Can you please provide a list of the “critical” must have policies that I need in my workplace to ensure compliance, as well as the “best practice” nice to have list?
This is a good question and one the Ai Group is often asked. Basically, there is a short answer and a long one.
The short answer is based on an organisation doing the ‘minimum’ so that they meet the compliance requirements of various workplace legislation.For this approach the following policies should be put in place:
The long answer includes the above plus understanding any further guidelines the business may wish to introduce for its people. Once an organisation has their ‘minimum compliance requirements’ policies in place they can then think about a ‘best practice’ approach to their workplace and what this looks like.
This may include information around relevant modern awards, any enterprise agreements and/or any other factors specific tothe workplace. Another way to think about ‘best practice’ is to ask the question:
“What do we need in place to ensure we establish and/or maintain the desired culture, environment and objectives of the business?”
An answer to the above may include (but is certainly not limited to) policies that address:
In addition, policies need to work together so that employees are clear and understand what behaviour is expected in their day to day working life and when representing the business.
To assist members, the HR Resource Centre has a comprehensive section on developing and implementing policies as well as a comprehensive suite of template policies.The Ai Group also has HR experts ready to help organisations with their people needs. For assistance please call the Workplace Advice Line on 1300 55 66 77.
