Do You Know Why An Employee Handbook Is So Important?
Every business needs a well written employee handbook. It is a vital communication tool that every employee must be given. Your company’s employee handbook needs to be a top priority.
Employee handbooks are a simple and straightforward manual that outlines the company’s policies, procedures, rules, and regulations. The goal of an employee handbook is to create fair and consistent guidelines that apply equally to all employees in your workplace.
It should be given to everyone who works for you and they should receive adequate time to read and understand it. Then they need to sign that they received it and agreed to it. When everything about the company and the job is clearly outlined, documented, printed, and signed it can help to:
- Motivate employees
- Protect company against common employment lawsuits
- Comply with any and all laws
There are no cookie cutter templates or perfect recipes for an employee handbook. These manuals must be customized specifically for your business. These are some of the topics that you’ll want to include:
- Introduction
- Culture, mission, and values
- Orientation/onboarding
- Disciplinary actions
- Job roles
- Employment expectations
- Pay and benefits
- Drug and alcohol policies
- Performance goals
- Standards of conduct
- Appearance
- Work schedules
- Media relations
- Safety and security concerns
- Raises and promotions
When writing or updating your employee handbook, work as a team to cover every aspect and topic. Consult your legal team to make sure everything is properly detailed and that you are protected. No matter what size company you work at, an employee manual is a must-have item.
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