Discounted goods for employees policy template

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This Discounted Goods for Employees Policy sets out the arrangements for employees to purchase goods from the organisation at a discounted price. It provides clear rules on eligibility, discount levels, purchase limits, exclusions and responsible use while supporting a consistent and fair approach.

Use this policy to:

  • Explain who can access employee discounts
  • Set clear rules for purchasing discounted goods
  • Define discount levels, limits and exclusions
  • Prevent misuse, resale or unauthorised purchases
  • Ensure discounts are applied consistently and fairly
  • Provide clear arrangements for leavers and changes to eligibility
Discounted goods for employees policy template
2026 Reviewed
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What's included in this template?

This template brings together the key information, sections and considerations you need to create a clear, comprehensive and professional HR document. Preview the document below.

  • Eligibility for employee discounts
  • Discount levels and eligible goods
  • Purchase limits and restrictions
  • Rules on family purchases and resale
  • Misuse, withdrawal and disciplinary action
  • Tax, VAT and record-keeping considerations
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Discounted goods for employees policy

1   Overview

1.1   [Company Name] may provide eligible employees with the opportunity to purchase certain goods supplied by the organisation at a discounted price.

1.2   The purpose of this policy is to explain how the employee discount scheme operates, who may use it, what goods are eligible, the restrictions that apply and the circumstances in which access to the scheme may be withdrawn.

1.3   The employee discount is a discretionary benefit unless expressly stated otherwise in an employee’s contract of employment or another written agreement.

2   Scope

2.1   This policy applies to employees who are eligible to participate in [Company Name]’s employee discount scheme.

2.2   Unless specifically stated otherwise, the scheme does not apply to former employees, contractors, agency workers, customers, suppliers or other third parties.

3   General principles

3.1   Eligibility

3.1.1   Employees are eligible to participate in the scheme once they have [completed their probationary period / completed [X] months’ service / met the other eligibility requirements specified by the organisation].

3.1.2   [Company Name] reserves the right to specify particular eligibility conditions for the scheme. Eligibility requirements will be communicated clearly to employees and applied consistently.

3.1.3   Employees who are absent from work, including employees on family leave, sickness absence or other authorised leave, will normally retain access to the scheme provided they remain employed and otherwise eligible, unless a specific and lawful restriction applies.

3.2   Discount available

3.2.1   Eligible employees may receive a discount of [X%] on eligible goods purchased directly from [Company Name].

The discount applies only to goods that the organisation has identified as eligible under

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£9.99
Specifications
Access 12 months, with updates
Length 4 pages • 1,261 words
Jurisdiction England, Wales, Scotland
Based on UK law, ACAS guidance
Last review 23/09/2026
Next review 23/03/2027
Delivery Instant digital delivery
Formats .doc · .txt · email

What is a discounted goods for employees policy?

Discounted goods for employees policy template preview

Employee discounts can be a useful benefit, particularly where an organisation manufactures or sells goods that employees may wish to purchase for personal use. This policy provides a straightforward framework for offering discounts while protecting the organisation from excessive, inconsistent or inappropriate use of the scheme.

Providing a consistent employee benefit

The policy establishes clear eligibility rules so employees understand when they can access discounted goods and whether any qualifying period or other conditions apply. Clear rules also help managers and those administering purchases apply the benefit consistently.

Setting discount levels and purchase limits

The organisation can define the discount available, which products are included and whether limits apply to the value, quantity or frequency of purchases. This allows the scheme to remain commercially sustainable while still providing a meaningful employee benefit.

Preventing misuse

Employee discounts are intended for legitimate personal purchases and should not normally be used to obtain goods for resale, commercial gain or unauthorised third parties. The policy establishes clear expectations around discount codes, staff accounts, purchase records and the transfer or resale of discounted goods.

Managing tax and financial considerations

The tax treatment of discounted goods can depend on the circumstances, including the price paid and the employer’s cost of providing the goods. The organisation should therefore ensure that its payroll, finance and tax arrangements are considered where required rather than assuming that every employee discount is tax-free.

Handling leavers and misuse

The policy explains when access to the scheme ends and allows the organisation to withdraw or suspend access where there is evidence of misuse. Serious or deliberate misuse may also be dealt with under the organisation’s disciplinary procedure.

Example

An organisation that manufactures and sells home improvement products introduces an employee discount allowing eligible employees to purchase selected products at a reduced price. The organisation sets a maximum discount of 25% and excludes certain promotional, clearance and specially priced products.

An employee wants to purchase several items for their own home. The employee confirms that the goods are for personal use and follows the normal purchasing process. The discount is applied at the point of sale and the transaction is recorded in accordance with the organisation’s normal procedures.

A few months later, the organisation identifies that an employee has been repeatedly purchasing high-value goods using their employee discount and advertising them for resale online. The manager discusses the transactions with HR and the organisation investigates the circumstances rather than automatically assuming that every large purchase represents misuse.

The investigation establishes that the employee has been using the discount to obtain goods for resale. The organisation withdraws access to the discount scheme and considers the matter under its disciplinary procedure in accordance with the seriousness of the conduct and the organisation’s normal procedures.

Implementation guidance

Use these best practice actions, recommended timescales and process stages to understand when and how the Discounted goods for employees policy should be used, helping ensure each step is handled consistently and appropriately documented.

Step Description Responsibility Timing
1 Define which employees are eligible for the discount and establish any qualifying service or employment conditions. HR / Management Before introducing the scheme
2 Set the discount percentage, eligible products, exclusions, purchase limits and any restrictions on family or third-party purchases. Management / Finance / HR Before launch
3 Communicate the policy and purchasing process to eligible employees, including the rules relating to personal use and resale. HR / Management Before or at launch
4 Monitor use of the scheme and address unusual transactions, suspected misuse or breaches consistently and proportionately. Finance / Management / HR Ongoing; review at least annually
5 Review the scheme, discount level, product exclusions and tax treatment and make changes where business or legal requirements change. Management / Finance / HR At least annually / when circumstances change
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Common mistakes

Understand the common mistakes to avoid when using this HR template, helping you reduce risk, prevent unnecessary costs and ensure the process is handled correctly.

  • Allowing employees to use discounts without clear eligibility or purchase rules
  • Failing to define whether discounted goods may be purchased for family members or other people
  • Allowing discounted goods to be routinely purchased for resale
  • Applying different discount rules to employees without a clear and justifiable reason
  • Failing to consider the tax treatment of significant or unusual discounts
  • Allowing former employees to continue using employee-only discounts
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HR considerations

UK employment law and best practice

This template is designed to support the process, but the document should be used alongside the relevant HR procedure and applied to the circumstances of the individual case.

Employee discounts and tax

HMRC recognises arrangements where employers allow employees to purchase goods from the employer at a discount. The tax treatment depends on the circumstances. In particular, where the employee pays less than the employer’s cost of providing the goods, a taxable benefit may arise. Employers should therefore consider the relevant tax treatment rather than assuming that an employee discount is automatically exempt.

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim21704

Discounts and employment income

HMRC guidance explains that a discount on goods bought from an employer will not generally count as earnings simply because a discount has been given, but a charge can arise in certain circumstances, including where the amount paid is less than the relevant value or cost of the goods.

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim01090

VAT treatment

Where goods are sold to employees at a discount, VAT treatment should be considered based on the actual transaction and the applicable VAT rules. For a basic discount, VAT is generally calculated on the discounted price.

https://www.gov.uk/charge-reclaim-record-vat/vat-on-discounts-and-gifts

Equality and fair treatment

Employee benefits and workplace arrangements must be operated consistently and without unlawful discrimination. Employers should consider whether eligibility requirements, exclusions or different levels of access could disadvantage employees because of a protected characteristic and, where relevant, whether any such arrangement can be objectively justified.

https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-and-the-law

https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-and-the-law/indirect-discrimination

Consistent application

Clear eligibility criteria and purchasing rules help reduce the risk of inconsistent treatment. Managers and employees responsible for administering the scheme should apply the same rules consistently and should refer unusual or exceptional requests to the appropriate manager or HR rather than making informal exceptions.

https://www.acas.org.uk/improving-equality-diversity-and-inclusion/making-your-workplace-inclusive

Misuse and disciplinary action

Where an employee deliberately breaches the rules, for example by using a discount for unauthorised resale or deliberately circumventing purchase limits, the organisation may consider withdrawing access to the scheme and, where appropriate, dealing with the conduct under its disciplinary procedure. Any disciplinary action should follow the organisation’s normal fair procedure.

https://www.acas.org.uk/acas-code-of-practice-on-disciplinary-and-grievance-procedures

Record keeping

The organisation should maintain appropriate records of employee discount transactions where necessary to administer the scheme, monitor limits, investigate suspected misuse and meet financial, tax or accounting requirements. Personal information should be handled in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/data-protection-principles-a-guide-to-the-data-protection-principles/

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FAQs

Who should be eligible for an employee discount?

The organisation should define its eligibility rules clearly. This might include all employees, employees who have completed a qualifying period, or particular categories of worker. Whatever approach is adopted should be applied consistently and reviewed for any equality implications.

Can employees use their discount to buy goods for family members?

This is a decision for the organisation. The policy should clearly state whether purchases for immediate family or members of the employee’s household are permitted and whether any limits apply. If permitted, the goods should not normally be purchased for resale or commercial purposes.

Can an employee sell goods bought using their discount?

Employee discounts should normally be intended for personal use unless the organisation expressly permits otherwise. The policy can prohibit resale and commercial use where the organisation wants to protect the scheme from misuse.

Can the organisation change or withdraw the discount?

Yes, unless the benefit has been incorporated into the employee’s contractual terms or another legal restriction applies. The organisation should communicate significant changes clearly and should take appropriate advice where there is any question about contractual entitlement.

Are employee discounts taxable?

Not necessarily. The tax treatment depends on the circumstances, including the price paid and the employer’s cost of providing the goods. Finance or payroll should check the treatment where the discount could create a taxable benefit.

Why use HRDocBox rather than AI?

HRDocBox policies provide a structured starting point designed around UK employment practice and legislation. They save time by bringing the key practical considerations together while allowing employers to adapt the policy to their own benefits, products and internal procedures.

How this content is developed and reviewed

The Discounted goods for employees policy template is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates and supporting information are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.

About the author

Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director

Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.

He has extensive practical experience of managing pay and benefits HR processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.

HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.

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