Nobody teaches new managers the HR side of the job. You get the title, the team, and maybe a login to the HR system. Then someone asks a question in an interview they shouldn’t have, a review goes sideways, or an employee says something that should stop you cold, and you’re figuring it out on the fly.
I’ve spent 25+ years in HR leadership, including running HR for an 800-attorney firm. I’ve sat on every side of the table for hiring decisions, review conversations, and disciplinary meetings. I’ve also spent a lot of those years cleaning up after managers who meant well but didn’t know what they didn’t know. This kit is everything I wish every one of them had on day one.
What’s inside: 19 playbooks, scripts, and worksheets
Hiring & Bringing People On
The manager’s legal guardrails, a hiring playbook, interview dos and don’ts (including the questions that get companies sued), an interview scorecard, and a new hire onboarding checklist.
Performance & Growth
A start-to-finish review process, a review conversation script builder, and a SMART goals worksheet.
When Things Go Wrong
Progressive discipline explained, a worksheet for documenting the conversation, and a performance improvement plan (PIP) template.
Know When to Escalate
The words and situations that mean “stop and call HR,” exactly what to say in the moment (and what never to say), an escalation log, and the mistakes that make it worse.
Cover Your Bases
How to document like someone’s watching, a paper trail checklist, and six manager’s HR mantras to keep on your monitor.
Who it’s for
First-time managers, newly promoted leaders, small business owners without an HR department, and experienced managers who want a refresher before the next hard conversation.
The details
28-page printable PDF, 8.5" x 11"
Prints cleanly in color or black and white
Fill it in digitally with any PDF annotator, Adobe Acrobat, or Preview
Instant digital download
A quick note: this kit is educational, not legal advice. Employment law varies by state and country, and your company’s policies and HR team always come first. Use it to know what to watch for and what questions to ask.
For personal use only. Please don’t redistribute or resell.
Nobody teaches new managers the HR side of the job. You get the title, the team, and maybe a login to the HR system. Then someone asks a question in an interview they shouldn’t have, a review goes sideways, or an employee says something that should stop you cold, and you’re figuring it out on the fly.
I’ve spent 25+ years in HR leadership, including running HR for an 800-attorney firm. I’ve sat on every side of the table for hiring decisions, review conversations, and disciplinary meetings. I’ve also spent a lot of those years cleaning up after managers who meant well but didn’t know what they didn’t know. This kit is everything I wish every one of them had on day one.
What’s inside: 19 playbooks, scripts, and worksheets
Hiring & Bringing People On
The manager’s legal guardrails, a hiring playbook, interview dos and don’ts (including the questions that get companies sued), an interview scorecard, and a new hire onboarding checklist.
Performance & Growth
A start-to-finish review process, a review conversation script builder, and a SMART goals worksheet.
When Things Go Wrong
Progressive discipline explained, a worksheet for documenting the conversation, and a performance improvement plan (PIP) template.
Know When to Escalate
The words and situations that mean “stop and call HR,” exactly what to say in the moment (and what never to say), an escalation log, and the mistakes that make it worse.
Cover Your Bases
How to document like someone’s watching, a paper trail checklist, and six manager’s HR mantras to keep on your monitor.
Who it’s for
First-time managers, newly promoted leaders, small business owners without an HR department, and experienced managers who want a refresher before the next hard conversation.
The details
28-page printable PDF, 8.5" x 11"
Prints cleanly in color or black and white
Fill it in digitally with any PDF annotator, Adobe Acrobat, or Preview
Instant digital download
A quick note: this kit is educational, not legal advice. Employment law varies by state and country, and your company’s policies and HR team always come first. Use it to know what to watch for and what questions to ask.
For personal use only. Please don’t redistribute or resell.
