Sample Personnel Policy Manual A Starting Point for Your Employment Policies

By Richard Nugent, Jan Gartner

Two people talking over a desk with a book and papers.

This Sample Personnel Policy Manual (Word) is intended to assist Unitarian Universalist congregations and other UUA-related organizations in creating a Personnel Manual for the first time, or updating their current Personnel Manual. The last significant review and revision took place in 2020; light edits were made in 2026.

Important Notes

  • These sample policies are grounded in a commitment to social and economic justice. However, there is no one-size-fits-all.
  • The UUA does not mandate any particular policy or procedure. Each congregation must decide for itself whether to have a manual and what content to include.
  • Congregations using this Sample Manual must make appropriate modifications to comply with applicable state or local laws, and the facts and circumstances of the congregation. Your final manual should be reviewed by an attorney or other professional familiar with state and local employment laws.
  • If you have personnel policies in place, it is critical to follow them.