and 50 Employees)
    • Crime Victim Leave.
    Dec 1, 2022

    What is a key business policy? ›

    A business policy is a formal statement that outlines the rules, regulations, and processes that guide the behavior and decision-making of employees within an organization. It establishes a framework for consistency, ensuring that everyone is on the same page when it comes to key aspects of the business.

    Why are policies important in a company? ›

    Policies and procedures are an essential part of any organization. Together, policies and procedures provide a roadmap for day-to-day operations. They ensure compliance with laws and regulations, give guidance for decision-making, and streamline internal processes.

    What is a key policy for employees? ›

    Developing an effective key control policy for employees is about more than just managing keys; it's about creating a controlled environment where security is paramount, and every key holder plays a vital role in safeguarding the business's assets and facilities.

    What are the three main policies? ›

    The three types of public policies are regulatory, restrictive, and facilitating. An example of a regulatory policy is the Clean Air Act, which regulates greenhouse gas emissions and has a major effect on the automotive industry.

    What is a policy checklist? ›

    Policy Planning / Drafting Process Checklist

    This checklist contains the steps that should be used to plan for a policy, to develop the policy and ensure effective implementation. Identify and clarify the issue that the policy is addressing. Determine if the organization has authority to enact the policy.

    What are acceptable use policies for workplace? ›

    An acceptable use policy (AUP) is a document stipulating constraints and practices that a user must agree to for access to a corporate network, the internet or other resources.

    What is a company policy? ›

    Company policies and procedures are a set of internal guidelines that establish the rules and expectations of your company. They help you communicate to employees what they can and can't do, and how they should do it. Let's start with the basics: Policies: a framework of rules and regulations in your company.

    What policies should not be in employee handbook? ›

    Forget to include any policies you are legally obligated to provide, such as FMLA. Overlook differences in federal, state and local law. Neglect to include information on leaving the company and how resignations, terminations and retirements will be handled.

    What is the 7 keys in business? ›

    Specialized knowledge in organization, finance, marketing, sales, public relations, leadership, personnel, and quality control are all needed to take a business from zero to sixty.

    What are key policies? ›

    A key policy is a resource policy for an AWS KMS key. Key policies are the primary way to control access to KMS keys. Every KMS key must have exactly one key policy. The statements in the key policy determine who has permission to use the KMS key and how they can use it.

    What is an example of a policy? ›

    A smoking policy covers a workplace's rules regarding smoking and tobacco use. Many companies do not allow smoking on their premises. It's important for employees to know where and when they can smoke, if applicable.

    What are the common policy statements? ›

    Some examples of company policy statements, such as policy statement examples, include anti-discrimination policy, code of conduct, social media policy, dress code policy, and attendance policy.

    Which security policies should a company have? ›

    10 information security policies your organization should consider implementing
    • Acceptable use policy. Purpose. ...
    • Network security policy. Purpose. ...
    • Data management policy. Purpose. ...
    • Access control policy. Purpose. ...
    • Password management policy. Purpose. ...
    • Remote access policy. Purpose. ...
    • Vendor management policy. ...
    • Removable media policy.
    Sep 6, 2023

    Can a company have too many policies? ›

    Policies are necessary for so many reasons, especially in the HR area where lawsuits are running rampant. However, you can — and most firms do — have way too many policies.

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