9.3.0.2: Written Human Resource Management Policies for Small Family Child Care Homes

Small family child care homes should have written human resource management policies to guide hiring, training, assessment, and compensation of staff.¹ Employers should review policies with staff upon hiring and apply the policies equally to all staff members. Programs should review the policies annually and update as needed. 
These policies should address the following: 

• Appropriate wage scales, including cost-of-living/merit increases and overtime pay
• Affordable health insurance and staff health appraisals 
• Social Security or other retirement plan 
• Workers’ compensation
• Paid and unpaid time-off (vacation; sick time; personal leave; holidays; family, parental, and medical leave; etc.)
• Breaks during the work day (such as mealtimes) as required by state labor laws
• Hiring and orientation policies (including training of new/substitute staff)
• Annual performance reviews
• Educational benefits, including professional development expectations
• Employment probation period
• Disciplinary actions, including grounds for termination and grievance procedures 
• Staff illness exclusion policies
• Other policies that may apply, as required by state child care licensing regulations, Head Start Program Performance Standards, or school district policies

RATIONALE

Written human resource management policies offer protection to employers and staff; the policies are legally required, and they establish a transparent working environment. The policies provide employers with structure and guidelines for better management of day-to-day operations, avoid potential problems, and encourage staff retention. Policies help ensure fair treatment of staff and can support a safe, healthy working environment. These policies clarify shared expectations between a program and its staff, and therefore contribute to staff’s consistent quality of performance. Written policies should be part of staff orientation and performance evaluation essential to the operation of early care and education programs. Policies should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and other applicable requirements (e.g., Head Start Program Performance Standards).²

COMMENTS

Early care and education programs of all sizes are encouraged to share selected human resource management policies with families to foster effective communication and shared expectations, particularly those that may result in an interruption to the regularly scheduled programming (e.g., professional development or in-service days).

See the related standards listed below for a better understanding of why it is important for employers to have written human resource management policies. For example, Standard 1.8.1.1 Basic Benefits for Staff outlines why employers should provide benefits, such as affordable health insurance, sick leave, and education benefits.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Early Head Start, Head Start, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

1.4.2.1 Initial Orientation of All Staff
1.4.2.3 Orientation Topics
1.4.4.1 Continuing Education for Directors and Caregivers/Teachers in Centers and Large Family Child Care Homes
1.4.4.2 Continuing Education for Small Family Child Care Home Caregivers/Teachers
1.4.5.3 Training on Occupational Risk Related to Handling Body Fluids
1.5.0.1 Employment of Substitutes
1.5.0.2 Orientation of Substitutes
1.7.0.1 Pre-Employment and Ongoing Adult Health Appraisals, Including Immunization
1.8.1.1 Basic Benefits for Staff
1.8.2.1 Staff Familiarity with Facility Policies, Plans and Procedures
1.8.2.2 Annual Staff Competency Evaluation
1.8.2.3 Staff Corrective Improvement Plan
1.8.2.4 Observation of Staff
1.8.2.5 Handling Official Complaints About Early Care and Education Staff
3.6.1.2 Staff Exclusion for Illness
9.2.3.2 Policy Development for Care of Children and Staff Who Are Ill

REFERENCES

1. Human resource policies. Inc.com Web site. Updated July 6, 2021. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/human-resource-policies.html

2. How to develop and implement a new company policy. SHRM.org Web site. Accessed September 8, 2021. https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/how-to-guides/pages/howtodevelopandimplementanewcompanypolicy.aspx

NOTES

Content in the standard was modified on 02/04/2022.