The Small Business Policy Starter Set: What You Need (and What You Don’t)

Policies exist to reduce improvisation. The goal is not a 100-page handbook—it’s a clear baseline that managers can follow consistently.

A practical starter set:

• Anti-discrimination and anti-harassment expectations

• Attendance, scheduling, and timekeeping rules

• Breaks and meal periods guidance (where applicable)

• Pay practices: paydays, wage statements, overtime handling

• Safety and workplace conduct expectations

• Complaint reporting pathway (how employees raise issues)

• Technology and confidentiality basics

What to avoid:

• Overpromising language (“guaranteed hours,” “always approved”)

• Copy-pasting policies you can’t realistically enforce

• Policies that conflict with actual practices

Maintenance cadence:

• Quarterly: check for operational drift (are managers following it?)

• Annually: refresh policies and acknowledgments

• When laws change: update only the relevant sections and retrain

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Disclaimer: Educational information only; consult qualified professionals for jurisdiction-specific requirements.