Setup of HR dept in Hotel - no policies no procedures are defined

I have recently joined a hotel as an HR professional and need your help in setting up the HR Department. In this hotel, there are no policies or procedures defined. Where should I start with the new setup of HR in the hotel industry?

Dear anonymous friend,

First, state how the hotel is running without HR policies, etc. How was employee pay fixed? How are the payrolls being generated? There must be some set up, even if not well-organized. That set up can be a starting point. Hire one or two experienced personnel and start from existing records - add, amend as required. How big is the setup? Collate all laws relating to your setup. See what documents are mandated to be kept. Make a beginning.

Dear Friend,

To establish the HR department and functions, follow these steps:

1. Create a Service Record for each employee.
2. Create the following departments:
1. Human Resources
2. Accounts
3. Food & Beverage Service
4. Food and Beverage Production (Kitchen)
5. Housekeeping
6. Front Office
7. Others such as Health Club & Recreation, Swimming Pool, etc.
3. Create grades for each department based on designation. For example, in Food & Beverage Service: F & B Manager, Asst. F&B Manager, Restaurant Manager, Asst. Restaurant Manager, Sr. Captain, Captain, Hostess, Stewards, Busboys.
4. To create grades, involve the GM, the F & B Manager, and the Chef.
5. Establish an Employees Leave Policy, Annual Increment Policy, and Assessment parameters.
6. Prepare Appointment Letters and Confirmation Letter Formats, and issue them to existing staff. Formats are available on this site.

By completing the above steps, you will be well on your way to establishing yourself.