HR Policy Starter Pack
Build an employee handbook for your small team with foundation policies, an at-will statement, and key rules that carry real legal weight. Adapt the template to your workplace with guidance from the Field Guide.
These previews show pages from the files you receive.
Small business HR system
HR Operations Binder
Organize employee records, forms, and everyday HR work in one binder. Twenty-two files cover the employee lifecycle, including eleven editable Word and Excel tools.
Start with the free HR Operating System Readiness Scorecard. Twelve questions show which part of your HR setup to build next.
$79
- One-time purchase. Editable files.
- Your download link appears on the confirmation screen and in your receipt. No account needed.
- Request a full refund within 30 days with one email.
- Licensed for one company's internal HR use. Resale and redistribution are not permitted. Read the license.
Checkout takes place on our store at shop.truestephr.com. Any applicable sales tax appears at checkout before you pay. These files provide general HR information, not legal advice.
Need approval first?
Ready to put your tool to work?
Add a one hour Setup Session, $149
Bring your purchased tool and the situation you are working through. A TrueStep HR practitioner will help you set the inputs, make the first decisions, and identify a practical next step.
See the Setup Session →Where to start
Set up your first employee file using the four-file structure in the Employee Records System.
In about fifteen minutes, you can have the first employee file set up and a structure for organizing the rest.
DecisionPrepare for an audit
IndustryCross-industry
Files11 PDF guides, 8 Word documents, 3 Excel workbooks
ReviewRead our published standard for how we develop our tools, and what we cover for their scope and limits.
Fit
Is this the right fit for your work?
A good fit
- An organized HR system covering the employee lifecycle, from hiring through offboarding.
- You want editable Word and Excel files that stay with your organization.
- You or a manager will run the process and want a clear sequence to follow.
When to consider another option
- For advice about one person's specific circumstances, consult qualified counsel.
- For rules specific to one state or city, consult the applicable local requirements. This tool is not written for any one state.
- For help running the process, explore our advisory services.
What is inside
Files in the download, grouped by name.
Taken from the kit’s own Start Here guide, so what you see here is what you open after checkout.
In the kitPTO and Leave Tracker and PTO Request Form: the PTO request form, an accrual and balance tracker, and a simple leave log for the whole team.
In the kitEmployee Change Forms and Manager Documentation and Scripts: status, pay, role, and schedule change forms, plus coaching notes, verbal and written warning forms, a performance review template, and word-for-word scripts for hard conversations.
In the kitOffboarding Pack and Index and Contents: resignation and termination checklists, a final-pay and property-return checklist, and the index that lists every file in the binder.
Full file list, 22 files
- PDFStart Here: a guide to every file and the order to use them.
- PDFStart Here Guide: an overview of the binder and instructions for setting it up in fifteen minutes.
- PDFQuick Reference
- PDFOnboarding and New Hire Pack: first-day and first-week checklists, new-hire information form, equipment and access list, and acknowledgment forms.
- PDFPTO Request Form
- PDFEmployee Change Forms
- PDFManager Documentation and Scripts
- PDFOffboarding Pack
- PDFIndex and Contents
- ExcelCandidate Tracker: keeps every candidate in a hiring round organized in one place.
- ExcelEmployee Records System: the employee file index, the four-file structure (general, I-9, medical, investigations), and the records retention quick reference.
- ExcelPTO and Leave Tracker
- PDFTrueStep HR Product License: what you may and may not do with your purchased files.
- PDFUsing This Workbook in Google Sheets: how to upload the file and what to check afterward.
- WordHiring and Offer Pack
- WordStart Here Guide
- WordOnboarding and New Hire Pack
- WordPTO Request Form
- WordEmployee Change Forms
- WordManager Documentation and Scripts
- WordOffboarding Pack
- WordIndex and Contents
How to use it
Your first 15 minutes
Begin with the Start Here Guide. The six steps take you through employee records, onboarding, time off, manager documentation, and offboarding.
Open the Start Here Guide first. It explains what is included, how the files fit together, and how to set up the binder in about fifteen minutes.
Set up employee records. Open the Employee Records System and build one file per person on the four-file structure: general, I-9, medical, and investigations.
Prepare for your next hire with the Onboarding and New Hire Pack. It includes first-day and first-week checklists, the new-hire information form, and acknowledgment forms.
Track time off. Use the PTO and Leave Tracker for accruals and balances, and the PTO Request Form for every request.
Document changes and conversations. Use the Employee Change Forms for pay, role, schedule, and status changes, and the Manager Documentation and Scripts for coaching notes, warnings, and reviews.
Complete the offboarding process with the Offboarding Pack, including resignation and termination checklists, final pay, and property return.
Before you buy
Questions about your purchase
Find details about file formats, delivery, licensing, and refunds.
What exactly do I receive?
11 PDF guides, 8 Word documents, 3 Excel workbooks, each one named in the What is inside section above. The purchase is a download, not a subscription.
Are these the real screenshots?
Yes. The first image shows the file set, and the second and third show actual pages from the current download.
Can I use the files in my business?
Yes. You can edit and brand the Word documents, fill in the Excel workbooks, and read or print the PDF guides for your own internal operations.
What if I need help applying it?
For help implementing this tool, book a one hour Setup Session for $149. For broader HR support, advisory begins with a short request and a written scope at truestephr.com/pages/advisory. For legal questions, consult qualified counsel.
How do I get the files?
Right after payment, your download link appears on the confirmation screen and again in your email receipt. All files arrive as one ZIP. No account is needed.
What do I need to open them?
You can use Word and Excel, LibreOffice on a computer, or Google Docs and Google Sheets in a browser. The alternatives are free. Any PDF reader opens the guides. See download help.
What if it is not right for us?
Email support@truestephr.com within 30 days for a full refund. No form or explanation is required. The full terms are in the refund policy.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is general HR information and a working method. It is not written to any one state unless the page says so. Where a decision turns on the law, use qualified counsel. See what we cover, and what we do not.
Who may use the files?
One license covers the internal HR work of one legal entity. You may edit the files, brand them, and issue them to your employees. Consultants and groups with several entities need the extended license. See the license.
Extend the system
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