Hello Libby:
Establish policy as well as develop a concurrent HR Policy Manual?
That's a tall order--even for an experienced HR Consultant.
Let me see if I can assist in working through this in a way that will be both relevant and time-horizon beneficial to you.
I'm assuming we're discussing a small company that has never had a set of mandated, written Policies and Procedures?
There are a variety of ways to go about this. Let's pick the simplest.
Step 1, I'd think, is to get the owner/operator of the business to define what he/she feels are the most important rules/guidelines currently existing within the business. Make a list. Develop your thoughts as to how to best implement those guidelines in writing, in a legal, ethical, and moral way.
There are then a multitude of sources online that offer sample Employee Manuals listing HR Policies and Procedures. I'd certainly avail myself of the opportunity to download a basic template format for the Manual, upon which you will expound and extend based on the guidelines given by upper management. Don't just download and modify...be sure the guidelines meet the mandates. Use a template as a guide..not as a be-all, end-all source.
Given the set of conditions I've listed above, I'd probably attempt to reconstruct those policies and procedures applicable to the business, with changes as mandated by management.
Step 2. Present the HR Policy Manual to Management to assure top level buy-in to the Policies and Procedures, and then set the Policies into an acceptable format for distribution. Make sure you thoroughly review each one as to legal applicability for the region/location where you are located; laws change from location to location.
Step 3. Develop your manual along 10 or 12 basic functions of HR management. Be certain that the writtten guidelines mirror the functions as outlined by upper management.
I hope this is helpful. As I read back over it, I'm beginning to wonder if I should go into more detail, but if you need more detail, feel free to email me directly and I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Alan Guinn, Managing Director
The Guinn Consultancy Group, Inc.