8 Topics to Cover in Your Employee Handbook
Writing a thorough employee handbook is an important HR responsibility: it lays forth the expectations that you have of your employees while also making clear the potential means of rectifying a potential disagreement. If you are working on an employee handbook for your company, be sure to include these eight topics.
- Company Mission Statement. This is a good way to begin: it sets the tone both for your handbook and for your employee’s time at the company.
- Social Media Policy. Social media is one area in which work/life separation is not 100% possible: employees are, in some sense, always going to be representatives of your organization, even when they are off the clock. A great number of high-profile cases involving celebrities who have lost their jobs after imprudent Facebook or Twitter posts underscores the importance of this subject.
- Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Workplace Bullying. In most states, you have a legal obligation to make sure that no form of discrimination, harassment, or bullying occurs on your watch.
- Workplace Violence. Again, you have a strong obligation to condemn any and all forms of workplace violence–and your employee handbook is a good opportunity to let new hires know that you are serious about a zero-tolerance policy that includes verbal violence.
- Problem Resolution Procedures. Lay forth how any disagreements will be mediated before the fact and everyone will thank you.
- Employee Discipline. How will employees who break company policy be disciplined?
- Leave Policies. Make sure that your employees are clear about company policy regarding vacations, sick days, and no-shows.
- Disclaimers. Last but not least, make it clear that your employee handbook is only for informational purposes, and that it is not a contract. This ensures that you and your employees remain continue at-will employment, which is the norm in every US state baring Montana.
Looking for more help writing your employee handbook? Precise Payroll can help!