Why the new year is the best time to refresh your HR policies
The New Year always has a certain energy to it and is naturally a time when people pause and reflect on their personal and professional lives.
As a business owner, it’s a great time to take a moment, look over your HR policies and give them a bit of a refresh. Here’s why:
Keeping up with employment changes - The new year is a common time for employment law changes to come into effect, so by reviewing policies, you can ensure you are compliant. The nation is waiting to hear what changes the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) will bring in April 2026, so make sure you factor in time to review these policies when the Act comes in.
January inspires change - As we already mentioned, January inspires people to set goals and re-evaluate work habits, meaning it’s a good time to reiterate your standards and expectations, reintroduce policies and provide clarity on company values and workplace culture. A reminder that when you change your policies in line with any new legislation, you will need to inform your employees of these changes.
A policy refresh supports engagement and trust - updates to policies help employees feel secure and valued
It sets HR teams up for the year ahead - starting the year with clear, updated policies reduces confusion and reactive admin later.
The big question is now, where do you start? Which policies are a priority to review? If you or your HR team are unsure where to begin, you should consider focusing on the following:
Absence and sickness policies, including wellbeing support
Hybrid/remote working policies, especially if your model has evolved
Performance management frameworks to align with new year goals
Equality, diversity and inclusion policies, ensuring they reflect current best practice
AI and technology usage policies, a rapidly changing area for most workplaces
Disciplinary and grievance procedures, ensuring clarity and legal compliance.
Once we know what parts of the ERB are going to be effective from April 2026, you may need to update some other policies too. Refreshing your HR policies at the start of the year sets your business and employees up for success all year long.
If you’d like guidance on where to start or how to update your policies, our experts are here to help.