Employee Handbook vs. HR Policy: What's the Difference and How Do You Create Them?

Understanding the Difference Between an Employee Handbook and HR Policy

I am working in an engineering company, and we have only 40 employees, including contract labor. I would like to know what the difference is between an Employee Handbook and HR Policy. Could you also please send their formats so that I can create them?

Best regards,
pm

Hi there,

Difference Between Human Resources Policy and Employee Handbook

The difference between a Human Resources Policy and an employee handbook is very small. An employee handbook is a “snapshot” of the HR Policy, excluding the Salary Structure, Performance Appraisal Matrix, and details of employees' financial benefits. Otherwise, it contains everything an employee needs to know, such as:

• Attendance Policy
• Dress Code
• Leave Policy (All Types of Leaves, Public Holidays for all types of religions)
• Travel Policy
• Promotions Entitlement Clauses
• Basic Benefits provided to all employees
• Code of Ethics
• Educational Policy
• Pension Fund Policies
• Forms used in the organization by employees to process different requests
• Misconduct Policy

Any policy that will not cause conflicts between grades should be made known to employees.

Regards

HR policy will be a part of the Employee Handbook. The Employee Handbook consists of all information that a new joiner needs to know about the company, including HR policies (recruitment process, performance appraisal process, leave policy, benefits, code of conduct, dress code, etc.). Other information such as a brief note about the Heads of Departments of all departments, current clients and customers of the company, history of the company, etc., is also included in the Employee Handbook, but they do not fall under HR policy.

However, the Employee Handbook primarily consists of HR policies themselves (around 90%).

Thanks,
Peonka