HR templates, documents and letters

Find the HR templates you need for your business, whether that's documents, letters or forms – all drafted by CIPD-qualified HR experts.

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HR templatesHR templates

Welcome to our HR templates hub, designed to save you time and ensure your documents are accurate, compliant, and legally sound. Whether you need a well-drafted risk assessment template, a clear and concise redundancy letter, or any other HR-related form, our extensive HR templates library has got you covered. 

Say goodbye to hours spent searching for reliable HR resources or struggling to draft documents from scratch – our Human Resources templates have been crafted by our team of CIPD-qualified experts, so your small business is in good hands.

Find the HR template you need

Employee onboarding checklist

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Employee details form

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Employee time off form

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Return to work interview template

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HR compliance checklist 

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Interview preparation checklist 

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Disciplinary procedure template

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Flexible working request

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Appraisal templates 

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360 review template

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Employee engagement survey

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HR templates for small businesses < 30 team members

Running a business is made of a lot of different aspects – HR being one of them. But unlike the rest, HR makes no room for mistakes. 

HR can be even more challenging for small businesses, where it’s often adjacent to other responsibilities. Without the right knowledge, it’s easy to start feeling unsure about compliance, whether you’re the CEO, founder, or ops manager. 

At Charlie, the early days of our small business were quite stressful as we didn't know which aspect of HR to prioritise. 

That’s why we wanted to share with you our HR templates & documents package for small businesses – put together by our in-house CIPD qualified experts. 

This package is based on the most-common queries our HR advisors get from the small businesses they speak to every day, and which documents they used to solve their problems. It includes:

  • The most important HR templates and documents to get started and be 100% compliant. 
  • The HR documents and templates you will need in the near future once you’ve got the basics covered.  

HR templates – the basics

Making sure you have ready-made templates for your team is crucial when you run a small business. It will allow you to: 

  • Safely keep records saved in a Drive folder, or maybe in a cloud-based software like CharlieHR for added security.
  • Save a great deal of time – instead of using a reactive approach and searching for HR templates on an ad-hoc basis, you’ll have a reliable source to go back to whenever you need it. 
  • Protect yourself from legal complications – avoid legal issues by avoiding free templates from unreliable sources, which may lack important details or contain incorrect wording or information that could lead to bad consequences for your business. 
Employee onboarding checklists

Employee onboarding checklist

One of your first HR tasks will be to onboard your new hires to help you build your company from the ground up. As many studies have shown, it's crucial their onboarding is structured and looks professional. By following this checklist, you'll make new hires feel welcome and ensure you take the first step towards retention.

Download template Employee onboarding checklist
employee details form

Employee details form

On top of collecting passport information or VISA, you also need to have your employee details on file – use this template to collect all the information you need from them.

Download template Employee details form
360 review template

Employee time off form

Team members are entitled to holidays, whether that's from your own policy or from the standard UK allowance – to make sure your business remains operational and you record time off and allowances, you'll need them to send an employee time off form. Download ours for peace of mind. 

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Return to work interview

Return to work interview template

Team members can get sick from time to time, and that's where return to work interviews can be handy – they'll help you catch up with the team member to understand what happened and make sure they have all the support they need to get back to work.

Download template Return to work interview
HR compliance

HR compliance checklist 

Worried about not having the right processes and not being compliant enough? Our HR compliance checklist can support you to make sure you don’t leave any aspect of HR compliance behind. 

Download template HR compliance checklist
Interview preparation checklist

Interview preparation checklist 

Be ready to interview your new hires with our interview preparation checklist. It’s important to come prepared to any interview you’re running, so we’ve shared our own prep list to make it easier. 

Download template Interview preparation checklist 
Disciplinary procedure

Disciplinary procedure template

As part of your disciplinary procedure, you'll need to have a disciplinary procedure outlined if one of your employees misstep. We've put one together to guide you through this complex process, so you have a point of reference if it were to happen.

Download template Disciplinary procedure template
flexible working request

Flexible working request

As part of a 2024 law change, employees are now allowed to request flexible working

Download template Flexible working request

Go further with your HR templates

Once you’ve got the basics in place, it's time to think about where your HR templates and processes can take you next. 

Many employees join startups and small businesses to benefit from quick progression as well as career opportunities they wouldn't get at other companies.

To do this, you’ll need to have clear HR processes in place. We’re here to support you with our HR templates and documents. 

Performance engagement templates

Appraisal templates 

Get your performance management sorted right from the start – this will make your team members feel valued and recognised for the work they do every day, and has a potential to boost your retention. 

Download template Appraisal templates
360 review template

360 review template

It’s great to put performance management in place, but it’s even better if it can come from all sides of your company. By putting together a 360 review process, you guarantee that feedback is not just a one way street at your small business. 

Download template 360 review template
Employee engagement survey template

Employee engagement survey 

It can be difficult to understand how your team members are feeling at work – that’s where running employee engagement surveys may be helpful. Make sure you always keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to your workplace. 

Download template Employee engagement survey 

Excusal from jury service letter

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Garden leave letter template

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Maternity leave letter

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Phased return to work plan example

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Return to work interview template

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Excusal from jury service letter

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Excusal from jury service letter

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An excusal from jury service letter can come in handy if you need one of your team members to be around. Make sure you outline all the important aspects in this template.

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Discover what should be included in the letter

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Learn what professions are automatically exempt from jury duty

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Find out who is responsible for writing a jury duty exemption letter

Garden leave letter template

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Garden leave letter

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A garden leave letter template can be used to communicate with your team member during a dismissal process. This will let them know that you'd like them not to work whilst still paying them. This is usually to make sure the team member doesn't interfere with the company's interests.

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Learn in what circumstances you can use garden leave

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Find out more about the pros and cons of using garden leave

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Download a free letter template to standardise your garden leave process 

Maternity leave letter

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Maternity leave letter

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A maternity leave letter is a formal written communication from an expectant mother to her employer, notifying them of her intention to take time off from work to care for her newborn child. The employer is expected to reply with a ‘confirmation of maternity leave’ letter to approve the parental leave period.

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Learn how the process of requesting and approving maternity leave works

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Find out what regulations you should follow as an employer

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Download two letter templates: one for employees to request maternity and another one to respond to their request

Phased return to work plan example

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Phased return to work plan example

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Returning to work can be daunting after an extended period of absence. That's why it might be a good idea to put together a phased return. This is done with your employee after being ill for an extended period of time, or after coming back from maternity leave.

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Check when to use return to work plans at your business

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Learn how to structure your plan to support your team member and protect your business at the same time

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Save our sample template for when you’ll need to put an employee on a phased return to work plan

Return to work interview template

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Return to work interview

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A return to work interview template is a structured document you can use to conduct a meeting with a team member who is returning to work after a period of absence, to discuss the reasons for the absence and facilitate a smooth transition back into the workplace.

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Find out in what circumstances you should conduct a return to work interview

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Learn about what to ask your team members and how to structure your meeting

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Get a ready-made template you can use every time you conduct return-to-work interviews

Automate your HR, all of it

Charlie helps you banish manual and repetitive HR tasks, so you can focus on what really matters.

Try CharlieHR for free
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Free for 7 days

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No credit card needed   

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Flexible working request 

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Flexible working request 

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Flexible working request

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In line with the new flexible working requests laws of 2024, you should be ready to accommodate requests for employees right after they've been hired. Read our blog post to find out more and download our template.

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Check what your team’s rights are when it comes to flexible working

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Discover what the flexible working requesting/approval process looks like

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Get a simple templates your employees can use to request flexible working adjustments

Automate your HR, all of it

Charlie helps you banish manual and repetitive HR tasks, so you can focus on what really matters.

Try CharlieHR for free
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Free for 7 days

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No credit card needed   

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Cancel any time

Investigation meeting template

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Disciplinary procedure template

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Disciplinary appeal letter

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Written warning template

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Investigation meeting template

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Investigation meeting

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An investigation meeting template outlines the structure and key elements of a meeting held to conduct a formal inquiry into a workplace issue or complaint (for example, as part of a disciplinary process).

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Find out in what circumstances you should have an investigation meeting

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Learn how to structure you meeting to be in line with law requirements

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Download a simple template to have at hand whenever you need

Disciplinary procedure template

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Disciplinary procedure template

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When faced with allegations of employee misconduct, finding the right balance between fairness and consistency, all while ensuring compliance with the law is a challenging task. Find out in this complete guide how this is possible by putting together the right procedure and download a free template.

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Download a free disciplinary procedure template written by HR experts

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Understand all the elements that need to go into your disciplinary procedure

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Find out the challenges that may arise in a small business context and how to tackle them

Disciplinary appeal letter

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Disciplinary appeal letter

A disciplinary appeal is a formal letter used to acknowledge a dispute between an employee and an employer following a disciplinary action. Understand everything you need to know about it from the employer's point of view.

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Download a free disciplinary appeal letter to provide to your team members

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Find out which information needs to be given in a disciplinary appeal letter to make it valid

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Get the right advice to respond to the disciplinary appeal letter

Written warning template

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Written warning template

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Crafting written warning templates for disciplinary actions against employees can be quite challenging, but having a well-designed template can greatly impact the process.

So, how do you get it right? How do you strike the appropriate tone and choose the most effective delivery method? Find out in this blog post.

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Download a written warning template that will protect you against any legal issues and communicate with your team members clearly

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Understand how you will use this written warning template and in which circumstances

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Get advice on how to handle disciplinary issues from HR experts

Automate your HR, all of it

Charlie helps you banish manual and repetitive HR tasks, so you can focus on what really matters.

Try CharlieHR for free
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Free for 7 days

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No credit card needed   

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Cancel any time

Workplace accident report

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Risk assessment templates

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Workplace accident report template

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Work accident report

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A work accident report template is a standardised form used to document and record details about workplace accidents, injuries, or other incidents involving your team members.

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Find out what data you need to record

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Learn how to describe the accident

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Outline the corrective actions to be taken

Risk assessment templates

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Risk assessment templates

Get the home working risk assessment template

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Get the pregnancy risk assessment template

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A risk assessment template is a tool that helps you identify, evaluate and mitigate potential hazards and risks in various processes, activities or environments to make sure your workplace is safe.

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Fully understand the legal requirements, so your company is protected from being taken to court

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Get an overview of common workplace hazards, including when working from home and during pregnancy

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Download two risk assessment templates compiled by qualified HR experts

Automate your HR, all of it

Charlie helps you banish manual and repetitive HR tasks, so you can focus on what really matters.

Try CharlieHR for free
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Free for 7 days

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No credit card needed   

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Cancel any time

Redundancy letter templates

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Letter of dismissal template

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Zero hour contract example

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HR compliance checklist

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Employee details form

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Employee database template

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Redundancy letter templates

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Redundancy letter templates

Get the risk-of-redundancy template

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Get the redundancy notice template

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When faced with allegations of employee misconduct, finding the right balance between fairness and consistency, all while ensuring compliance with the law is a challenging task. Find out in this complete guide how this is possible by putting together the right procedure and download a free template.

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Learn how redundancy letters fit in the wider redundancy process

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Download a free at-risk-of-redundancy letter template written by qualified HR experts

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Get a redundancy notice letter examples to adapt to your company’s context

Letter of dismissal template

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Letter dismissal template

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It can sometimes happen that you need to let go of one of your team members. As difficult as it may be, it's important you get the wording right. Find out what information you need in this template and get some tips from our blog.

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Find out in what circumstances to send a letter of dismissal

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Ensure you know what to include

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Stay on the right side of the law throughout the dismissal process

Zero hour contract example

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Zero hour contract

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A zero-hour contract is an agreement between the employer and the employee where there is no minimum number of hours worked. This gives the employer and employee more flexibility.

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Discover how to comply with employment law while using zero-hour contracts

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Learn how to structure your contract to protect both your company and your team members

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Get a ready-made contract template you can use for all your casual workers

HR compliance checklist

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HR compliance checklist

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An HR compliance checklist is crucial for ensuring adherence to laws and regulations governing employees' rights and employer responsibilities.

If you're a small business owner or founder, managing HR matters is just one among numerous responsibilities, and errors in this domain can lead to significant consequences. Find out more in our guide and download our checklist.

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Download a complete checklist to learn the steps to take to make your business compliant

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Get a basic HR audit completed in a few steps without having to pay for a professional

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Understand which documentation may be missing from your current HR processes

Employee details form

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Employee details form

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Welcoming a new employee to the team is a moment filled with anticipation and excitement.

However, before diving into the exciting prospects ahead, the initial step involves gathering employee details and incorporating them into your payroll system to initiate payment – so how do you do it without wasting any time to get the work done?

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Download a free employee details form to collect your employee’s information

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Find out what information you need to collect from your team members to stay compliant

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Get timelines as to which and when information should be collected

Employee database template

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Employee database template

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A comprehensive employee database is super important for all businesses – these databases, also referred to as HR databases, are available in different format, but perhaps it's worth having a look at this Excel-based solution to simply the process.

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Download a CSV document for your free employee database – no complicated formulas

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Understand what other solutions exist on the market

Automate your HR, all of it

Charlie helps you banish manual and repetitive HR tasks, so you can focus on what really matters.

Try CharlieHR for free
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Free for 7 days

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No credit card needed   

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Cancel any time

Probation review template

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Interview prep checklist

Download template

Group interview questions

Download template

Probation review template

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Probation review template

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A probation review template is a document you can use to assess and provide feedback on an employee's performance during their probationary period, usually to determine whether they meet the required standards for the work they’ve been hired to do.

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Learn how to structure your probation period, from start to finish

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Discover some top tips on how to support new hires during their probation 

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Get a simple template to make your probation process more consistent

Interview prep checklist

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Interview prep checklist

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Maintaining consistency throughout the interview process presents one of its greatest challenges. Ensuring that candidates are evaluated using identical criteria, guaranteeing that each question aligns with the role, eliminating bias, and conducting fair assessments all demand attention to detail and adherence to standardised procedures.

So, how can this be achieved? Through the use of checklists.

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Download a complete interview preparation checklist for free

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Find out what kind of steps you need to take before interview

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Understand what really matters to candidates and to your business

Group interview questions

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Group interview questions

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Group interviews are a great opportunity for you to get to know how your candidate is reacting in a group setting, as well as how quick they are on their feet. Download our group interviews questions and read our blog to find out more about how to make this happen.

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Download a free sample of our best group interview questions

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Understand what you want to find out more from candidates from different perspectives

Employee onboarding checklist

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Employee onboarding checklist

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Employee onboarding checklist

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Onboarding a team member is something you can't do without when you're running a business. To ensure they have all they need to succeed, you'll need to cross some items on your checklist – that's why we've created some helpful ones for you.

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Download a complete onboarding checklist to go through your process for free

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Find out more about each step of the onboarding process so you avoid making any mistake

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Just do a quick check on our page with our clickable lists

360 review template

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360 review template

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360 review template

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360 degree are getting super popular in many workplaces and for good reasons: it's good practice to have as many perspectives as possible when it comes to performance. This ensures fairness and avoid blind spots. Find out how we do it at Charlie and get a free template.

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Download a free template to conduct your 360-degree feedback reviews

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Understand how to put together a 360-degree review process at your business

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Get some of the questions we ask our team members at Charlie

Salary increase letter

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Letter of recommendation

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HR checklist

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Salary increase letter

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Salary increase letter

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A salary increase letter template is a document you can use to let your team member know about a salary increase. It's just a formal way to confirm their payrise and needs to include some vital information.

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Find out in what circumstances in good practice to write a salary increase letter (or email)

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Discover how to structure your letter and what to include

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Download a free template you can adapt to your company context

Letter of recommendation template

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Letter of recommendation template

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Investing in people is important, so when they leave, you need to support them as well. That's where a letter of recommendation comes in handy to make sure you give them a good reference.

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Download a free letter of recommendation template written by our team

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Find out what you can and cannot say in a letter of recommendation

HR checklist

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HR checklist

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Don't be tired of checklists! They're essential to your success. With this one, Charlie has combined all the aspects of HR in one go, so check it out if you don't want to miss out on any item.

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Download a free HR checklist to set up your business for success

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Get more information about each point if you want to go deeper into it

Make your HR effortless