It might sit on a shelf or in a drawer gathering dust but when the day comes that you actually need it, you might find it’s the most important job-related book you own.

It’s your Employee Handbook.

For Businesses Owners

For a lot of small to mid-size businesses an employee handbook can be an afterthought, or at best, something borrowed from another company or built off a template.

But would you buy a car without a repair manual? Or would you ever consider using the manual from somebody else’s car?

No too businesses are the same. Even if you make the same product or sell the same service is your company an exact clone of the others?

No. And neither should your employee handbook.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel but you do want it to speak directly to the policies and procedures of your company and you want to know it speaks directly to the people who work for you.

In addition to addressing the legal requirements and processes of your state or industry you’ll want to make sure your handbook cover:

• Personnel policies
• An at-will statement making the employer-employee relationship clear up front
• Work rules and expectations specific to your company
• Benefit plans as offered by your company
• Overall organizational philosophy
• There’s more. In today’s communication age a few things come businesses might miss include:
• Internet use
• Cell phone use
• Email policies
• Use of Social Media while on the job

So do you have one? And if you already do when was the last time you reviewed it? Is it consistent with current policies, processes and technologies?

If you need an employee handbook or would like yours reviewed to make sure it’s up-to-date we can help.

For Employees

It’s almost always one of the first things you get when you start a new job and inevitably it’s the last thing you look at – if you look at all.

That could be a costly mistake.

Whether or not your employer uses their handbook frequently or not at all, when the rubber hits the road be assured it will the standard by which decisions are base on.

A well written employee handbook will cover policies including

• Health coverage
• Sick days or time off
• Vacation time
• How to report concerns
• Workers compensation
• Medical leave
• Company expectations
• Disciplinary polices
• Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Policies
• Employee Benefits
• Promotion guidelines

Too often employees don’t spend any time reading the handbook until they think they need to. Buy then, it might be too late. It’s the best way to make sure you know your rights.