Understanding the Difference: How Do Standing Orders and Standard Operating Procedures Differ?

Hi,

Please help with the difference between a standing order and standard operating procedures. How can we distinguish between them?

Regards,
Anueha

Hi,

Standing Orders are a statutory requirement wherein the organization has 100 or more workmen (in some States 50). Also, Standing Orders are applicable to 'workmen' (as defined under the ID Act). Therefore, they are not applicable to the Supervisory/Executive Cadre.

On the other hand, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) apply to 'all' and encompass not only employee-related aspects but also administrative procedures and protocols such as receiving mails/telephone calls, office/filing maintenance, guidelines for receiving guests/visitors, signatory authority, interview board composition, training eligibility criteria, and induction procedures, among others.

Hi Anu,

I agree with Kumarvss regarding Standing Orders versus Standard Operating Procedures.

Standing orders define the conditions of recruitment, discharge, disciplinary action, holidays, leave, etc., and play a significant role in minimizing friction between management and workers in industrial undertakings.

On the other hand, standard operating procedures are a set of instructions with the force of a directive, covering operational features that can be standardized without compromising effectiveness.

Best regards,

Basant

Good topic raised.

As defined earlier by some gentlemen, a Standing Order is an act called the "Employment Act" as defined by the law. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) defines the process of how you perform a task in a particular way. It describes the procedure step by step. You can consider the instructions as SOPs. On some machines, you may have seen instructions on how to operate the particular machine, etc. That's called an SOP. You can design numerous SOPs depending on your process requirements and different activities. However, you cannot design a Standing Order on your own.

Regards, Abhijit

Dear Anueha,

Thank you for bringing up this topic.

Standing Order is a standard that needs to be met (mandatory kinds).

Standard Operating Procedure is the standards that are defined to function. I completely agree with Abhijit's explanation.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) are defined by the management to ensure that the employees understand the way the company works. The standard operating procedure is a handbook of the workflow in an organization. The workflow may change when the company changes a few policies or ways of work (because the company wants to always improve the way they work). The SOP will help the employees know the way the work is done and their contribution.

Most companies have still not designed a Standard Operating Procedure because of the complexities of their process. The experts in the process will set up a path to make sure that every other person in the company is aware of the best possible way to get things done. You can also say that the SOP is the fashion of work.

SOP's will be defined only after making sure that every loophole of the process is covered in a procedure. The SOP will be the minimal required function; however, if a person wants to excel - then they will have to exceed what is expected of the Standard Operating Procedure.

Thanks,

Varun

Dear Friend,

Here is your model draft Standing Orders; it may help you and others. Please go through the attachment Word file.

Regards,
PBS KUMAR

Hi Anu,

Standing order is mandatory and is governed by the act. The Model Standing Order book is available at law book publishers. You can purchase the same and modify it according to your company's needs.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a set of procedures that the company should adhere to in all its activities. Similar to a quality manual prepared by the quality department outlining procedures, flowcharts, and formats, you can also develop procedures, policies, HR manuals, HR formats, flowcharts, etc., and assign names to them. Start by listing your company policies and then proceed to design procedures and so forth.

Regards,
R. Devarajan

Dear Anusha,

SOPs are more voluntary and help us in creating a system that works automatically. ISOs are helping us in this regard. On the other hand, SOs are more of a statutory obligation under enactments that regulate employment regulations and discipline.

With regards,

Manjunatha PG

Bangalore

9986724900

22258593

Dear Anueha,

The Industrial Employment Standing Order Act, 1946 applies to every industrial establishment where 100 or more workers are working or have worked in the preceding 1 year.

The object is to require employers to define with sufficient precision the conditions of employment under them and to make the said conditions known to workmen employed by them.

The certifying officer appointed by the Government (Central/State) is responsible to make sure that it is fair and reasonable.

The following items to be covered are for your reference:

- Classification of workers (Permanent/Temporary, etc.)
- Manner of intimating to workmen about periods of work, paydays, and wage rates, etc.
- Attendance and late coming
- Procedure for applying leave
- Requirement to enter the premises by certain gates and liability to search
- Termination of employment and notice thereof to be given
- Suspension/Dismissal for misconduct
- Grievance redressal mechanism

Certified copies to be displayed at the gate where the majority of employees enter. Except agreement to the contrary, the SOs can't be changed within 6 months.

About Standard Operating Procedures, Mr. Varun (Hyderabad) has described it very well.

Regards,

Santosh

Can I please have SOPs for the HR & Admin policies necessary for a Group managing educational institutions, including higher secondary schools, arts & science college, and an engineering college?

Thanks. 🙂
HR - Team

Dear Friends & Respected Seniors,

I am working on an SOP. To start with, I have worked on the Receptionist profile, and I have to create a PowerPoint presentation. Therefore, I am adding the PPT for your reference, as this is a common task for many people.

Please do reply with any comments or suggestions.

Thanks & Regards,

Deepesh Surana
9819807325
deepesh_surana@yahoo.co.in