A Policy is a set of principles, rules, and guidelines formulated or adopted by an organization.

A Procedure is a plan for the specific methods employed to express policies in action in day-to-day operations of the organization.

Do you have a policy and Procedures manual?   Do you review and update it yearly?

Policies and procedures must be documented in writing for several reasons, including the necessity to defend an action, a behavior, or a practice before an arbitration body. A P&P manual for your program provides the constancy necessary to deliver services in an efficient and logical manner. Memos and oral tradition are insufficient vehicles to disseminate policies and procedures. A P&P manual exists to answer the what and how of operations. It also meets one of the structural requirements of a quality improvement process.

Is a P&P manual a must? Absolutely! The legal and regulatory climate alone has changed so rapidly during the last decade that a host of new policy areas have emerged. The most recent and perhaps most dramatic requirements relate to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which removes environmental, political and social barriers to individuals with disabilities. Are you prepared to comply with this welcome law and corresponding regulations? A P&P manual is designed to equip both employer and employees with a means to ensure compliance with all relevant rules and regulations.

How does a Company Policy differ from an Employee Manual?

A company policy manual houses ALL company policies and procedures.  It is not necessarily shown to all employees and is mainly used in overall company governance, legal protection,  and compliance.

An employee manual houses all policies and procedures an employee needs to know.  Every employee must have one and must sign off that they have reviewed and understand it.

Here are a few policy tips:

Policies should always be in writing.

They should be reviewed every 2 years. 

They may require a legal review.

Check for any updates in federal or state laws, or regulatory rules such as HIPAA

Address any emerging trends such as social media policies, etc.

Different P & P manuals include:

General Policy & Procedure Manual

Employee Manual

Compliance Plan

Disaster Plan

HIPAA Policy

OSHA Policy