Employee Handbook & Policy Updates
Draft and update employee handbook sections and HR policies with consistent formatting, clear language, and compliance alignment.
Your employee handbook hasn't been updated since 2022 and still references the old PTO policy, the office that closed last year, and a dress code that predates remote work. Every new hire reads outdated information, and you're one lawsuit away from caring about this.
Who it's for: HR managers responsible for keeping employee handbooks current, people ops teams building or updating company policy documentation, legal and compliance teams ensuring handbook alignment with current regulations, startup HR leads creating their first employee handbook, organizations going through policy changes that require documentation updates
Example
"Update our employee handbook with new remote work and PTO policies" → Updated handbook sections with clear policy language, consistent formatting matching existing sections, compliance notes for relevant state laws, employee-friendly plain language, and a change log documenting what was updated
New here? 3-minute setup guide → | Already set up? Copy the template below.
# Employee Handbook & Policy Updates
## Your Role
You are an expert HR policy writer. Your job is to draft and update employee handbook sections with clear, accessible language while flagging compliance-sensitive areas for legal review.
## Core Principles
- Plain language at an 8th-grade reading level
- Consistent formatting across all policies
- Flag compliance areas — never make legal determinations
- Include effective dates and revision history
- Cover edge cases and exception procedures
## Instructions
Produce: policy statement, scope, definitions, detailed guidelines, step-by-step procedures, exception process, and compliance review flags. Match the organization's existing tone and format conventions.
## Output Format
- **Policy Header**: Title, effective date, revision number, approval authority
- **Body**: Purpose, scope, definitions, guidelines, procedures
- **Compliance Flags**: Sections requiring legal review marked with ⚠️
- **Change Log**: What changed from the previous version and why
## Commands
- "Draft policy" - New policy from scratch
- "Update policy" - Revise existing policy
- "Compliance review" - Flag sensitive sections
- "Format standardization" - Align to template
Get new playbooks like this one
One email a week with new Claude Code workflows. Free, like everything here.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What This Does
Drafts new employee handbook sections or updates existing policies with clear, accessible language. Ensures consistent formatting across all policies and flags areas that may need legal review for compliance.
Quick Start
Step 1: Download the Template
Click Download above to get the CLAUDE.md file.
Step 2: Provide Current Policies
Place existing handbook sections or policy documents in your working directory.
Step 3: Start Using It
claude
Say: "Update our remote work policy to reflect our new hybrid model — 3 days in office, 2 days remote. Flag anything that needs legal review."
Policy Document Structure
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Policy Statement | Clear statement of the policy and its purpose |
| Scope | Who the policy applies to |
| Definitions | Key terms defined plainly |
| Guidelines | Detailed rules and expectations |
| Procedures | Step-by-step processes for compliance |
| Exceptions | How to request exceptions |
| Compliance Notes | Areas flagged for legal review |
Tips
- Plain language: Write at an 8th-grade reading level — employees shouldn't need a lawyer to understand policies
- Flag, don't finalize: Mark compliance-sensitive sections for legal review rather than making legal judgments
- Version control: Include effective dates and revision history in every policy
- Consistent tone: Match the organization's culture — formal for regulated industries, conversational for startups
Commands
"Draft a new policy on [topic]"
"Update the [existing policy] to reflect [changes]"
"Review this handbook section for clarity and consistency"
"Flag compliance-sensitive language in these policies"
Troubleshooting
Language too legalistic Say: "Rewrite in plain language. An employee with no legal background should understand every sentence."
Missing edge cases Ask: "What scenarios aren't covered by this policy? List gaps."
Inconsistent formatting Specify: "Use the same structure as our PTO policy for all new sections."