It was no surprise that throughout the lifespan of Code2040, when we sought answers to HR or People challenges, we found that “best practices” all prioritized the company--minimizing risk, protecting profit, eliminating variables. Best practices for companies are not meant to support workers, least of all Black and Brown workers. As we sought policy solutions when normal workplace issues arose, we were guided by the question: What might HR and People policies look like if they were made by and for us?

Operating under the belief that it is possible to create a better work environment by giving more flexibility, more benefits, and more trust to workers; we created the following policies. Each policy has background info on the problem it was designed to solve, how you might consider implementing it, and the policy template itself. Should you choose to use one of these, we suggest that you run it by your organization’s attorney. Good luck!