Employee Handbooks

Employee Handbooks help keep business owners and employees “on the same page.”

Employee handbooks are critical in protecting your business and keeping you out of trouble with your employees! Up-to-date policies and procedures can help set the tone for the workplace, ensure you are in compliance with various HR laws, and help your business to grow.

In the most basic sense, an employee handbook is a compilation of the company’s policies, procedures, expectations, and obligations. It explains your expectations of your employees, and also what your employees can expect from you and the company.

A handbook generally lays out company policies on things ranging from leave to discrimination. It explains procedures for employee complaints, reporting harassment, or employee discipline. It also clarifies your obligations as the employer, and the employee’s legal rights. Every employer should have an employee handbook.

What should your employee handbook include?

·      At-will disclaimer

·      Discrimination, retaliation, and harassment policies

·      Employee complaint procedures

·      Employee discipline

·      Timekeeping and overtime policies

·      Standards of conduct

·      Non-disclosure agreements and Conflict of interest statements

·      Employee benefits

·      Leave policies

·      Workplace safety and security

Employee handbooks are important to create uniformity within the company. It helps keep all your employees on the same page, following the same set of rules. New employees are able to set their expectations in regard to leave, compensation, benefits, performance, attendance, holidays, training, and more.

A handbook can also save time. Documented policies and procedures save your managers from repeatedly explaining the same information to new employees and can help administration teams run more efficiently.  Human Resources and managers can use your employee handbook as a guide or reference manual.

A handbook can help ensure compliance with federal and state laws. It communicates the rights and obligations of employees and demonstrates how your company strives to be compliant with these federal or state regulations. Handbooks should be updated regularly to ensure it is reflective of the applicable law and the company’s mission. 

A handbook is also a critical element of a legal defense in a harassment or discrimination claim. By laying out your policies on discrimination and harassment, and your procedures for reporting any instances of mistreatment, you are building legal protections for yourself. A thorough handbook shows that you exercised “reasonable care” towards your employees, and the employee’s signature on the handbook shows that they had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the procedures, ask questions, and knew whom they could turn to for help.

An excellent employee handbook puts the employer and employees on the same page. It lays out expectations and builds protections for both the company and the employees.

To create a new Employee Handbook for your business, or to schedule a review of your current handbook, contact Employer-Lawyer at (801) 874-4964.