For issues such as discrimination … and virtually anything else that’s compliance-related … leave the HR policy writing to the experts.
If you read yesterday’s Advisor article on “unconscious discrimination,” it may have raised the same question in your mind as it did in ours.
Assuming that recent social research is correct—that managers of good will can and do discriminate against some groups without even being aware of it—then what’s the solution?
We took that question to our editors. Their answer: Put policies in place that managers have to follow and that are written so as to preclude discrimination.
OK, we replied. But if managers are unaware that they’re discriminating, then how can they be expected to write policies against actions they don’t know that they’re taking?
The rejoinder was simple. “Use prewritten policies, drafted by experts.”
Why write your own HR policies? We’ve done more than 350 for you, covering every key HR area … for under $1 each, in BLR’s SmartPolicies on CD-ROM. Try it free for 30 days! Click here.
The editors made a good point. With all you’ve got to do and be aware of, do you really have the time to think through comprehensive policies on critical, often compliance-related issues? For most HR managers, the answer would be No.
Fortunately, there are a number of good prewritten policy programs on the market. BLR’s is called SmartPolicies on CD-ROM. It includes some 350 policies on virtually every phase of HR including, of course, EEO/Affirmative Action.
To see what professional policy writers could do, we checked out the program’s EEO policy. We found that:
–It included 29 paragraphs and nearly 2,000 words, and indicated compliance with nine different laws. It then went on to spell out in detail how to achieve that compliance.
— The writers had thought through virtually every situation in which discrimination could occur and every indication of discrimination, including many that wouldn’t normally come to mind. One example: photos of employees in help-wanted or other ads showing company personnel. The policy required diversity in these illustrations, lest a subtle signal be given to potential applicants that only one race or group was desired.
–It fully spelled out who was responsible for ensuring EEO compliance and what channels were available to handle complaints or disputes.
In short, it went light-years beyond what most managers could create on a do-it-yourself basis. And it was only one of some 350 such policies that cover virtually every aspect of human resource management. (You can view a complete list by clicking the “Download table of contents” link below.)
Whether you decide to use SmartPolicies (and you can inspect it at no cost for up to 30 days) or one of its counterparts on the market, look for these features in any such program.
To inspect SmartPolicies on CD-ROM for 30 days at no cost and no risk, Click here.
–Time-Tested. You do not want a program of policies written yesterday. Why? Errors and omissions show up over time, as the policy is tested in actual workplace situations. SmartPolicies is developed from our Encyclopedia of Prewritten Personnel Policies, which has been successfully used for decades and is updated quarterly.
–Complete. SmartPolicies has more than 350 prewritten documents, covering virtually every essential employment topic. Topics are alphabetically arranged within categories for easy access.
–Customizable. The CD format makes this possible. Just insert your company’s specifics and print out.
–Versioned. A prewritten program should offer different versions of its policies to fit your management style. BLR has “strict,” “standard,” and “progressive” policies. Choose the one that best matches your company’s mind-set.
–Updated. SmartPolicies sends quarterly updates, addressing new policy concerns, on approval for as long as you stay with the program.
Because policies that exist in isolation tend to be ignored, a good reference will also tutor you on building a policy program, including how to build consensus, integrate policies with existing documents such as employee handbooks, and set up a review process to keep your policies viable and relevant. This tutorial is included in SmartPolicies.
As mentioned, you can examine SmartPolicies for up to 30 days at no cost or risk. Click the link below, and we’ll be happy to arrange it.
Download product sample
Download table of contents
The HR Policy Shortcut:
Why spend your time and effort writing HR policies when we’ve already done more than 350 for you, covering virtually every critical, compliance-related area, in BLR’s best-selling SmartPolicies on CD-ROM. Every policy is expertly written and legally reviewed. Customizable or use as is. Less than $1 a policy! Try it for 30 days. Read more.