Employee Handbooks

Many companies create employee handbooks to help communicate their policies, provide a consistent standard of operation and to set the appropriate level of expectations. Creating a handbook helps cut down on misunderstandings and avert claims of discrimination. Creating a handbook need not be an expensive undertaking; it could just be a number of pages stapled together. Its form is not as important as its substance.

What should be included in my employee handbook?

Most handbooks include the following topics:

• Company rules and procedures
• Holidays and paid time off
• Leave provisions
• Information on working hours
• Pay practices and procedures
• Performance review and promotion practices
• Benefits
• Vacation
• Safety
• Dress code
• Sexual harassment and non-discrimination policy
• Discipline and discharge practices
• Drug and alcohol policy
• Employment at will statement
• An acknowledgment page stating that the employee agrees to comply with the policies within the handbook

TIP: You can write the handbook yourself and then send it to an attorney for review.