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Policy Change Request

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Policy Change Request

Requestor Information

Policy Reference

Policy Identifier:   Current Effective Date:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Requestor Name: represents the operational interests of the department identified above and has determined that the referenced policy requires modification to address operational, regulatory, or compliance concerns;

WHEREAS, Approving Entity: is authorized to approve or reject proposed changes to organizational policies in accordance with established governance procedures;

WHEREAS, the parties seek to document the proposed amendment, the process for evaluation, the allocation of any administrative costs, and the responsibilities for implementation and monitoring of the changed policy.

Scope of Work

The Requestor shall prepare and submit the detailed proposal and the Approving Entity shall conduct review, obtain any necessary stakeholder input, and render a decision in accordance with the timeline set forth below. The detailed activities and deliverables are described in the Scope of Work section.

Proposed Change

Impact Assessment

Implementation Plan & Schedule

Proposed Effective Date:   Expected Completion Date:

Payment Terms (Administrative Costs)

Administrative or implementation charges, if any, associated with processing and implementing this policy change shall be invoiced as set forth below.

Payment Schedule: One-time Installments Charged to cost center

Invoices shall be submitted to the payer listed on record. Failure to dispute an invoice in writing within the payment period constitutes acceptance of the invoice. Late payments shall accrue the late fee set forth above or, if no percentage is specified, interest at the maximum lawful rate.

Term and Termination

This Request shall be effective as of Start Date: and, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section, shall expire on End Date: .

Either party may terminate this Request for convenience by providing written notice at least days prior to the intended termination date. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach if the breaching party fails to cure within 15 days of written notice of such breach.

Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that in connection with the review and implementation of the proposed policy change it may receive Confidential Information. Confidential Information means nonpublic business, technical, employee, financial or other information clearly identified as confidential. Each party shall: (a) hold Confidential Information in strict confidence with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information but no less than reasonable care; (b) not use Confidential Information except to perform its obligations under this Request; and (c) not disclose Confidential Information to any third party except to its employees or permitted advisors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations no less restrictive than those contained herein. Confidentiality obligations shall survive termination of this Request for a period of three (3) years.

Governing Law

This Request shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in that state for resolution of disputes.

Representations and Warranties

Each party represents and warrants that: (a) it has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Request; (b) the person signing this Request is authorized to bind the party on whose behalf the person signs; and (c) performance of the obligations under this Request will not violate any agreement or legal obligation applicable to the party.

Entire Agreement

This Request, including any attachments or exhibits expressly incorporated herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, negotiations and communications, whether written or oral. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Approvals and Additional Instructions

Requesting Party:

By:

Date:

Approving Party:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Policy Change Request Is and When It Applies

A Policy Change Request is an internal document used to propose, approve, and record amendments to an organization’s written policies. It captures the proposed change, rationale, impacted departments, implementation steps, effective date, and required approvals. Organizations use this form to ensure consistent review, document version control, and an auditable decision trail. A clear request reduces ambiguity during adoption and supports compliance reviews, internal audits, and employee notices when a policy alters rights, responsibilities, or operational practices.

Why a Formal Policy Change Request Matters

A formal request standardizes proposal intake, documents stakeholder review, and creates an audit trail usable for internal control and regulatory compliance. It helps demonstrate governance and consistent application of policy changes across business units.

Why a Formal Policy Change Request Matters

Who Typically Prepares and Reviews These Requests

Final approvers are typically executives or a governance committee; the signatory authority should be defined in corporate policy or delegation matrices.

  • HR and People Ops: Drafts changes affecting employee conduct, leave policies, or benefits and coordinates communications and implementation.
  • Compliance and Legal: Reviews legal risk, regulatory impact, and document language to ensure enforceability and regulatory alignment.
  • Department Managers: Assess operational impact, resource needs, and timing for implementation.

Step-by-Step: Submitting a Policy Change Request

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, route, and finalize a Policy Change Request in a compliant and auditable way.

  • 01
    Draft: Complete the form with full proposed text and rationale.
  • 02
    Internal Review: Circulate to legal and compliance for risk assessment.
  • 03
    Stakeholder Approval: Obtain sign-offs from affected department leaders.
  • 04
    Final Authorization: Secure executive or committee approval and set effective date.

Essential Components to Include in Every Request

A complete Policy Change Request contains specific elements that make the change actionable, auditable, and enforceable.

Identifier

Current policy name and internal code to ensure the request updates the correct document and version.

Change Text

Exact language to be added, revised, or removed, provided verbatim and with markup for reviewers.

Business Reason

A clear explanation of the need for the change, including regulatory citations or incident summaries when applicable.

Impact Assessment

Departments, systems, and processes affected plus estimated implementation cost or resource needs.

Implementation Plan

Steps for communication, training, and change management with responsible owners and deadlines.

Signatures

Designated approvers with printed name, title, signature, and date documenting final authorization and accountability.

Required Information and Administrative Metadata

Request ID: Unique internal tracking code
Requester: Name and business email
Department: Affected organizational unit
Change Type: Addition, amendment, or removal
Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY format
Approval Status: Draft, Pending, Approved, Rejected

How to Configure the Online Request Workflow

When digitizing the Policy Change Request, define fields, routing, and notifications to mirror your governance flow.

Field Configuration
Request Title Mandatory text field, max 200 characters
Approvals Route Sequential workflow by role, email notifications
Attachments Allow PDF/DOCX uploads, max 25 MB
Retention Tag Auto-apply retention classification on approval

Where to Send or File the Approved Request

Approved requests should be routed to policy owners, archived centrally, and distributed to impacted teams according to the implementation plan.

  • Policy Owner: Primary custodian files final version in policy repository
  • HR Records: Store employment-impacting changes in personnel files
  • Compliance Archive: Preserve signed request and audit trail for reviews
  • Distribution List: Notify affected staff and managers per communication plan

Digital Signing and Distribution Considerations

Ensure the chosen platform supports retention tagging, export in PDF/A, and secure storage to meet internal and regulatory recordkeeping obligations.

  • Authentication: Email link, SMS code, or stronger methods for higher-risk approvals
  • File Formats: Accept PDF and DOCX; preserve original text for records
  • Integrations: Connect to HRIS, document repository, and workflow systems

Comparing eSignature Options for Policy Change Requests

A basic comparison of cost and capabilities for common eSignature vendors when using digital workflows to approve Policy Change Requests.

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 free trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Timelines and Deadlines to Track

Identify time-sensitive elements such as notice periods, review windows, and scheduled policy rollouts before setting an effective date.

Review Window:

Allow at least 7–14 business days for legal and stakeholder review

Notice Period:

Observe statutory notice requirements when employment terms change

Implementation Lead Time:

Schedule training and communications 10–30 days before effective date

Record Retention Trigger:

Retention period begins on effective date or last revision

Audit Availability:

Ensure signed request and attachments are searchable and exportable

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing a Request

  • Unclear change language that requires later interpretation, which can delay implementation and create inconsistent application across teams.
  • Failing to identify all impacted stakeholders, causing missed approvals or incomplete operational changes at launch.
  • Omitting a clear implementation plan and responsible owners, which often results in partial or failed rollouts.
  • Using informal approval methods without an audit trail, exposing the organization to governance gaps and compliance questions.

Risks and Consequences of an Inadequate Request

Regulatory Exposure: Fines or sanctions for noncompliance
Employment Disputes: Increased litigation risk from poor notice
Operational Disruption: Service interruptions due to incomplete steps
Reputational Harm: Loss of stakeholder trust
Recordkeeping Gaps: Audit failures during reviews
Invalid Approvals: Signatures lacking proper authority

Frequently Asked Questions About Policy Change Requests

Answers to common questions about completing, approving, signing, and storing Policy Change Requests for U.S.-based organizations.


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