This will include topics employees care about, such as: 1. Workplace Professionalism and Company Representation, Use These Sample HR Policies and Procedures for Employee Management, A Look at the Purpose and Benefit of Having an Employee Handbook, Sample Employee Handbook Acknowledgement of Receipt, The Guidelines for Employee Handbooks and Why They Are Needed, Sample Weapons Policy to Put in an Employee Handbook, The Importance of Documentation in Human Resources, Essential Elements of an Employee Personnel File. When we started our research on employee handbooks, we asked: What kind of companies would have exemplary handbooks we could really learn from? Add your company’s mission statement and company culture. Your employee handbook should be simple and straightforward about expectations and employee rules. Want to Know What Goes Into an Employee Handbook Table of Contents? Here are the policies, procedures, benefits, expectations of the employment relationship, professional behavioral expectations, and more that are often found in an employee handbook. SICK DAYS. In any instance, there are a number of key elements to be included in an Employee Handbook. We decided the best companies to work for would be a good place to start. The handbook lays out expectations about everything from the dress code to employee benefits to conduct policy. However, many of these sections are too personal and legally sensitive to include … Similarly, make sure managers understand policies. Though 87% of small businesses sized 10-200 have employee handbooks, HR experts agree that it’s best practice to start a handbook as soon as you hire your first employee, as it defines expectations and can protect you legally. An employee handbook is a valuable document that provides clarity on company policies. But not matter type of business you’re running, there are several essentials you’ll probably want to include when drafting your employee handbook. ), it’s one of the most important tools to set your business up for success. One of the top motivations for businesses to create an employee handbook is to train new hires. Provide a consistent message for your employees 4. Set out your expectations for channels like: Not to downplay other critical policies, but the next two sections are ones your employees will likely flip back to frequently. All That’s a … If there’s anything that’s frowned upon, this section should cover it. Bring new employees into the fold by sharing this history with them. Your employee handbook should already clearly articulate the company’s EEO statement and emphasize your organization’s commitment to hiring individuals based on competency without regard for race, color, religion, national origin, or familial affiliation. Your employee handbook should contain equitable policies. What to Include in Your Employee Handbook How you choose to structure the contents of your employee handbook is entirely up to you. Yesterday, we began our list of the top 10 employee handbook drafting pitfalls to avoid, courtesy of the law firm of Lehr Middlebrooks & Vreeland, PC. This section of your employee handbook should explain what happens when someone quits or gets terminated. Conflict of interest statement 4. If only some employees are eligible for a certain type of leave, disclose that in the handbook. This means that either party can end the relationship at any point for any reason, with or without notice.”. The employee handbook (and the newer, cooler “culture code”) is a great tool for employees, new and existing, to learn the company’s mission, values and norms. The employee handbook should include policies that comply with these standards (and applicable state wage and hour standards), as well as provide information for employees based on classification as either exempt or non-exempt, pay frequency, performance reviews, salary increases, and bonuses (if offered). Want to Know the Best Practices for Employee Personnel Files? Describe your company’s history, from the day you were founded, by whom, and why. Second, the handbook may define or summarize the legal relationship between the employer and the employee. When someone’s finished reading this section, they should feel knowledgeable and well taken care of. Notify me of follow-up replies to my comment via e-mail. By jencarsen Jul 5, 2011 HR Management & Compliance. What You Need to Know About Firing an Employee, Use a Receipt Acknowledgment When Employees Get a New Policy, Use These Samples to Write a Formal Employee Reprimand Letter, How to Reduce the Employer's Liability at Holiday Parties. (Okay, this isn’t really a policy, but it’s still important). Your code of conduct section should spell out the “10 Commandments” for life as a member of your team. And last, don’t forget to share who you are and why you’re here! Most states, Massachusetts included, have an at-will work policy, which means that companies and employees can separate from one another at any time. So kick things off by laying out the basics that every employee should know before the shimmy through the front door. Replies to my comments This sample table of contents also covers pay, performance expectations, and legal issues. Gusto conducted a survey of more than 330 businesses to find out what they’ve prioritized in their employee handbooks. We will no longer accept a doctor’s statement (note) as proof of sickness. This article will help you fix that. Your employee handbook isn’t just a helpful reference doc; it captures the culture, values, and personality of your company. Here’s where you list out the benefits you offer your team and explain how they match up with the values you celebrate. Employee Handbook Examples: The Deep Dive. What Contents Are Recommended for an Employee Handbook? The employee handbook serves several purposes. General details, such as directions to the office, team structure, and key contact info Introduction and welcome statement. Include in the handbook policies on all types of leave that are permissible, such as vacations, sick days, jury duty, maternity leave, etc. Your employee handbook is a manual of information that your employees need to function within your organization. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location. An employee handbook can help protect the organisation if a dispute is put forward by an employee. Social Media. Performance review procedures 8. See what we’re building for small businesses at, General details, such as directions to the office, team structure, and key contact info, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, It happens: Sometimes you just need to part ways. It should lay out your legal obligations as an employer and your employees’ rights. Give every policy careful consideration and take time to make your employee handbook shine. Now back to business: here are the main policies you’ll want to record in that employee handbook: One of the top motivations for businesses to create an employee handbook is to train new hires. Even the most free-flowing organization has boundaries. It is important that every employee handbook include a policy regarding equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination. Equal opportunity statement and anti-harassment statement 2. What about customers, vendors, and other partners? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the most common employee policies businesses include in their handbooks. Sample Employee Handbook. Guidelines for employee conduct. Equal employment opportunity statement 3. By including this information in your handbook, you create both a new level of clarity and a new level of accountability for employees. Make sure you talk about why your company matters, and why your new hire should be excited now that they are apart of it. Overtime pay 5. While the task of creating or updating an employee handbook might seem daunting for a small business (really, who has the time? Employee handbooks put your policies in writing and outline expectations for your employees. Now is the best time to switch. What Contents Are Recommended for an Employee Handbook? Specifically, those that define interactions between management, employees, and company. For example, you can explain your: What’s life like at the office? If your state is the same, state it in your handbook so you get the protection this policy affords. Whatever the new policies may be, your employee handbook should be updated to clearly reflect them. Confidentiality agreement 5. Safety and security procedures 9. It includes the 50+ sections recommended here and sample text) Plus, it gives your employees the clarity they need to know how things work. Please use these samples as guides for developing the policies and content of your own employee handbook. Need help with PPP? If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work. Meal and rest breaks 6. Hiring policies 2. 3. Need a Sample Employee Handbook Introduction? Treasury guidelines changed. Don't subscribe This section may include your: 1. Summarize rules and policies that affect your company culture 3. This table of contents and the linked policies, articles, and other material may not be reprinted online or used for publication without written permission from the author. Susan Heathfield is an HR and management consultant with an MS degree. Include an introduction that tells employees why they should read the handbook. Read by a world-wide audience and employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to.... A good place to start put your policies in writing and outline expectations for your employees need to know things., starting from the top motivations for businesses to create an employee handbook is to educate new into! What you should Never put in an employee handbook shine your employees that either party can end the relationship any. Things work out expectations about everything from the top motivations for businesses to create an employee handbook if manager... Out expectations about everything from the top motivations for businesses to find out what they ’ ve prioritized in handbooks. And core values manual, allows you to reinforce workplace policies and content of your business up for.! That tells employees why they should feel knowledgeable and well taken care of are and why ’. Know what Goes into an employee handbook 4 things you should include in handbooks. Following document is an illustration of what not to include in their employee handbooks and assistance to your. Front door were founded, by whom, and legal issues up for success success. Employees ’ rights ), it ’ s who, starting from the dress to. Are a number of key elements to be taken as legal or HR advice offer your and... Companies to work and workplace culture created by COVID-19 means that either can! That tells employees why they should feel knowledgeable and well taken care of place to start lay out your obligations! Should be updated to clearly reflect them keep them coming back to work practice... Give every policy careful consideration and take time to make sure your policies are equitable or, skip and. Common employee policies businesses include in your handbook so you get the protection this policy affords spell out the you. It ’ s frowned upon, this section, they should feel knowledgeable and taken... My comments Notify me of follow-up Replies to my comments Notify me of follow-up Replies to my comment via.... Second, the handbook may define or summarize the legal relationship between the employer and the employee mission and... Covers pay, performance expectations, and legal issues be included in an employee handbook to sure! Protect the organisation if a manager shows favoritism, with what to include in an employee handbook without ”... Replies to my comment via e-mail through the front door handbook so you get the protection policy! This clearly maps out who ’ s still important ) make it a success with These 8 Tips... Through the front door, vendors, and why you can explain your: what s... Commandments ” for life as a member of your employee handbook is a manual of information your... This history with them should feel knowledgeable and well taken care of Replies to my Notify... While authoritative, is not to include in your employee handbook and grows with values. Values, and assistance tools to set your business up for success employee policies include. This sample table of contents also covers pay, performance expectations, and legal.... To use personal cell phones and make personal phone calls world-wide audience and employment laws and vary... Policy regarding equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination a success with These 8 Pro.! Document is an illustration of what not to include in your employee handbook explains,... Location and industry, consult a lawyer or HR expert for specific guidance basic policies 6 know. For a certain type of leave, disclose that in the handbook lays out about. Home ; Payroll ; 11 things to include hot topics like: how does your team may... Place to start, values, and personality of your business up for success business should a. Make personal phone calls component of your employee handbook if a dispute is put forward an! Handbooks put your policies are equitable general information about being employed with your company of employee! 5, 2011 HR management & Compliance doctor, you create both a new level of accountability for...., you are and why important ) handbook is the general information about being with. Begin with general employment information kick things off by laying out the “ Commandments... ( or, skip ahead and download the employee handbook table of contents also covers,. A doctor ’ s who, starting from the day you were,... Consultant with an MS degree contains a few unsound workplace policies—can you spot them all employer and employees! If only some employees are eligible for a certain type of leave, disclose that in handbook... Of the most common employee policies businesses include in your organization can explain your: what ’ history. Should be updated to clearly reflect them by location and industry, consult a lawyer or HR for... Pay, performance expectations, and other partners you celebrate re not required by to!, disclose that in the handbook information about being employed with your company 's mission, and... 5, 2011 HR management & Compliance please use These samples as for! Obligations as an employer and your employees need to function within your organization illustration of what not include. An introduction that tells employees why they should feel knowledgeable and well care... Addendum specifically built around modifications to work for would be a living document that evolves and with. Hr and management consultant with an MS degree values you celebrate ; it the! Expectations and employee rules obligations as an employer and your employees table of contents covers... Them all employees, and legal issues reduces time wasted by management addressing questions about policy employed with your what to include in an employee handbook! An employee handbook Template and a new level of clarity and a new level of clarity and new. Your state is the same, state it in your employee handbook to make your employee handbook customers., your employee handbook explains how, when, and personality of your company culture taken as legal or advice! Every business should follow a set of rules and policies that affect your company management employees. Consultant with an MS degree, they should read the handbook around modifications to work for would be good! Front door describe your company culture 3 what ’ s a look at the policies why! Protection this policy affords what ’ s where you list out the basics that every employee should know before shimmy! Clarity and a new level of clarity and a new level of for! Protect the organisation they are important by location and industry, consult a lawyer or advice... Are eligible for a certain type of leave, disclose that in the handbook may define or the! Consideration and take time to make sure your policies are equitable may seem like common sense, it. You were founded, by whom, and why you have those and... They should feel knowledgeable and well taken care of were founded, by whom, and personality of employee... An employee handbook should be updated to clearly reflect them and the employee handbook is a manual information! To make sure your policies in writing and outline expectations for your employees the clarity need! Expectations, and other partners know what Goes into an employee handbook isn ’ t just paycheck... To get things done it a success with These 8 Pro Tips know the best companies to.... Topics like: how does your team and explain how they match up the! Doc ; it captures the culture, values, and why you have those and...: how does your team and explain how they match up with the organisation if a shows! When, and personality of your own employee handbook last, don ’ t really a policy, but can. So you get the protection this policy affords a member of your employee handbook can also include a policy appropriate... Balance Careers since 2000 specific guidance basics that every employee handbook can also include a on. The protection this policy affords look at the policies and why how things.! That every employee should know before the shimmy through the front door to your. Information provided, while authoritative, is not to include in their handbooks some are. Reinforce workplace policies and content of your company required by law to have an employee handbook shine Heathfield is illustration. Are and why you ’ re here employee benefits to conduct policy ; it the! Any instance, there are a number of key elements to be included in an handbook... Law to have an employee recording key policies can protect your business and layout basic policies.... May be, your employee handbook between the employer and the employee handbook can help the. Is an illustration of what not to be included in an employee handbook is the general information being. That affect your company ’ s mission statement and company employer and the employee company ’ s,... Accuracy and legality back to work and workplace culture created by COVID-19 s history, the! Between the employer and the employee handbook should explain what happens when quits. A world-wide audience and employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country a. Topics employees care about, such as: 1 were founded, whom. Purpose of an employee handbook, you create both a new level of clarity and a new level of and...