{"product_id":"hr-operations-binder","title":"HR Operations Binder","description":"\u003cp\u003eA done-for-you starter HR system, the binder a seasoned HR manager would build in their first week, handed to you ready to use. Eleven files organized around the employee lifecycle give a small business the structure to hire, onboard, keep records, track time and PTO, document changes, and offboard cleanly, without buying HR software or hiring a dedicated HR person.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEleven files organized by the employee lifecycle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA Start Here Guide is the front of the binder, and the rest run left to right from hire to offboard.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart Here Guide and Index and Contents.\u003c\/strong\u003e The front of the binder: what you bought, how the pieces fit, a fifteen-minute setup, and a map to every file.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHiring and Offer Pack and Candidate Tracker.\u003c\/strong\u003e A consistent process from offer through the first week, with a Candidate Tracker in Excel to run the pipeline.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOnboarding and New Hire Pack.\u003c\/strong\u003e A repeatable first-week onboarding process for every new hire.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEmployee Records System.\u003c\/strong\u003e An Excel system for a complete, organized file per person, built around keeping the right records separate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePTO and Leave Tracker and PTO Request Form.\u003c\/strong\u003e Simple logs and a request form for attendance, hours, and time off.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEmployee Change Forms.\u003c\/strong\u003e A clear paper trail for pay, role, schedule, and status changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eManager Documentation and Scripts.\u003c\/strong\u003e Manager scripts and documentation forms that keep performance and conduct records fact-based.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOffboarding Pack.\u003c\/strong\u003e A checklist that closes the file cleanly whether someone resigns or is let go.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to set it up in about fifteen minutes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePersonalize once, list your people, then start a file for the first one or two.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePersonalize once with Find and Replace.\u003c\/strong\u003e Replace the business-wide placeholders one time, for example the company name, state, owner, and contact email, so you do not retype them in every file.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eList your team and start a file.\u003c\/strong\u003e Add everyone to the master roster, then set up the records files for your first one or two people using the file structure and move their existing paperwork in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep a clean master.\u003c\/strong\u003e Leave the originals untouched and work from a copy, so a single mistake never costs you the template, then bookmark the sections you will use most.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBuilt on real practice and honest about its limits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis gives a small business the structure it has been missing; every template is a starting point, not a finished legal document.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStructure and process, not software.\u003c\/strong\u003e You own the files, edit them to fit, reuse them as often as you need, and nothing expires.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecords done the right way.\u003c\/strong\u003e The system keeps the right files separate and points you to keeping records for the right length of time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA starting point, not a ruling.\u003c\/strong\u003e Before you rely on anything that touches hiring, pay, leave, discipline, termination, or classification, have a licensed employment attorney or HR professional in your state review it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYours to keep and rebrand.\u003c\/strong\u003e The documents open in Word, Google Docs, and Pages, the trackers in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, and LibreOffice, with no account required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it is built for and where to go if that is not you\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA small business owner who just hired employee number two, three, or four and realizes there is no system.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn office manager or operator who got handed HR on top of everything else.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA first-time HR admin who needs a credible starting point and a way to look organized from day one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you are looking for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn employee handbook and the foundation policies. The Small Business HR Policy Starter Pack covers those.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe deeper manager playbook, scripts, and one-on-one system. The People Manager Toolkit goes further there.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBefore you buy\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat format is it and can I edit it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEditable Word documents and Excel trackers, organized into the eleven numbered files. Everything is yours to keep and edit, with no software or account required.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this legal advice?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. It is practical guidance and general information, not legal or tax advice. Employment rules differ by federal, state, and local jurisdiction and change over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a subscription?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. It is a one-time purchase and nothing expires. Because employment rules change, treat the binder as a living system and re-check the date-sensitive items, especially retention periods and anything state-specific, each year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this enough if I already have an HR platform?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you already have a full HR team and an HR platform, this binder is below your level. It is built for a company running HR out of an inbox, sticky notes, and memory.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the refund policy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDigital products are covered by a 14-day money-back guarantee. See the refund policy for the full terms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat happens after I buy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCheckout delivers an instant download link, and a receipt with the same link arrives by email. Open the Start Here Guide first; it sets up the binder in about fifteen minutes. If a file gives you trouble, email support@truestephr.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePractical guidance and general information, not legal or tax advice. Every template is a starting point, not a finished legal document, so before you rely on anything that touches hiring, pay, leave, discipline, termination, or classification, have a licensed employment attorney or HR professional in your state review it. Last reviewed June 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TrueStep HR","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52641504100628,"sku":"TSHR-043","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1013\/9048\/3732\/files\/TSHR-043__hr-operations-binder-hero.jpg?v=1780979020","url":"https:\/\/shop.truestephr.com\/products\/hr-operations-binder","provider":"TrueStep HR","version":"1.0","type":"link"}