Performance & employment HR policy templates
Clear, professional templates to manage the employee lifecycle — from probation and performance through to misconduct, training and termination. 100% free, fully editable and aligned with Australian workplace law — no signup required.
Browse templatesThese performance and employment policy templates reflect Australian workplace standards and Fair Work principles at the time of publication. They are a general guide only — adapt each one to your modern award, enterprise agreement and contracts, and seek independent advice for complex performance or termination matters. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
What are performance & employment HR policies?
Performance and employment policies set the framework for managing people across the whole employment lifecycle — probation, goal setting, reviews, capability, misconduct, training and the way employment ends. They give managers a consistent process to follow and give employees a clear standard to be measured against.
The real value is procedural fairness. When a performance management or termination decision is documented and followed step by step, it becomes far more defensible if it is ever challenged — and far less likely to lead to an unfair dismissal claim. Start with probation for new hires, then layer in performance, misconduct and exit policies as your team grows.
Keeping it all current is easier with HR software that stores each policy, sends it to staff for sign-off and tracks acknowledgements in one place.
Free performance & employment policy templates
7 ready-to-edit templates — download instantly, no signup
Capability management policy
A fair framework for managing employees who can't meet standards despite trying — assessment, support, improvement plans and possible outcomes.
Read moreExit management policy
Handles employee departures professionally — resignation handling, exit interviews, knowledge transfer, final pay and return of company property.
Read moreMisconduct policy
Defines misconduct and serious misconduct, then sets out investigation steps, disciplinary action and the right to procedural fairness.
Read morePerformance management policy
The framework for goal setting, feedback, reviews and improvement plans — so performance is managed fairly and consistently across the team.
Read moreProbation policy
Sets the probationary process for new hires — duration, assessment criteria, feedback and outcomes — to help you evaluate new staff fairly.
Read moreTermination of employment policy
Covers how employment can end — resignation, redundancy and dismissal — including notice periods, final entitlements and Fair Work compliance.
Read moreTraining & development policy
Your approach to learning and development — training needs, development opportunities, study assistance and career progression for staff.
Read moreWhat should a performance & employment policy include?
Essential sections for a comprehensive policy
This is why we offer multiple templates — each covers a different stage of the employment lifecycle.
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Performance reviews, PIPs, warning letters, exit interviews and more.
View formsBehaviour & conduct policies
Code of conduct, harassment, social media and respectful workplace.
View templatesLeave & attendance policies
Annual leave, personal leave, flexible work and attendance.
View templatesSafety & compliance policies
WHS, fatigue, first aid, hazard and risk management.
View templatesTechnology & data policies
Acceptable use, email, BYOD, passwords and data protection.
View templatesHelpful guides & resources
Put these policies into practice with our wider HR resources.
Performance & employment policies by industry
Tailored for the Australian industries we serve.
Why these policies matter
Well-defined performance and employment policies create clarity for both managers and employees. Everyone understands the expectations, the process and the consequences — which reduces disputes and supports a productive, engaged workforce.
They also protect your business. Documented, consistently applied policies demonstrate compliance with Fair Work requirements and procedural fairness, giving you a defensible paper trail for performance, capability and termination decisions. For the supporting process, see our employment law guides and the Fair Work Act glossary entry.
Looking for a better way to manage performance?
Set goals, run reviews, digitise HR records and send policies to staff for sign-off — all in one place with the RosterElf HR Hub.
Performance & employment policies FAQ
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At a minimum, most Australian SMEs benefit from a performance management policy, a probation policy for new hires, a misconduct policy for disciplinary matters and a termination policy. Add a capability and training & development policy as your team grows.
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Typically annually, with informal check-ins each quarter, and more frequent reviews during probation. Our performance management policy sets the framework, and the how to conduct a performance review guide walks through the process.
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Yes, but only after a fair process — clear warnings, an opportunity to improve, support and reasonable time. Skipping these steps risks an unfair dismissal claim. Use a performance improvement plan and follow your capability policy.
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Capability is when an employee can’t meet standards despite trying (a skill or ability gap); misconduct is when they won’t meet standards (a behaviour issue). Each needs a different approach — see our capability policy and misconduct policy.
Before you download
General information only — not legal advice
This document is a general HR template provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the latest changes in legislation or apply to every workplace situation. RosterElf Pty Ltd and the template provider accept no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this document. Users should seek independent legal advice and customise the template to ensure it complies with all relevant laws, awards and workplace requirements.