Definitions
Define 'harassment', 'bullying', 'workplace violence', and protected classes so the scope is unambiguous and covers informal and severe conduct.
A written policy reduces legal risk, guides consistent response to incidents, supports safe workplaces, and documents employer commitment to compliance with federal and state law. It helps meet training and recordkeeping obligations and provides a defensible process if administrative agencies or courts review an employer’s handling of complaints.
Employers, HR teams, legal counsel, and managers commonly draft and maintain the policy to meet regulatory and organizational needs.
Maintain version control and evidence of distribution and acknowledgements to demonstrate consistent application and reduce exposure to claims.
Define 'harassment', 'bullying', 'workplace violence', and protected classes so the scope is unambiguous and covers informal and severe conduct.
Specify who and which locations and work-related contexts the policy covers, including remote work, business travel, and employer-sponsored events.
Provide multiple reporting options (manager, HR, hotline, anonymous options) and specify timelines for initial intake and acknowledgement.
Outline steps, investigator independence expectations, evidence collection, interview procedures, and estimated completion timeframe for investigations.
Describe potential corrective actions for substantiated misconduct as well as interim measures to protect complainants during investigations.
State a clear prohibition on retaliation, explain protections available to reporters, and describe consequences for retaliatory conduct.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signer Order | HR then Executive sign-off |
| Authentication | Email link with optional SMS code |
| Acknowledgement | Required checkbox and signed date |
| Retention | Store signed copies in HR system |
Choose a platform that supports secure e-signing, audit trails, and integrations with HR systems to capture acknowledgements.
Ensure the platform supports record exports, retention policies, and compliance features required by applicable regulations.
Employees respond within 14 days.
Report incidents within 24 hours.
Acknowledge receipt within 3 business days.
Aim to complete within 30 days.
Review annually or sooner after incidents.
Create initial policy draft and annexes.
Legal review and risk clearance.
Publish and send for acknowledgements.
Complete employee training and document completion.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day trial | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies | Varies | Varies |