Free Policy and Procedure Templates: Simple Steps to Easier Documentation

Depending on your industry, certain content may be mandatory in policies and procedures. However, in general, the document should serve your organization, not the other way around. Customize your content to support your situation. You may have separate policy and procedure documents or one large document. The following are some of the possible policy topics:

• Basic Sections

  • Document Header:Header information, also called meta information, includes the policy title, policy number, revision dates, publication dates, approver’s signature, and department.
  • Purpose:This explains what the policy is about and the reason for having the policy, such as how it promotes compliance with standards or regulations.
  • Policy Statements:Describe the overall framework for the policy and its intent.
  • Definitions:在你的政策定义术语, especially words and phrases with multiple meanings. Definitions make policies clearer and can be important if the organization ever faces litigation.
  • Table of Contents:Whether your document is published online, made into a PDF, or printed, a table of contents aids users in quickly finding information. Hyperlinked tables of contents are a helpful feature of electronic documents.
  • Policy and Procedures:Details of the policy and procedures may be included in one document.
  • Scope:This describes the individuals, departments, or groups to whom the policy applies. To increase clarity, describe any employees or others to whom it does not apply.
  • Responsibilities:To ensure compliance, specify which roles are responsible for creating documents and reviewing documentation and activities.

• Additional Sections

• Organization Chart:An organization chart can show how departments and individuals relate to one another.
• Dress Code:Discuss what constitutes appropriate dress for your organization.
• Reporting:A reporting policy describes how you store any documents required by policies and procedures.
• Job Descriptions:Define the responsibilities of each position.
• Smoke, Drug, Alcohol, and Weapons-Free:Organizations can specify that smoking and alcohol consumption are prohibited on their premises. They can also prohibit off-premises drug use through drug testing. In addition, they can ban weapons from organization property.
• Cell Phone:Cell phone policies limit the use of employee-owned cell phones to business-related activities.
• Computer and Internet:Computer and internet usage policies describe what activities are permitted on organization-owned assets.
• Social Media:An organization’s social media policy specifies whether or not employees outside certain departments may refer to the organization in their social media activities.
• Attendance:This describes the expectations for employee attendance, work hours, and unexpected absences or lateness.
• Anti-Harassment:Anti-harassment policies help an organization communicate what it deems unacceptable behavior. These policies also outline the consequences when unacceptable behavior can be proven. An important part of anti-harassment policy is a predefined complaint procedure.
• Safety:Safety policies and procedures encourage behaviors that prevent or lessen the chance of accidents and injuries.
• Employee Evaluation:It is crucial to outline the process for employee evaluations and disciplinary procedures before such actions are necessary.
• Diagrams and Drawings:Procedures may be best explained through these tools.
• Records Management:Describe how and where you will store records pertaining to the maintenance of the policy.
• Public Non-Discrimination Statement:该校非歧视政策声明一个器官ization will not tolerate discriminatory treatment on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.
• Governing Policies and Procedures:These are created by an organization’s board of directors as a framework to aid management in making decisions.
• Financial:Financial policies describe how you procure items as well as the approval path for securing items.