Building Strong Foundations: The HR Documents Every Business Needs
1. Offer Letter & Employment Terms
A verbal “you’re hired” isn’t enough. An offer letter and employment terms document clarify the role, pay, hours, and expectations before day one. This ensures everyone starts off on the same page and reduces misunderstandings down the road.
2. Employee Handbook
Think of the handbook as your company playbook. It covers key policies, culture, and workplace expectations. A well-crafted handbook ensures fairness, reduces liability, and gives employees a go-to resource when questions come up.
3. Orientation Guide
The first days set the tone for an employee’s success. An orientation guide provides structure—introducing new hires to your company values, team, and basic processes. It turns onboarding from a scramble into a confident, repeatable system.
4. Job Descriptions
Clear roles equal clear results. Job descriptions define responsibilities, reporting relationships, and performance expectations. They give employees clarity while helping managers track accountability and identify gaps.
5. Performance Evaluation Forms
Feedback fuels growth. Every business should have tools to evaluate employees fairly and consistently. At minimum, this includes short-term check-ins (like a 14-day and 90-day review for new hires) and an annual review with goal-setting.
6. Progressive Discipline Templates
When issues arise, documentation matters. Progressive discipline templates (verbal warnings, written warnings, and performance improvement plans) ensure problems are addressed fairly, consistently, and with proper records in place to protect your business.
Get In Sync…
HR documents aren’t “red tape”—they’re the guardrails that keep your business running smoothly. By putting these foundational documents in place, you’ll reduce risk, improve communication, and give your people the clarity they need to succeed. At PulseIQ Consulting, we help small businesses create these systems—so you don’t just hire employees, you set them up to thrive.
