The HR paperwork your trades business needs, ready to use.
You know your craft. HR paperwork is another story. HR Foundations for Trades gives you the handbook, offer letters, job descriptions, PTO and vehicle policies, onboarding checklist and discipline forms that a professional operation runs on, written by an HR pro for crews, job sites and the office that keeps it all moving.
$499 · 15 editable templates · Delivered by email within one business day
You built a good business. The people side runs on handshakes and memory.
Most trades owners never planned to become the HR department. If any of these sound like your shop, this package is for you.
“My new guy showed up Monday and was on a job site by Tuesday. Did we even get his I-9?”
“We’ve talked to him about being late five times. None of it is written down.”
“Our whole policy manual is ‘ask the owner.’”
“I pay a couple of guys as 1099s. I’m honestly not sure that’s right.”
“Everybody asks for the same Friday off and I just figure it out as I go.”
“I had to let someone go and I wasn’t sure what to put in writing.”
Fifteen templates that cover hiring, managing, safety and separating, start to finish.
Every document is an editable Word file with clear blanks to fill in, so you can put your company name on it and start using it this week. A Start Here guide walks you through which documents to put in place first and how to roll them out to your crew.
Employee Handbook Template (Missouri)
A 50-page handbook covering at-will employment, EEO and anti-harassment, accommodations, code of conduct, drug and alcohol, social media, workplace violence, safety, technology, paid time off and Missouri leave laws. Includes the acknowledgment page and complaint and accommodation request forms.
Hourly & Salary Offer Letter Templates
Two offer letters: one for hourly field employees and one for salaried managers and office staff. Pay, overtime, FLSA classification and benefits are all spelled out.
Job Description Template Pack
Four ready-to-edit job descriptions: Field Technician / Installer, Apprentice / Helper, Service Manager / Crew Lead and Office Administrator / Dispatcher.
Independent Contractor vs. Employee Guidance Sheet
A side-by-side look at the factors the IRS and Department of Labor actually use, so you can think through a classification decision before it becomes a problem.
New Hire Onboarding Checklist
Required paperwork, policy acknowledgments, safety orientation, uniforms and PPE, tool inventory and final sign-off, all on one checklist so nothing gets missed in the rush.
PTO & Vacation Policy Template (3 Options)
Choose the model that fits your crew: traditional vacation accrual, a front-loaded annual PTO bank, or a seasonal structure with scheduled shutdowns. Each covers eligibility, caps, requests, holidays and payout.
PTO & Vacation Policy How-To Guide
A plain-English guide to choosing your option, filling in every blank, rolling the policy out and applying it consistently.
Absence Request Form
A one-page PTO, vacation and sick time request with manager approval, so every request is documented the same way.
Vehicle & Equipment Policy
Authorized drivers and MVR consent, personal and take-home use, no-cell-phone driving, GPS tracking disclosure, accidents, fuel cards and equipment care, with an employee acknowledgment.
Workplace Safety Policy Manual
A trades-specific safety manual: OSHA compliance statement, job site rules, PPE, incident, injury and near-miss reporting, toolbox talks, heat illness, ladders and fall protection, emergency procedures and safety discipline. Includes the employee acknowledgment, toolbox talk record and near-miss report forms.
Performance & Accountability Guide & Templates
A simple three-step system with guidance notes for each form: Accountability Conversation, Written Accountability Notice and Final Accountability Agreement.
Progressive Discipline & Written Warning Template Pack
Oral warning, written warning and last-chance documents, each with a guidance note on exactly how to write it so it holds up if a situation escalates.
Progressive Discipline Form
A single, fill-in form for any level of discipline: the issue, the policy violated, the employee’s response, the improvement plan, consequences and signatures.
Employee Termination Letter Template
A separation letter for involuntary terminations or resignations, covering final pay, company property return and next steps.
Vehicle Return Agreement
A separation checklist for company vehicles: condition at return, keys and fuel cards, tools and materials, site access and any outstanding obligations.
Built for the trades, not for a corporate HR department.
- HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, concrete, remodeling and other field service businesses
- Owners with a small crew, or a team that’s growing fast
- Businesses where the owner or office manager handles HR on top of everything else
- Missouri employers who want a handbook that reflects Missouri law
- Anyone ready to stop “figuring it out as we go”
If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.
Clear expectations protect your business and treat your crew fairly. When policies are written down and applied the same way every time, there are fewer arguments, fewer surprises and a lot less guessing when a hard decision comes up.
These templates give you that structure without the cost of building it from scratch.
From checkout to your crew in four steps.
Check out securely
Pay by card or bank transfer through QuickBooks, Ethos HR Consulting’s secure payment system.
Get your documents
Your editable Word templates arrive by email within one business day.
Make them yours
Add your company name, fill in the blanks and choose the options that fit how you run your crew.
Roll out and stay current
Put them to work with your team using the Start Here guide. As the templates are updated during the year, you’ll get the new versions by email.
Mallory Robinson, PHR
Mallory is the founder of Ethos HR Consulting in Kansas City, a PHR-certified HR professional with 8+ years of experience helping growing businesses, including manufacturing, construction and skilled trades companies, build HR that protects the business and supports its people.
“When a business owner has an employee problem at 9:00 a.m., they don’t need theory. They need to know what to do next.”Mallory Robinson, PHR
One-time purchase. 15 editable templates plus a Start Here guide.
- Employee handbook (Missouri)
- Offer letters & job descriptions
- Contractor vs. employee guidance
- Onboarding checklist
- PTO policy (3 options), guide & absence form
- Workplace safety policy manual
- Vehicle & equipment policy
- Accountability & discipline forms
- Termination letter & vehicle return agreement
- Free updates as templates are revised during the year
Before you buy
What format are the documents in?
You’ll receive editable Microsoft Word documents you can open in Word or Google Docs, so you can add your company name and fill in the details.
How do I get the documents after I pay?
Your documents are emailed to the address you enter at checkout within one business day. If you don’t see them, check your spam folder or email mallory@ethoshrconsultingkc.com.
Is the handbook only for Missouri?
The employee handbook is written for Missouri employers and includes Missouri-specific leave laws. The other templates work for most trades businesses, but employment law varies by state. If you operate outside Missouri or change the policy wording, have a local employment attorney look over your changes.
Is this legal advice?
No. These are professionally written HR templates, not legal advice. If you change the wording of a policy, especially around PTO payout, final paycheck timing or contractor classification, we encourage you to have those changes reviewed by a local employment attorney.
Can I get help customizing them?
Yes. If you’d rather have an HR professional set things up with you, reach out to Ethos and we’ll talk through what you need.
Will I get updates?
Yes. As the templates are updated during the year, you’ll receive the new versions by email at the address you used at checkout.
Can I share the templates with another business?
Your purchase is for use within your own company. Please don’t resell or redistribute the templates.
What is your refund policy?
Because these are digital files delivered right away, all sales are final. If something is missing or a file won’t open, email us and we’ll make it right.
HR Foundations for Trades™ provides HR templates and general guidance, not legal advice. Employment laws vary by state and change over time. If you change the wording of any policy, we encourage you to have those changes reviewed by a qualified employment attorney. Questions? Call 816-591-5142 or email mallory@ethoshrconsultingkc.com.
Run a professional operation. Start with the paperwork.
Fifteen editable templates for $499, delivered by email within one business day.