How Do You Set Up HR Policies and an Office for a Growing Startup with 7 Employees?

Implementing HR Policies in a Growing Startup

A startup with 7 employees plans to expand and wants to implement all HR policies and set up an HR office. I want to know how it will be initiated and what will be required to do. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are one thing I know, and I have a very faint idea about registering them with ESIC and PF. Is that correct? Please help.

Dear Colleague,

It may be a good idea to prepare an Employee Handbook in digital form as per the guidelines given below, which will provide a good kick start:

Employee Handbook Overview

An Employee Handbook is a detailed document that broadly provides insights to the talents on various aspects of the organization as listed below. Before proceeding, ensure that the Employee Handbook is in DIGITAL FORM and not in manual form, as updating, circulation, keeping modifications, and amendments will be easier later. Keep this in your company domain for employee access with password protection, etc., as you know better. Now, what it will contain:

1. The Preface
2. The forward from your Promoters with their photos
3. The forward from your CEO/HR Director or Head
4. History of your Organization
5. Values your organization would like to nurture
6. Mission and Vision
7. Objectives for Business and Society
8. Talent Acquisition Policy
9. Talent Development Policy
10. Performance Management Procedures and Policy
11. Promotion and Career Growth Policy
12. Compensation Policy on Wages and Salary
13. Travel Policy and eligibility levels for reimbursements
14. Mobile Phone Policy
15. Laptop Policy
16. Car Policy
17. Car Hire Policy
18. Housing and Leased Accommodation Policy
19. Working Time and Policy on Permissions
20. Leave Policy and Procedures to be followed
21. Code of Conduct in Workplace and Business-related Conduct
22. Working Days and Holidays Policy
23. Maternity Leave, Gratuity, and Statutory Benefits Policy
24. Food Subsidy or Cafeteria Policy
25. Travel Assistance Policy for Official Purposes
26. Grades and Job Bands
27. Development Centers and Adherence to Development Process
28. Retirement Policy
29. Engagement Vendors, Consultants, and Related Policies
30. Working Conditions at the Workplace
31. List of Misconducts in Work-related Activities
32. Disciplinary Process
33. Grievance Handling Process and Procedures
34. Prevention of Sexual Harassment in Workplace Policies and Procedures
35. Medical Insurance Policies and Procedures
36. Onboarding Procedures and Process
37. Use of Official Properties Policies
38. Rewards and Recognitions Policies
39. Work From Home Policies
40. Exit or Offboarding Process and Policies

You may add many more as per your organization's requirements after forming a small task group to discuss and take it forward. You may give a very simple but attractive name to the Handbook as a BRAND. All the best!