- You do not need an 80-page handbook.
- About a dozen core policies cover most small businesses.
- Plain English beats legal boilerplate every time.
When a small business calls us about “sorting out HR”, they often expect to be sold a giant handbook. They rarely need one. For a team of around a dozen people, a focused set of policies does the job — and gets read, which an 80-page tome never does.
The core set
- Disciplinary & grievance (ACAS-aligned)
- Sickness absence & pay
- Holiday & other leave
- Equality, diversity & inclusion
- Health & safety statement
- Data protection & privacy
- IT, email & social media
- Flexible working
- Family leave
- Whistleblowing
That is most businesses covered. Add sector-specific policies (lone working, safeguarding, food safety) only where they actually apply.
Write it like a human
The test for any policy is simple: can a busy manager find the answer in under a minute and understand it without a lawyer? If not, it will be ignored at exactly the moment it matters.
A policy nobody reads is not protection. It is paperwork.
Keep it current
Employment law moves every year. A short annual review keeps your library compliant without a full rebuild. We offer that as a low-cost retainer, or you can diarise it yourself.
Want the minimum viable set for your business, written in plain English? That’s our HR foundations service →