No matter what size company you own or lead, an employee handbook is always a good idea. Everyone benefits from fewer misunderstanding and clear expectations. With a handbook, employees know exactly what they can and cannot do, and management has clear guidelines to follow for managing staff. In addition, employee handbooks can help your company avoid lawsuits by clearly stating company procedures.

Here are a few tips for creating an employee handbook for your company:

• Include a Statement of Company Culture. An introduction of the company, its history, mission, and values can create a culture statement to help new employees begin to assimilate into the company
• Keep the language simple and direct. Using legal terms and twenty-five dollar words could be confusing to employees.
• Cover the basics. Include the company’s compliance with discrimination laws, what constitutes full- or part-time employment, how and when employees are paid, and where employees are to park. Include employee background screening policies. Consider including standards of conduct, any dress code requirements, where to address complaints, how disciplinary action is handled, and vacation, family leave, and sick leave policies.
• Beyond the basics: Be sure to cover your company’s cell phone policy. Are staff members allowed to accept personal calls during working hours? What about when driving company vehicles?
• What are the company’s policies on company vehicles? How will you cover military leave? Violence or sexual harassment? Drug and alcohol use? What about staff visitors during work hours? How should employees notify management when late for work or ill?
• Have an attorney review the handbook: An employment-law attorney is equipped to advise on legality of the employee handbook. The only thing worse than no handbook is one that is not enforceable—and the only thing worse than that is a handbook that could spark a lawsuit!

Employee handbooks vary in size, scope, and detail, depending on the size and culture of the company. The important thing to remember is that even a basic handbook is a must-have for every company with employees!

Tags: Creating Employee Handbook, Employee Handbook Basics, HR and Employees, Managing Employees

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 14th, 2010 at and is filed under Employer Best Practices, Forms & Paperwork. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.