6 Creative Examples of Employee Handbooks

Your employee handbook can (and should) be more than a yawn-inducing document that outlines your company’s policies and procedures. What if, instead, you viewed your handbook as an opportunity to show employees you care—that they matter?

If you want to create a handbook that people actually read—and maybe even enjoy—you’re in the right place. Let’s take a look at how you can turn your company’s handbook into an engaging, informative resource.

Why You Need an Employee Handbook

Even the most innovative organizations need structure. Your employee handbook helps your team navigate company policies, procedures, and expectations. When everyone has access to the information they need, your workplace will be more efficient and fair and less prone to conflict. This ultimately leads to happier employees—a win for everyone.

Don’t view your employee handbook as just another bureaucratic requirement. Instead, consider it a welcome guide for new hires and a refresher for long-time employees. It’s an opportunity to emphasize what makes your company unique.

Benefits of a Creative Employee Handbook

When you infuse creativity into your handbook, you’re doing more than just listing policies; you’re creating a memorable employee experience. A thoughtfully crafted handbook can accomplish the following.

Highlight Company Culture

What makes your company shine? Maybe you’re committed to work-life balance or take pride in giving back to the community. Your employee handbook is a great place to emphasize your company culture. Showcase your mission and vision and values and guidelines and how they’re demonstrated in the workplace.

There’s a lot of overlap in handbook content across organizations, so take the time to highlight what makes your company worth working for.

Inspire a Teamwork Mentality

Your employee handbook can help your organization make a good first impression—or reiterate what drew employees to your company in the first place. If your handbook’s alternate title could be “Way to Get Fired,” you run the risk of creating an adversarial employment relationship.

Think of your handbook as a resource that provides guidance on how best to operate as a team, creating the optimal working environment. Employees will recognize and appreciate this shift in tone—and, even better, it can proactively mitigate legal risk. 

Boost Employee Engagement

Increased employee engagement starts with the items above—emphasizing company culture and instilling an “I’m part of a team” mentality. When those factors combine, you’ll end up with employees who feel connected to your organization for more than just a paycheck. 

Employee engagement has many perks that directly benefit the HR team, like reduced turnover, improved policy compliance, and a better ability to recruit new hires. If you embrace creativity when designing your employee handbook, you’re more likely to have inspired employees (Hey, that’s Blissbook’s mission!).

Examples of Creative Employee Handbooks

The following handbook examples illustrate how different companies leverage creativity to improve the employee handbook experience. 

ABB

ABB‘s handbook uses visual appeal to help employees quickly digest the company’s purpose and how it’s achieved. The creative design yields a more engaging handbook while still keeping the content direct and concise.

Blue Prism

Blue Prism‘s employee handbook stands out for the balance it strikes between simplicity and comprehensiveness. The guide is both clear and accessible, covering essential HR policies while also diving into the company’s values and procedures. Each section has a distinct purpose, delivering straightforward and effective information.

Its creativity lies in its ability to say a lot with a little, offering a no-fluff, direct path to understanding the company’s culture and expectations.

Russell Reynolds Associates

Russell Reynolds Associates breaks the mold with its employee handbook, using bite-sized content inspired by social media. Snippets of wisdom from the leadership team are sprinkled throughout, creating a more personal feel. This innovative approach gives employees a glimpse into the leaders’ minds, turning them from important names into actual people.

Netflix

Netflix’s digital employee handbook goes beyond listing policies to demonstrate the company’s culture in a way that aligns with its recognizable red and black brand. This simple and sleek approach provides information in a clear way while still emphasizing the Netflix identity.

Fujitsu

Fujitsu’s handbook stands out for its straightforward language and minimalist design. This isn’t just a design choice; it’s a creative way to help employees pinpoint what’s important. It provides the essentials without fluff, making it easy to understand and remember.

Tesla

Tesla’s handbook sidesteps the traditional path and presents an ‘anti-handbook’ that mirrors its culture of innovation and disruption. The compact design still delivers a big impact, signaling that pushing boundaries is part of the Tesla experience.

The handbook breaks away from the standard, formal layout employees might expect, communicating points in a fresh, direct, and sometimes quirky manner. It’s a creative reflection of Tesla’s forward-thinking philosophy, inviting employees to be part of something unconventional.

Is a Creative Handbook a Good Idea?

Is Tesla’s handbook a good model for your company? That’s up to you and your legal team! The news paints a picture of Tesla being in a lot of employment law hot water in recent years, and they’ve cycled through multiple CHROs. This could be due in part to their “anti-handbook handbook” stance. However, their CEO Elon Musk is a polarizing figure who is not only disrupting multiple long-standing, powerful industries, but seems to relish in antagonizing powerful people on X/Twitter. The true cause of Tesla’s EEOC complaints and other legal issues (if the company’s above the baseline for a company that size in their industry) is impossible to define. 

It’s also important to note that this “anti-handbook handbook” states that other policies containing information on leave, meal and rest breaks, time off, and more are available on an internal website. Many laws require notice to employees, and although it sometimes seems like you can create a creative handbook that doesn’t mention these topics (e.g. Tesla and Netflix), the truth is that these notices are typically just shared elsewhere, meaning employees have to look in multiple places for information that instinctively belongs together. Plus, employees signing your handbook have to acknowledge your policies separately. It’s just easier to manage when it’s all together.

If you’re looking to create a culture-focused handbook separate from your policies, you might want to try Blissbook. With our read more button, you can keep the surface of your handbook conversational and “creative,” but still have all the details employees are looking for (and that you’re required to disclose by law) all in one location.

How to Develop a Creative Employee Handbook

Creating an unforgettable employee handbook doesn’t require magic—just purposeful planning and a splash of creativity. Here are some ideas to turn your handbook from a template-based document to a personalized experience.

Evaluate Your Current Handbook

Start by taking a peek at your existing handbook. What’s working? What’s not? Understand your audience and think about what resonates with them. Consider what draws new employees to your company, and be sure to emphasize those perks throughout your handbook.

Remember the unique audience for your handbook, and make sure you speak their language.

Align with Your Company’s Voice, Values, and Culture

Your handbook should feel like a comfortable extension of your brand’s personality. If your company is all about innovation, your handbook shouldn’t look like it’s stuck in the past—text-heavy and without flair. Or, if your core values center around collaboration and respect, look for ways to integrate this philosophy throughout your handbook. 

When employees open your handbook, they should feel like they’re stepping into your company’s world. Writing a culture-first handbook involves showing what makes your company unique while providing content employees will find relatable.

Incorporate Images and Graphics

Elevate your handbook by incorporating eye-catching visual elements that capture the spirit of your company. For example, infographics can simplify complex information, making it easier to understand at a glance. Consider your employee handbook cover and whether it provides a quick glimpse into your organization’s culture.

Think outside the box and look for ways to enhance the text with supporting images or icons. Blissbook even has video capabilities that enable you to present information in a modern way. 

Make it Interactive

Transform your employee handbook into an engaging tool that captivates your team. Here are some guidelines to breathe life into your handbook, making it a go-to resource for your employees.

• Go Digital: Switch to a digital format to unlock various interactive possibilities. Besides being convenient and eco-friendly, a digital handbook offers a dynamic user experience.
• Enable Easy Exploration: Hyperlinks help users seamlessly navigate through content. No more flipping pages—just click and explore.
• Promote Visual Learning: Insert videos or animations to make learning engaging and fun. This multimedia approach keeps users invested in the content.
• Provide a Search Option: Add a search function to enable employees to quickly locate specific policies or topics. The easier it is to find information, the more likely your team will use the handbook.
• Make it Accessible for All: Design for accessibility. Your handbook should be easy for everyone to use, regardless of abilities.

Sounds like too much work? Don’t worry! Blissbook can help you craft a creative handbook that truly reflects the soul of your company.

Build Your Creative Employee Handbook with Blissbook

Crafting a creative and effective employee handbook is no small feat, but it’s completely doable. From understanding your audience to aligning your handbook with your brand voice, every step is crucial to developing a handbook that resonates with employees.

As you embark on this creative journey, Blissbook is here to help. Our seasoned design team is ready to take your branding guidelines and weave them into a personalized, artistic handbook that echoes your company’s spirit.So, why wait? Get in touch for more information on how Blissbook can seamlessly handle all your needs.