Employee Handbook

The employee handbook is an important tool used by employers to communicate to its employees the company philosophy, history, goals, work rules and policies, procedures, and benefits. The employee handbook outlines the expectation of management and serves as a reference source for employees.

The handbook assists in protecting the organization from claims of discrimination and unfair treatment. It can also assists in the area of unemployment. It can provide proof that the organization had a policy against a particular conduct that was communicated to all employees.

When developing policies for a handbook, statements should be clear and concise. Employers should to be careful in their word selection for their policies so they do not create an employment contract giving up their at will status. A disclaimer statement should be placed in the employee handbook to decrease the chances of it being viewed or interpreted as a contract.

There should always be a disclaimer in the handbook to revise policies at management's discretion. Always have an attorney review the handbook prior to issuing it to employees.

The Handbook can cover the following topics:

• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Benefits
• Time Off
• Compensation
• Progression
• Employment Guidelines
• Standards of Conduct
• Workplace Health and Safety
• Payroll and Record keeping
• Termination
• Employee Acknowledgement

You should review and update polices and handbooks to make sure you are in compliant. Things you should keep in mind when reviewing your handbook:

• Are your documents complaint with new laws
• Are they contemporary
• Do they cover emerging issues; new technologies, new protected classes
• Consider a stand alone policy on retaliation.