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Employment, Labour Relations, & Human Resources

Employment Policies

Everything you need to know about getting Employment Policies over Goodlawyer.

What are Employment Policies?
Pricing and Scope
What is the Process?
Why does my business need these documents?
Frequently Asked Questions
Book your Employment Policies

What are Employment Policies?

Your Employment Policies (sometimes called Workplace Policies) are critical documents for your company and it’s imperative that they abide employment laws. They outline your company’s general relationship with employees and contractors, and are tightly related to your Employment Agreements and Independent Contractor Agreements. Employment Policies are always unique to the business and include sections ranging from employee conduct to sick days to the company mission.

Business owners use Employment Policies to set the expectations for new employees, summarize their most common administrative procedures, and strengthen their position in the event an employee needs to be terminated or tries to sue their employer. Good Lawyers can draft Employment Policies that are strong enough to stand up in court and don’t violate any local or industry-specific employment regulations.

Pricing and scope

Starting at $1,760 + Tax

Included

Project kick-off call to gather information, advise you, and answer questions
One customized set of Employment Policies
One round of minor revisions if necessary

Not Included

More than one set of Employment Policies
Additional work or questions following the delivery of the Employment Policies
Major revisions or rewriting of the Employment Policies throughout, or after the project

Your lawyer may recommend different or additional services, including a custom quote. Your approval for any additional work is always required and you will never be billed for services you didn't agree to.

What is the process?

Book a call. Pick a time to discuss your Employment Policies with a Good Lawyer.
Design your Policies. Help your lawyer understand the situation and the goals of your Policies. Your lawyer will determine what wording and clauses you need in your Employment Policies and draft something tailored to your business.
Receive your Policies. You will receive a digital copy of the Employment Policies, ready to be shared with employees.

Why get Employment Policies?

Standardize your onboarding.

Setting up solid Employment Policies will enable your business to get new employees up to speed faster, with clear answers to their most pressing questions about their new position.

Protect your business.

Clear Employment Policies help avoid conflicts with employees by clearly outlining expectations and consequences for conduct unbecoming. If a conflict should occur anyway, Employment Policies can be critical in achieving a favorable outcome for you in court.

Save time and money.

Well-written policies can significantly reduce the amount a business spends on Employment Agreements by standardizing several sections. They can also serve as a “FAQ” document for employees which reduces their dependency on upper management to answer questions relating to things like payday, benefits, and holiday time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Goodlawyer Service Fee work?

Because we believe in transparent pricing, we make our best effort to be upfront about additional fees and how they are calculated.

Visit the Goodlawyer Service Fees page for a detailed explanation.

If I have Employment Policies, do I still need Employment Agreements?

Yes, you do. Employment Policies include the rules and information that apply to all employees and contractors. Employment Agreements cover more specific information that relates to a single employment relationship between the company and a single employee. They complement and cross-reference each other heavily and it is standard to have both. Your lawyer will not be able to edit one without having the other available to reference.

Can I have Employment Agreements without Employment Policies?

Yes. Often, a company’s first few hires are done before drafting proper Employment Policies. Many of the terms found in Employment Policies are often found in Employment Agreements as well, but having standardized Policies that your Employment Agreements can point to will save your company time and money by shortening the length of your Employment Agreements and having consistent answers for your employees regarding their employment. If you’re starting to grow your team, it’s probably a good idea to get your Employment Policies drafted.

What policies should I include?

Your lawyer will help you select policies that will be most useful to your business. Generally, these policies relate to employee conduct, compensation, procedures for travel, expenses, benefits, communication, sick days, termination, resignation, use of equipment and facilities, and an overview of the company’s mission and values. Other policies that are often but not always used include confidentiality, working from home, substance abuse, performance reviews, overtime and lunchtime, dress code, customer interactions, health plans, discrimination, intellectual property assignments, and harassment.

What if I have an existing Policy already?

If you’d like to revise your existing set of Employment Policies, consider booking a Contract Revision for $45 per page. Your lawyer will review your Policies and needs, advise you on your requested changes, and revise your agreement according to your discussion. If your Policies require extensive revisions, you might be better off starting from scratch with a fully tailored set of Employment Policies. Your lawyer will help you figure out what’s best for you, and will always clarify any additional costs for your approval.

Can I use a template from the internet?

Templates can be a good starting point, but they present some serious risks to business owners. They’re generally not specific to your jurisdiction or industry, which means they might be violating certain laws that you actually need to be following. Modifying a template you found without a lawyer can pose the same risk — there’s no point in having Employment Policies if they’re unclear, unspecific, and possibly break the law. If you’ve got a template you want to evaluate, consider booking a Contract Review with an Employment Lawyer on Goodlawyer. Note that you will likely need a lawyer familiar with your local employment laws.

What if I need more than one set of Employment Policies?

This service will only cover the creation of a single set of Employment Policies (one document). If additional sets of Employment Policies are needed, you can talk to your Lawyer about drafting multiple Employment Policies. Sometimes it is more efficient to produce multiple letters and a discount is possible, but that is situational and Goodlawyer can’t guarantee any kind of bulk discount.

What file format will the Employment Policies be in?

Employment Policies are generally delivered as a PDF so that they can be easily shared, printed, and signed. They can also be delivered as a Word document. If that’s something you’re interested in, make sure you mention it to your lawyer.

Do I need a lawyer in my province?

Generally, yes, you should work with a local lawyer when drafting your Employment Policies. If you book an out-of-province lawyer that determines you need someone with local expertise, they will let you know and Goodlawyer can set you up with a local lawyer ready to help.

"Amazing and high-value experience... such a refreshing way to experience using a lawyer. I cannot recommend Goodlawyer enough."

Paul, January 2021 — 5-Star Google Review

Get clear, concise, and law-abiding policies drafted.

Book Employment Policies

Your lawyer will assess your situation and make sure this is the correct service for your needs.