HR diligence template

HR Due Diligence Data Room Checklist

Everything the people workstream reviews: contracts, incentives, compliance and the key-person risks that shape retention planning.

Spreadsheet preview

Folder index rows

01 Organisation / 01.01 Org chart and headcount
02 Key People / 02.01 Senior terms
03 Compensation / 03.01 Pay and bonus
03 Compensation / 03.02 Equity incentives
04 Benefits / 04.01 Pensions and insurance
05 Compliance / 05.01 Policies and disputes
06 Contingent Workforce / 06.01 Contractors

Use case

People workstream in M&A or investment diligence

Download the CSV, open it in Excel or Google Sheets, customise the rows, then upload the finished index to Data Room Builder. The columns are intentionally simple: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Notes.

Level 1Level 2Level 3Notes
01 Organisation01.01 Org chart and headcountFTE by team, location, tenure
02 Key People02.01 Senior termsService agreements, notice, restrictive covenants
03 Compensation03.01 Pay and bonusSalary bands, bonus schemes, benchmarking
03 Compensation03.02 Equity incentivesOption plans, grants, leaver treatment
04 Benefits04.01 Pensions and insuranceSchemes, funding position, obligations
05 Compliance05.01 Policies and disputesHandbook, grievances, tribunal history
06 Contingent Workforce06.01 ContractorsAgreements and classification analysis
07 Retention07.01 Deal impactChange-of-control triggers and retention plans

Implementation tips

  • Reconcile headcount to payroll, not the HRIS — diligence counts people who get paid.
  • Leaver treatment under the option plan drives deal mechanics; surface it early.
  • Keep tribunal/grievance detail in a restricted folder with clean-team access.

FAQs

What HR issues most often delay signing?

Change-of-control triggers in senior contracts and unfunded pension obligations.

Are contractor files HR or tax?

Both — contracts sit here, while quantified misclassification exposure lives with tax.