Employee Handbook Templates And Samples | How To Write An Employee Handbook

Do You Have An Employee Handbook? Has It Been Updated Recently?

Employee Handbooks - aka Employee Manuals - are essential for employers in today's litigious environment. They are the number one most important tool that an employer can have for ensuring that policies are enforced properly, that personnel matters are handled consistently, all while legally protect itself from future liability.

The Purpose And Benefits Of An Employee Handbook

The primary purpose of an employee handbook is to provide information and guidance to employees about the organization's rules, benefits, history, and culture, and to set expectations on employee conduct.

Employees typcially want to know what is expected of them, so an employee handbook is important because it outlines the organization's expectations and values. For instance, an employee handbook can:

• Communicate what is expected of employees
• Provide company policies and guidelines
• Explain insurance, cafeteria plan, and other benefit options
• Educate employees on what they can expect from management and leadership

Employee handbooks can also serve as protection from litigation, as well as win unemployment claims, especially when employees sign that they received and understand the policies.

What Should An Employee Handbook Cover?

Essentially, your employee handbook should list all your organization's rules and expectations in one place for easy reference. Keep in mind that your employee handbook has a two-fold purpose: to educate your workforce, AND to protect your company from lawsuits.

As such, it should include your organization's policies, your expectations and requirements of your employees, and your obligations as an employer, including:

• Welcome letter from your CEO or Founder
• Your organization's mission statement
• General employment information
• Info on benefits, pay, vacation, and sick leave policies
• Info on discrimination, harassment, and retaliation policies
• Overview and procedures for FMLA, ADA, COBRA, or other applicable laws
• Progressive discipline policy
• Process for filing a complaint
• Disclaimers
• A form to sign saying he or she has read your employee handbook and agree to the terms

About Our Employee Handbook Training Options

Make sure your HR Employee Handbook is not a lawsuit waiting to happen! We offer sample HR Employee Handbook training courses that teach you:

• How to protect your company from the top mistakes that employers make in drafting employee handbooks
  
• What are the essential policies that your employee handbook or employee manual should contain
  
• Which common policies can be illegal
  
• What are the five key disclaimers and qualifiers every handbook must contain
  
• What are the 11 essential points that must be addressed in your harassment/discrimination policy
  
• How to avoid using language that can give rise to claims of breach of implied contract
  
• How to have a well drafted anti-harassment policy that will protect you from future liability
  
• Why terms like 'probationary period' and 'introductory period' can be problematic
  
• How your employee's lawyer can use your employee manual or employee handbook against you
  
• What are the most frequently missing, incorrect, or incomplete topics in employee handbooks

Options For Your Employee Handbook

Option 1: Have An Expert Write Your Employee Handbook For You

Not sure your Employee Handbook is up to date? Don't have the time or expertise to write or update it yourself? Simply have one of our experts write or update it for you. You'll get a great Employee Handbook that is professionally written and will help keep you in compliance.

For questions or details on this service, go to https://hrtrainingcenter.com/human_resource_consulting.asp

Option 2: Do It Yourself With Our Employee Handbook Training Courses

HR Training Center offers several Employee Handbook training courses and Employee Handbook templates that will help you to quickly, correctly, and cost-effectively create an Employee Handbook for your organization.

Find Employee Handbook Templates And Training Courses

Listed below are some of our most-popular Employee Handbook templates and training products. Either select one of the recommended courses or select "Job Descriptions/Employee Handbooks" from the "Professional Development" section of the search box below.